[gentoo-embedded] Gentoo on a Arietta G25

[gentoo-embedded] Gentoo on a Arietta G25

[meino.cramer]

Hi,

recently I bought a great little Linux board: Arietta G25
(http://www.acmesystems.it/arietta)

Since I like Gentoo I installed it instead of the provided Debian
system.  The system I used to compile the kernel is -- of course -- a
Gentoo -- Linux PC.

****************************************************************** NO
WARNING: THE BOARD CAN *NOT* BE BRICKED. THE WORST CASE WHICH COULD
HAPPEN IS THE NEED TO EDIT THE SDCARD WITH A DIFFERENT SYSTEM.  YOU
HAVE NOT BE WARNED! I WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY LUCK
WHICH MAY HAPPEN TO YOU! ITS YOUR SUCCESS - NOT MINE!
****************************************************************** ;)

These were the ingredients: Crosscompiler toolchain take from here
(scroll a little down)
https://eewiki.net/display/linuxonarm/AT91SAM9x5 Since Robert Nelson
(the author of the pages above as far as I know and the maintainer of
all Beaglebone systems) told me, it would be better to take a vanilla
Linux 3.18.rc7 right from Linus desktop (so to speak) I got that from:
git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux

With the kernel 3.17.x kernel I got strange clock (RTC) drift problems
far beyond the normal drifts (several minutes/hours) and I couldn't
poweroff the system - it always reboots.

This does not happen with the Debian system and Linux 3.16.1. though.

Free Electrons put a lot of work into the mainline kernel (3.18...)
for AT91 systems, which the Arietta is one of. 

With that kernel, now reboot doesn't work instead - it always poweroff
(a "better" ...hrmmm... feature for a battery powered system though)

The clock drift problem went away -- if the original configuration by
Acmesystems is used. I changed some things and it is there again.  I
am on the way to track that down to a certain configuration item...but
this will take some time...even with a drifting clock at hand.

The original configuration was taken from Acmesystems site:
http://www.acmesystems.it/www/binary_repository/Arietta-30nov2014/acme-arietta_defconfig

The Devicetree dts-file was taken from here:
http://www.acmesystems.it/www/binary_repository/Arietta-30nov2014/acme-arietta.dts

The bootloader was build as described here:
http://www.acmesystems.it/compile_at91bootstrap (Newest sources are
here: https://github.com/tanzilli/at91bootstrap)

The original AT91Bootstrap loader by ATMEL seems not to work for this
board.

Finally the Gentoo stage3 rootfs was taken from here:
http://distfiles.gentoo.org/releases/arm/autobuilds/current-stage3-armv5tel/
(or a more recent incarnation of it)

HowTo:

1) Create a SD-Card with two partitions: 50MB (or less for people who
   dont want to experiment with different kernel
   versions/configurations) with an FAT16 filesystem.  The rest of the
   space of the SDcard is used for a second partition with an ext4
   filesystem.

2) Install the crosscompiler toolchain on your Gentoo box.

3) git clone the kernel (about 2Gigs of stuff!)

4) While git is pulling the kernel sources compile the bootloader and
   put it on the first partition as decribed by Acmesystems.

5) If you dont want to fiddle around with the dtc you can click
   together the pin configuration for your Arietta here:
   http://www.acmesystems.it/pinout_arietta and download the compiled
   dtb file then.

6) Put the dtb file onto the first partition too.

7) Now: Kernel Backery time! :) Compile the kernel as described here:
   http://www.acmesystems.it/compile_linux_3_16 but use the kernel
   sources of Linux 3.18.rc7 (or later).  Put the kernel image (called
   zImage) onto the first partition.
   Dont forget to copy the modules onto the rootfs, if step8) is done!

8) Uncompress the stage3 archive onto the second partition. Do this as
   root and mount the SDcard as root also.  Do the usual Gentoo
   configuration steps as described in the Gentoo handbook. The
   Arietta Board does Ethernet over USB so you need appropiate drivers
   for your PC also. For me, these does the trick: usbnet cdc_subset
   cdc_eem cdc_ether udc_core libcomposite usb_f_rndis u_ether. These
   may or may not too much modules...but with these it works...;)

   I am currently using static IP-adresses for my Arietta. Up to this
   moment I haven't figured out how to use dhcp/d properly or this board.
   If you will do...please post your solution.  For the moment I
   suggest to configure static IP-adresses too.


9) sync and unmount the SDcard.

10) Put the SDcard into your Arietta Board and boot it.

11) ssh into your board.

12) TADA!

The Arietta is powered by an AT91SAM9G25 CPU. This is neither a 3.6GHz
horse nor a 6 core starship but a 400MHz single core processor --
which is more than enough for a board of this kind.

That means: The upcoming time of populating the board with all
needed/wanted application not being part of the stage3 archive will be
an exercise of patience.

On the other hand: This great little board uses only one and a half
spark of electric energy. And: It really doesnt matter whether the
board does its compile task over three hours at night or seven hours.
The result is the same in both cases: Next morning its ready!  In this
context 'emerge <ebuild> -f' becomes handy! No need to run the DSL
modem/WLAN router or whatever over night!

Why not to use a separate partition as swap device?

The amount of writes to a SD card are limited.  I am not sure, whether
writes to a spearate swap partition will be handled by the SD card
logic (anti-wear out algorthm) the same way as it is true for writes
to files.  But I know, that this algorithm is working for files.  And:
Swapping on a SDcard is always the slowest of all worst cases of
swapping which may occur in general. So I put a swapfile on the root
partition and used that as a last resort swap device (the Arietta is
available with 128 MB and 256 MB RAM. For Gentoo -- since it is self
compiling - I suggest the 256 MB version.)

Why not crosscompiling the applications on your PC?  I tried
crosscompiling applications on my PC for my Beaglebone Black embedded
systems and failed in different ways: I tried distcc and plain cross
compiling.
Often it works but it fails too often to be used.
In most cases the application sources were not written for being
"compatible" to crosscompiling. Once in a sudden the cross compiler
was instructed by the sources to take the headers of the underlying
64bit AMD PC instead of the 32bit ARM system. Or: For compiling
the sources you need a second tool/preprozessor like 'moc'
for QTx applications. This confuses the process on a regular basis.
I quit that. I want to compile and not but hunt bugs.
Compiling on the Arietta is not the fastest thing which may happen on
planet earth and breaking the light barrier is something totally
different....but compiling on the Arietta works. And it works (at
least for me) far better than crosscompiling.

Crosscompiling the kernel is a different thing, because the kernel 
is "selfcontained" it does not (and is not allowed to) use any sources
from outside its own source tree. So crosscompiling the kernel is a
harmless task.

I am no native english speaker. Therefore I put all typos and wrong
uses of the English language under the GPL. Herewith you are allowed
to make copies of these typos and errors and make your own version of
them or even improve them.
The author take no responsibility for any harm or happiness with may
or may not result directly or indirectly from reading and using 
these instructions.
Have fun!

I am always interested in suggestions, corrections or anything else
regarding this topic.

HTH!
Best regards,
Meino

Re: [gentoo-embedded] Gentoo on a Arietta G25

[wireless]

On 12/06/14 13:38, meino.cramer@gmx.de wrote:
> Hi,
>
> recently I bought a great little Linux board: Arietta G25
> (http://www.acmesystems.it/arietta)
>
> Since I like Gentoo I installed it instead of the provided Debian
> system.  The system I used to compile the kernel is -- of course -- a
> Gentoo -- Linux PC.


Fantastic effort there Meino!

Ok, so looking here:

http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/embedded/

I cannot determine who is the one to contact to
get this offering of current information, correctly
formatted to be included in the "boards" section
of the gentoo embedded handbook?

Next point, Meino has offered up a great bit of information
that surely does not belong in the Gentoo embedded handbook,
but is a great resource to encourage others how to go about
hacking away at a gentoo embedded project. So I think the
original email can be listed somewhere for others newer to
embedded gentoo hacking, as an example. Where would this
be placed? Linked to the handbook as "references" or "notes" or 
"appendix 1"  or such?


Also, if there is a format we want folks to follow should the
gentoo embedded project page have a suggested format to follow?

Many of those listing in the board section merely contain:

1. Board specifications
2. /proc/cpuinfo

Maybe the full possible format (optional for the contributor)
could have these additional categories:

make.conf

bootstrap/init details

installed packages

cross compiling details

Native compiling details

Special code/hacks included
(such as netconsole.c)

Libraries
ulibC, musl, bionic, glibc

languages

Added hardware, such as a relay board to
power up and down other electronics as an example.

So, being a long time reader of gentoo embedded, I understand that
most folks in the gentoo-embedded-project space, are busy and have
a very deep and strong background in embedded linux. I also understand
that they do not need a robustly maintained gentoo-embedded-handbook. 
But, if we are to encourage others to learn and develop into strong
gentoo-embedded hackers, then we should provide a pathway for their
needs. Expanding the scope of the gentoo-embedded-manual or creating
an ancillary document, with many more simplified steps, would be
an excellent first step to revitalizing gentoo-embedded, imho.

Personally, I'd like to see what the 64Bit arm devs have in mind for
the Gentoo embedded handbook, or as a minimized full (stage?) offering?
I've just been waiting for 64Bit arm boards to come down a bit in
price; ymmv.

I will defer to the leadership decision of the gentoo-embedded-project
team.

sincerely,
James Horton

Re: [gentoo-embedded] Gentoo on a Arietta G25

[John L. Poole]

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Very nice Meino!  Congratulations.

Two Points:

1) Just for kicks, here's an ordering list I prepared (but am not 
submitting as I'm behind)
at http://www.acmesystems.it/catalog_arietta

For propriety, to ship a base system to the United States, I prepared 
the following order:
WIFI-2    OEM WiFi USB module    € 7,00        € 7,00
ARIETTA-G25-256    ARM9 Linux Embedded Module (256MB)    € 30,00     € 30,00
AN-WIFI-02    WiFi antenna and SMA clable    € 7,00        € 7,00
DPI    Debug Port Interface    € 8,00        € 8,00
PS5V1A-USB2    Switching power supply 5V 1A - 2 USB out    € 8,00     € 8,00
STRIP-002    Female strip 20x2 pin pitch 2.54mm    € 0,80        € 0,80
STRIP-001    Male strip 20x2 pin pitch 2.54mm    € 0,60        € 0,60
STRIP-005    Male strip 20x2 pin 90 degree pitch 2.54mm    € 0,80     € 0,80
STRIP-006    Female strip 20x2 pin 90 degree pitch 2.54mm    € 1,40    
     € 1,40
     Sub-total    € 63,60
     Select your country:
If your country is not listed, please read shipping FAQ
     Freight charges    28,00
         Total amount    € 91,60

I thought others might appreciate what the out-the-door cost would be.

2) I recommend Meino try to create a page similar to 
http://dev.gentoo.org/~armin76/arm/beagleboneblack/install.xml
(I still have my Beaglebone black in its unused condition, despite my 
having scrutinized the install documentation and making suggestions to 
Raul.)

On 12/6/2014 11:09 AM, wireless wrote:
> On 12/06/14 13:38, meino.cramer@gmx.de wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> recently I bought a great little Linux board: Arietta G25
>> (http://www.acmesystems.it/arietta)
>>
>> Since I like Gentoo I installed it instead of the provided Debian
>> system.  The system I used to compile the kernel is -- of course -- a
>> Gentoo -- Linux PC.
>
>
> Fantastic effort there Meino!
>
> Ok, so looking here:
>
> http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/embedded/
>
> I cannot determine who is the one to contact to
> get this offering of current information, correctly
> formatted to be included in the "boards" section
> of the gentoo embedded handbook?
>
> Next point, Meino has offered up a great bit of information
> that surely does not belong in the Gentoo embedded handbook,
> but is a great resource to encourage others how to go about
> hacking away at a gentoo embedded project. So I think the
> original email can be listed somewhere for others newer to
> embedded gentoo hacking, as an example. Where would this
> be placed? Linked to the handbook as "references" or "notes" or 
> "appendix 1"  or such?
>
>
> Also, if there is a format we want folks to follow should the
> gentoo embedded project page have a suggested format to follow?
>
> Many of those listing in the board section merely contain:
>
> 1. Board specifications
> 2. /proc/cpuinfo
>
> Maybe the full possible format (optional for the contributor)
> could have these additional categories:
>
> make.conf
>
> bootstrap/init details
>
> installed packages
>
> cross compiling details
>
> Native compiling details
>
> Special code/hacks included
> (such as netconsole.c)
>
> Libraries
> ulibC, musl, bionic, glibc
>
> languages
>
> Added hardware, such as a relay board to
> power up and down other electronics as an example.
>
> So, being a long time reader of gentoo embedded, I understand that
> most folks in the gentoo-embedded-project space, are busy and have
> a very deep and strong background in embedded linux. I also understand
> that they do not need a robustly maintained gentoo-embedded-handbook. 
> But, if we are to encourage others to learn and develop into strong
> gentoo-embedded hackers, then we should provide a pathway for their
> needs. Expanding the scope of the gentoo-embedded-manual or creating
> an ancillary document, with many more simplified steps, would be
> an excellent first step to revitalizing gentoo-embedded, imho.
>
> Personally, I'd like to see what the 64Bit arm devs have in mind for
> the Gentoo embedded handbook, or as a minimized full (stage?) offering?
> I've just been waiting for 64Bit arm boards to come down a bit in
> price; ymmv.
>
> I will defer to the leadership decision of the gentoo-embedded-project
> team.
>
> sincerely,
> James Horton
>

-- 
Email Rider

John Laurence Poole
P.O. Box 6566
Napa CA 94581-6566
707-812-1323 office


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Re: [gentoo-embedded] Gentoo on a Arietta G25

[meino.cramer]

Hi John,

*thank you for your kind words* ! :)

I am be no means someone who has anything done more with webstuff than
BROWSING it. 
If there is any knowledge needed to "create a page simmiliar to..."
beyond some *VERY* basic html commands...I am not your man ;)
...which does NOT mean, that I dont want to provide further
informations and such...
What is needed (technically) to create such pages? I did not
do anything like that before...is it difficult?
And I am no native English speaker...

If "strips" are the "thingies' to be soldered on the board to
connect the wifi adapter to the board (and make it detachable 
later to get an USB port free again) ... then your order is missing
a female 7x1 (or is it 1x7?) strip with pitch 2mm (!not 2.54 mm).

You felt in love with this little board too, John? :)

Imagine: The first UNIX versions were written by Ken Thompson and
Dennis Ritchie on a PDP10/11 which were used WITHOUT a monitor.
Only a keyboard and a teletype were available. These "really big irons"
filled a wall of a room up to its ceiling.

Today we get board of the size of a chewing gum, runnnig Linux (an
UNIX) which in turn runs SIMH to emulate a ...PDP10/11 and this
combo runs the old tapes with the original login of....DMR (Dennis
Ritchie). The tapes are free for personal use.

UNIX...what a milestone of an invention! 
Ok, next worship on Friday 4 pm next week ;)

Best regards
Meino








John L. Poole <jlpoole56@gmail.com> [14-12-06 20:28]:
> Very nice Meino!  Congratulations.
> 
> Two Points:
> 
> 1) Just for kicks, here's an ordering list I prepared (but am not 
> submitting as I'm behind)
> at http://www.acmesystems.it/catalog_arietta
> 
> For propriety, to ship a base system to the United States, I prepared 
> the following order:
> WIFI-2    OEM WiFi USB module    € 7,00        € 7,00
> ARIETTA-G25-256    ARM9 Linux Embedded Module (256MB)    € 30,00     
> € 30,00
> AN-WIFI-02    WiFi antenna and SMA clable    € 7,00        € 7,00
> DPI    Debug Port Interface    € 8,00        € 8,00
> PS5V1A-USB2    Switching power supply 5V 1A - 2 USB out    € 8,00     
> € 8,00
> STRIP-002    Female strip 20x2 pin pitch 2.54mm    € 0,80        € 
> 0,80
> STRIP-001    Male strip 20x2 pin pitch 2.54mm    € 0,60        € 
> 0,60
> STRIP-005    Male strip 20x2 pin 90 degree pitch 2.54mm    € 0,80     
> € 0,80
> STRIP-006    Female strip 20x2 pin 90 degree pitch 2.54mm    € 1,40   
>      € 1,40
>     Sub-total    € 63,60
>     Select your country:
> If your country is not listed, please read shipping FAQ
>     Freight charges    28,00
>         Total amount    € 91,60
> 
> I thought others might appreciate what the out-the-door cost would be.
> 
> 2) I recommend Meino try to create a page similar to 
> http://dev.gentoo.org/~armin76/arm/beagleboneblack/install.xml
> (I still have my Beaglebone black in its unused condition, despite my 
> having scrutinized the install documentation and making suggestions to 
> Raul.)
> 
> On 12/6/2014 11:09 AM, wireless wrote:
> >On 12/06/14 13:38, meino.cramer@gmx.de wrote:
> >>Hi,
> >>
> >>recently I bought a great little Linux board: Arietta G25
> >>(http://www.acmesystems.it/arietta)
> >>
> >>Since I like Gentoo I installed it instead of the provided Debian
> >>system.  The system I used to compile the kernel is -- of course -- a
> >>Gentoo -- Linux PC.
> >
> >
> >Fantastic effort there Meino!
> >
> >Ok, so looking here:
> >
> >http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/embedded/
> >
> >I cannot determine who is the one to contact to
> >get this offering of current information, correctly
> >formatted to be included in the "boards" section
> >of the gentoo embedded handbook?
> >
> >Next point, Meino has offered up a great bit of information
> >that surely does not belong in the Gentoo embedded handbook,
> >but is a great resource to encourage others how to go about
> >hacking away at a gentoo embedded project. So I think the
> >original email can be listed somewhere for others newer to
> >embedded gentoo hacking, as an example. Where would this
> >be placed? Linked to the handbook as "references" or "notes" or 
> >"appendix 1"  or such?
> >
> >
> >Also, if there is a format we want folks to follow should the
> >gentoo embedded project page have a suggested format to follow?
> >
> >Many of those listing in the board section merely contain:
> >
> >1. Board specifications
> >2. /proc/cpuinfo
> >
> >Maybe the full possible format (optional for the contributor)
> >could have these additional categories:
> >
> >make.conf
> >
> >bootstrap/init details
> >
> >installed packages
> >
> >cross compiling details
> >
> >Native compiling details
> >
> >Special code/hacks included
> >(such as netconsole.c)
> >
> >Libraries
> >ulibC, musl, bionic, glibc
> >
> >languages
> >
> >Added hardware, such as a relay board to
> >power up and down other electronics as an example.
> >
> >So, being a long time reader of gentoo embedded, I understand that
> >most folks in the gentoo-embedded-project space, are busy and have
> >a very deep and strong background in embedded linux. I also understand
> >that they do not need a robustly maintained gentoo-embedded-handbook. 
> >But, if we are to encourage others to learn and develop into strong
> >gentoo-embedded hackers, then we should provide a pathway for their
> >needs. Expanding the scope of the gentoo-embedded-manual or creating
> >an ancillary document, with many more simplified steps, would be
> >an excellent first step to revitalizing gentoo-embedded, imho.
> >
> >Personally, I'd like to see what the 64Bit arm devs have in mind for
> >the Gentoo embedded handbook, or as a minimized full (stage?) 
> >offering?
> >I've just been waiting for 64Bit arm boards to come down a bit in
> >price; ymmv.
> >
> >I will defer to the leadership decision of the gentoo-embedded-project
> >team.
> >
> >sincerely,
> >James Horton
> >
> 
> -- 
> Email Rider
> 
> John Laurence Poole
> P.O. Box 6566
> Napa CA 94581-6566
> 707-812-1323 office
>