The page is obsolete, for more SFFSDR info see: http://www.opensdr.com/node/6. The list archives are still at: http://listserv.vt.edu/archives/sffsdr.html.

== Installing Linux and OSSIE on the Lyrtech SFFSDR ==

WARNING: No instructions exist for restoring the software provided with the SFFSDR board. I can not answer any questions about the restore process, proceed at your own risk.


There is a listserv for Linux on the SFF SDR. To subscribe to the list send an email to listserv@listserv.vt.edu with
the following in the body of the email. The subject line doesn't matter.

{{{
subscribe sffsdr Firstname Lastname
}}}

List archives are at http://listserv.vt.edu/archives/sffsdr.html

Basic procedure:

 * Download required software
 * Erase flash
 * Install u-boot into flash with DV Flasher
 * Write Linux kernel into flash with u-boot
 * Create NFS server that exports the SFF SDR root file system
 * Boot SFF SDR and run Linux + OSSIE

This document assumes you are skilled with Linux and you can work out the bits I forgot to explain. Especially finding dependencies I forget to mention, like mono, and you can set up a NFS server. You should be able to operate a serial port. You will also need to do kermit downloads, at least until we get u-boot working with the ethernet.

Before starting, attach a serial port and your favorite terminal software (that can do kermit, I use kermit) and set the speed to 115200n81.

If you get stuck and need some quick answers, look for me (Crofton) in #davinci on irc.freenode.net.

==== Download required software ====

 * http://ossie.wireless.vt.edu/~balister/sffsdr/DVFlasher_1_12.exe
 * http://ossie.wireless.vt.edu/~balister/sffsdr/u-boot.bin
 * http://ossie.wireless.vt.edu/~balister/sffsdr/uImage.bin
 * http://ossie.wireless.vt.edu/~balister/sffsdr/ossie-image.tgz

After the SDR Forum Technical conference I will update [http://www.openembedded.org OpenEmbedded] so people can build the kernel and file system themselves. DVFlasher is at http://trac.geekisp.com/opensdr/browser/HW_tools/sff_sdr/serial_loader/trunk/DVFlasher. U-boot is built from git with a patch I need to create.

==== Erase Flash ====

 * Set dip switches to serial load. Switch block marked S2. Switches 1 and 2, off; 3 and 4 on.
 * Reset the board (with the reset switch or cycle power)
 * WARNING: This step erases the existing software on the SFF SDR! Run:
{{{
$ sudo DVFlasher_1_12.exe -enand
}}}
 * When the erase finishes, press return to exit.

==== Install U-boot ====

 * Leave the dip switches in the serial load position.
 * Reset the board.
 * Run:
{{{
$ sudo DVFlasher_1_12.exe -fnandbin u-boot.bin
}}}
 * Press return to exit when the load finishes.

==== Loading the kernel into flash ====

 * Move the dip switches to boot from NAND. All switches off.
 * Start your serial interface program.
 * Reset the board. You should get to the u-boot prompt.
 * Now erase flash, load the kernel, write to flash (After the mass erase, you can skip the erase step. I include it here for use when reflashing the kernel without erasing the entire flash.)
{{{
> nand erase 0x20A0000 0x160000
> loadb
With your terminal program send the uImage.bin file to the board.
> nand write 0x80700000 0x20A0000 0x160000
}}}
 * Now set up the u-boot environment (You should only need to do this once)
{{{
> setenv bootcmd 'nboot 80700000 0 20a0000; bootm'
> setenv bootargs console=ttyS0,115200n8 root=/dev/nfs rw noinitrd ip=dhcp nfsroot=192.168.1.101:/nfsroot/sffsdr
> saveenv
}}}
 * Now use the {{{> boot}}} command to boot the kernel. It should run until it fails to mount root. (Since the NFS server is not setup)

==== Setup the NFS server with the root file system ====

 * Setup the NFS server software for your particualr distro. Be sure to pay attention to firewall configuration (I turn mine off ...)
 * In {{{/etc/exports}}} add the line {{{/nfsroot/sffsdr 192.168.1.0/255.255.255.0(rw,no_root_squash,no_all_squash}}}
 * Create the directory /nfsroot/sffsdr. (Or whatever you prefer)
 * cd into /nfsroot/sffsdr and run {{{tar xzvf ossie-image.tgz}}}
 * Reboot the board again, this time you should mount root. It is normal to take a very long time to synthesize the hotplug events.
 * Login as root, hit return for the password.


==== Notes ====

 * Last address is 0x7fe0000 (well, likely address of last block)
 * If you wipe the boot loader, the RBL defaults to serial loader, so you can reflash u-boot without setting the switches to serial.

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