[syslinux] 10 year old question

Daryl Kuchay
Wed, 13 May 2020 22:46:33 -0000

Thank you for that. I?ve set up the thinstation-v5.6.1.iso in vm and setup the
chroot. I did my first ./build ?allmodules and wrote the iso to usb using lili
version 2.0 so that I can boot with older syslinux. I am doing this for the
needed hardware profile to build from inside the vm however the usb has been
stuck on the syslinux version line with a line following: Thinstation..... for
30 minutes now. Since the version of syslinux is v3.82 the only conclusion is
incompatible kernel. Did you use a pae kernel for the build ?allmodules iso? My
hardware will not support if you did....


Oh wait, 45 minutes later I got an error message that indicates:

Not enough memory to lead map.

I have committed to memory what kernel modules are needed to support the
hardware. Aside from memory I have several kernel config files I could share. Is
there another way to determine a ?hardware profile? for your build environment?


Thank you
Daryl

> On May 13, 2020, at 1:17 PM, Don Cupp <doncuppjr at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> ?The DevStation uses a full i686 kernel, but when you recompile the kernel
for your old machines, you can change the compatibility. I think the UP(uni
processor) kernel might already work for you. I did do some builds for geode.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 10:12:51 AM PDT, Daryl Kuchay <daryl.kuchay
at icloud.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
> Think I have that installed in vm. I was on github page and saw a mention
of a devstation iso file and when I clicked on it I saw devstation-6.x.x on its
way in. Wanted to get devstation on iso for 5.6.1 if possible? Easier to install
to vm.
>
> When I startup the iso that I did download, TS-5.6.1 installer I get a
message that my cpu is too old. I set up on p3 in vm due to having a 586 geode
cpu on the target hardware. It lacks the noP instruction to make it full i686.
Would rather know sooner than later if cpu is showstopper
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On May 13, 2020, at 1:05 PM, Don Cupp <doncuppjr at yahoo.com>
wrote:
>>
>>
?https://sourceforge.net/projects/thinstation/files/thinstation/thinstation-5/TS-5.6.1-Installer-0921.iso/download
>>
>> Hope those still work.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 09:45:01 AM PDT, Daryl Kuchay
<daryl.kuchay at icloud.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Do you have a download link for devstation-5.6.1? Cant find it within
files at sourceforge.
>>
>> Thank you
>>
>>>> On May 13, 2020, at 11:56 AM, Don Cupp <doncuppjr at
yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> ?Try ThinStation 5.6(last 32bit version) trade out the syslinux for
the older version. Maybe rev the kernel.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 08:38:59 AM PDT, Daryl Kuchay via
Syslinux <syslinux at syslinux.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> I used to run webdt.org and this was built to support a tablet
computer that hit the market around the late 90?s. DT Research makes them and
they get sold to mostly enterprise applications. That being said there are still
a few hundred thousand of these in circulation.
>>>
>>> The hardware is a bit of a hack. Its usb1.1 with a 44 pin flash
module on 44 pin pata half height headers. MFGR grounded pin 44 so we cant
easily swap out these for generic larger replacements. Average size of this
module is 500mb. These originally came with windows ce. Bios is American Micro
Devices XpressROM_DT366_0.01.10. Hardware is AMD Geode. Updated Bios is dated
7/21/2005.
>>>
>>> Syslinux is used to boot many distributions of linux however on
this hardware the most recent version of syslinux that I have seen work is
version 3.82 or version 3.83. If I try a distribution on v4 or newer of syslinux
I see the boot hang on the first line indicating what version of syslinux is
being used.
>>>
>>> webdt.org has been read only for years now and mostly due to the
fact that owners of the hardware are limited to old versions of puppy linux, the
last to support the aging hardware in the world. This is largely due to the fact
that syslinux has updated to the point of no longer supporting the hardware.
Grub-0.97 is also the last version of grub that supports the hardware so this is
not singular.
>>>
>>> The irony of the packaging timelines with regard to this hardware
are humorous. At the point in time that linux console tools, and namely
inputattach, started to support this hardware (penmount serial touchscreen being
able to attach to evdev) was about one version behind the point that syslinux
started to not support the hardware. Accidental I am sure however it is very
hard to make a version fo linux to support this hardware due to these timelines.
>>>
>>> My questions are:
>>>
>>> Was this by design? I well understand dropping legacy to advance
code but with so many of these in the wild.....  ebay dt research or webdt. I
see over a thousand of them today in lot quantities.
>>>
>>> Is there anything I can do to get more modern versions of syslinux
to boot on the hardware in question?  IE workarounds or modifications to boot
lines being used?
>>>
>>> We are supported by linux kernel up to version 5 on the hardware.
It would be nice if other areas of linux followed suit. I have leaned on
distribution maintainers to possibly make an iso with older syslinux on it so
that owners of the hardware would be supported however many indicate they would
not be sure they could support it.
>>>
>>> If you were me what would you do?
>>>
>>> Thank you in advance!
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