>
> So I have some questions :
>
> In the datasheet, it�s said : � Power-on to bootup firmware
exit/OS
> bootloader start less than 0.5 seconds (typical linux startup is
> another approx 3 seconds) �, can you explain in more details
�.
The first "." printed is printed by the mini Linux bootloader we
wrote. This is code that resides on the SD card. The bootloader
prints a dot as the first thing it does, then loads the kernel from
SD to RAM, prints another dot, loads the initrd, prints one more dot
then jumps into Linux. Linux decompresses itself, does some
initialization and then starts printing kernel bootup messages.
Approx 3.5 seconds should have passed from power-on once you see the
first message printed to the serial console from the Linux kernel.
>
> Is-it realistic to have a SPI+COM task working in less 5s after the
> power-on on a TS-7300? Is it more reasonable to use a TS-7260 for
this
> project ?
If you put the application on the initrd and modify the /linuxrc
script to call it this is reasonable. If you want something faster,
you can put it in the kernel itself. Keep in mind though that
anything you put in the kernel image becomes contaminated by the GPL-
- so don't put any intelligence there you're not willing to share
freely with the world/competitors.
>
> Is-it only the TS-10 linux to operate on the TS-7300 ?
The kernel on the TS-7300 is 2.4.26-ts10. Older kernels will not
work. The TS-7300 starts life with the watchdog armed and depends
on startup code in the Linux kernel we just added in -ts10 to turn
off the watchdog.
>
> Is it possible to a accelerate the boot process of the BOOTROM
(less
> thant 3sec) ?
The BOOTROM is not the bottleneck. Control is passed to software on
the SD card approx 0.5-1 seconds after power-on. Booting Linux
requires loading 2-3MB of data from the SD and then decompressing
it. Linux could be made quicker by making the kernel smaller and do
less initialization. The initrd could be made faster by making it
smaller also.
>
> What�s the faster process ? :
> TS-7300 boot : (BOOTROM + SD card boot)
> TS-7260 boot : (BOOTROM + REDBOOT + on-board)
It depends where you put your code. The TS-7300 by default runs
Debian, which is not optimized for bootup time. If you put your
application in the TS-7300 initrd, its very close between the two
boards. The TS-7260 uses YAFFS as a filesystem which can add many
seconds to bootup time depending on how full your flash is.
>
> Is-it possible to have on-board NAND flash linux on the TS-7300 ?
(
> :- ( perhaps considering the others threads , no)
Yes it is possible. It is laid out on the board, but we do not
stock boards in this configuration.
>
> What�s the minimum INITRD I can envisage (RAM, COM, SPI, SD card
0
> without checksum) ?
I'm not sure what you mean, could you elaborate?
>
> Can I load the FPGA bitstream, the ethernet, usb, and extra COM
port
> outward the INITRD ?
The SD card requires a kernel module. It cannot be mounted as the
root filesystem-- hence the initrd to load the SD module. The FPGA
bitstream could be loaded at any time, its just convenient to do it
first thing so the VGA can be turned on and a splash screen
displayed shortly after bootup.
>
> Is TS give all the patch and tools to create a custom INITRD ?
>
There were no special patches or tools used to create the initrd.
The initrd is the 2nd partition on the SD card and all it is is a
compressed ext2 filesystem. All the tools to create it are standard
on any Linux PC (gunzip, losetup, mke2fs, etc...)
//Jesse Off
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