Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Shutdown, Gentoo and the Arietta.G25

[meino.cramer@gmx.de]

James <wireless@tampabay.rr.com> [14-12-01 19:12]:
>  <meino.cramer <at> gmx.de> writes:
> 
> 
> > But: Shutdown (as recommmended by acmesystems "shutdown -h -H now")
> > REBOOTS the system instead of powering it down.
> 
> What about "halt"?   man halt
> 
> > What is the difference here? 
> > Isn't it, that all shutdown applications only send some instructions
> > to the kernel and the kernel is the main actor in bringing the system
> > down?
> 
> > Meino
> 
> 
> Meino, "it's an embedded system". That can mean unique hardware, via
> the SoC, hidden codes via the in-situ firmware, or a myriad of things
> hidden in the "recommended" kernel(s).  Many embedded developers
> forked off their own "embedded kernel" form linux via the 2.2 or 2.4
> kernel series.
> 
> So, you have to "fully characterize" the system. Which is difficult to
> impossible, as the vendor wants to retain control in most circumstances.
> The good news is most "hardware vendors" are dumb, when it comes to codes;
> so there is most always a work-around; hence "man halt" as for your
> next leg of the journey?
> 
> hth,
> James
> 

Hi James,

:)

The complete software is open source. The patches from acmesystems to (or is
"against" the better english word for that process???) the
kernel are only adding dts/dtb files (device
tree...kinda "config file to tell the kernel at what adress what
hardware is, what size the memory/flash is etcetera"...human readable)
and prepare an already done kernel configuration. There is no "hiding"
by acmesystems. No propietary firmware blob (ok...there is one...but it is for
the additional Ralink Wifi chip and is offered inside a Linux.firmware.tar.gz
indepandantly from acmesystems.)

The hardware itself consists of an AT91SAM9G25 CPU by Atmel and 256 MB
of RAM (and some analog power thingies and regulators) and a Mico-USB
socket. And lots of GPIO connectors. The hardware is such a "Middle of
the road" that Robert Nelsons said, that even a complete mainline
kernel just directly taken from Linus desktop would work.

The problem with shutdown was mentioned in their "Trouble shooting
FAQ" and it was said, that instead of "halt" one should use "shutdown
-h -H now"...which works with a Debian system...but not with Gentoo.

They describe how to compile the kernel thet use...:
Fetch the 3.16.1 kernel from ftp.kernel.org
Apply the patch
Compile the kernel and the modules
Install it on the SDcard.
Add a rootfs
Done.
No hiding or propietary stuff.
Just open source.

The problem I think is burried under the differences of both rootfs:
Debian and Gentoo

Best regards,
Meino