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General => Users => Topic started by: jesaipa on May 12, 2009, 06:42:48 pm

Title: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 12, 2009, 06:42:48 pm
Hi all,

I've an old tablet PC (fujitsu Point 1600) without network interface and no boot PCMCIA option in bios.
I've add PCMCIA network card (3c589) and I've tryed this : http://howto.gumph.org/content/pxe-boot-a-laptop/
With little time I've succeed to boot in PXE mode so my tablet PC download the initrd image and my tablet PC start configuration but at a time I've this error :
ipconfig: no devices to configure
/init: .: 1: Can't open /tmp/net-eth0.conf
Kernel Panic

So I've searched and find this "Unrecognized NIC" article into the wiki.
I'd add the 3c589_cs module (I see it in /lib/modules/2.2.22-.../kernel/drivers/net/pcmcia) in my modules's file but it don't work :(
I've thinked that is maybe my pcmcia controler (ti pci1220) who isn't load so I've add module that is in /lib/modules/2.2.22-.../kernel/drivers/pcmcia one after one but nothing to do :(

Any body have an idea please ?

Thank's a lot and sorry for my bad english
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: colinjones on May 13, 2009, 01:50:03 am
You need to follow that article very carefully, there are a few gotchas!

Essentially, you need to update both initrd images. The first one is the "first boot" image. This is the boot image sent to a new Media Director that is brand new and has never been seen before. This image is used to run the setup process to create a new MD, and so of course needs to have proper access to the network. If you already have a valid driver on your core for that NIC, then edit the modules file, run "depmod" to create the dependencies list. Then recreate the initrd image.

That should recreate the initial/first-time boot image to include the NIC driver you want. Now the MD should boot correctly the first time, and start building the new MD. Once complete, it should reboot, but fail again. This is because it is now using the MD-specific initrd boot image, which doesn't include your driver again. Continuing to follow that article, you can now "chroot" into the MD image (from your core), and use similar commands again to recreate the MD-specific initrd boot image. Then you should be able to reboot and it work....
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 13, 2009, 08:53:11 pm
Thank you very much for this reply.

You talk about this article ? http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/R8168
If I edit the modules file I've a a file seem to be binary ... What do you mean for "then edit the modules file" = edit : I'm stuppid ! I find a way and I continue to learn ;)

Sorry, I'm Linux's beginner :(
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: colinjones on May 13, 2009, 11:04:05 pm
No, the unrecognised NIC article. By editing the modules file, I mean the same as you meant in your first post!
I'd add the 3c589_cs module (I see it in /lib/modules/2.2.22-.../kernel/drivers/net/pcmcia) in my modules's file
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: hari on May 14, 2009, 12:04:44 am
you need to run a pcmcia cardmanager for that card to work in linux. Our default initrd does not include one.

best regards,
Hari
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 14, 2009, 07:12:39 pm
No, the unrecognised NIC article. By editing the modules file, I mean the same as you meant in your first post!
I'd add the 3c589_cs module (I see it in /lib/modules/2.2.22-.../kernel/drivers/net/pcmcia) in my modules's file
Ok, so I've add 3c589_cs in my module file and run depmod.
After I've rebuild initrd with this script : /usr/pluto/bin/Diskless_BuildDefaultImage.sh  but nothing to do :( It doesn't work

you need to run a pcmcia cardmanager for that card to work in linux. Our default initrd does not include one.
I've thinked to that ...
The .ko files in /lib/modules/2.2.22-.../kernel/drivers/pcmcia isn't pcmcia cardmanager ?


Just another question.
I've this parameter by default in my initramfs.conf :
MODULES=most  (It should be not "netboot ?)
Boot=local (It should be not "nfs" ?)

Thank's a lot ;)
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 16, 2009, 10:58:18 am
OK so I've add necessary modules in the /etc/initramfs-tools/modules file, run depmod and rebuild image but it don't work

I've unpackage the intrd file in /tftpboot/defaut/initrd and I don't find any modules that I've defined in my /etc/initramfs-tools/modules. I think that I've problem with the mkinitramfs

Have you an idea please ?

Thank's
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 16, 2009, 03:35:00 pm
Humm I'm so stupid, I was into /etc/initramfs-tools/ but it's /etc/initramfs-tools-interactor folder !
So if I add module, I see it when i'm unzip initrd.
But with the good modules it doesn't work.

I'v installed a DSL on my old tablet pc for see the configuration. My nic work with DSL and lsmod tell me that I've this module for my NIC : pcmcia_core, yenta_socket and ds.
I've find pcmcia_core and yenta_socket in my /lib/modules/2.2.22-.../kernel/drivers folder but not ds :(
I'm searching in the web but don't find informations about this.

So more, this module in dsl are .o because it's a 2.4.26 kernel and in 2.6.22 it's .ko

I think that I'm in good way but little help will be precious :)
Thank's
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 16, 2009, 11:10:37 pm
Hummm ... I find the ds.c source but I can't built it in .ko
With " make M=`pwd`/drivers/pcmcia modules " I've a .o file (my source is 2.6.22 so I don't understand)

I've searched and all people tell to execute this " make -C /lib/modules/$(shell uname -r)/build M=$(PWD) modules " but it doesn't work :(

Any idea please ?
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 17, 2009, 10:58:31 am
you need to run a pcmcia cardmanager for that card to work in linux. Our default initrd does not include one.

best regards,
Hari

Have you an idea about how can I do that please ?

Thank's a lot
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: hari on May 17, 2009, 02:37:47 pm
not ad-hoc..

I've not used that card for ages, in fact I was surprised that it even does PXE :-)

It depends on your controller, is it cardbus or pcmcia? The card is a 16bit pcmcia card, so I assume you need the userspace pcmcia utils (cardservices), too. I've not messed with PCMCIA for years. Recent cardbus cards show up as pci devices, that makes handling much easier.

br, Hari
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 17, 2009, 03:26:39 pm
It's a pcmcia slot.
I'll search cardeservices for it

My old 3c589 boot in PXE after make this : http://howto.gumph.org/content/pxe-boot-a-laptop/

Do you know a solution to log what is displaying in my tablet pc when booting ?

Thank's Hari ;)
Sorry for my bad english
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 17, 2009, 04:39:17 pm
Hummm ... if I understand I should add cardmanager to the kernel that take my tablet by PXE ? (my english is so poor so I hope that you know what I mean)

Have you an idea about how modify it please ?
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 18, 2009, 08:21:01 pm
I find a way ...
The files used to make the initrd are into /usr/share/initramfs-tools

I'm continue to search a solution but I think that I'm  progress
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 21, 2009, 12:19:21 pm
Hummm ... I've a way
I think that is cardmanager is in 32 bits but my old nic run in 16 bit and don't run on 32bits.

I've made lot of things to try to desactivate 32 bits support but I can't

Any one have an idea (same little) please

Thank's
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: hari on May 21, 2009, 01:12:45 pm
thats what I try to tell you since a few posts ago :-) As the card is 16 bit, you need to run userspace card services, too. You don't need to deactivate 32bit support.

br, Hari
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 21, 2009, 01:18:52 pm
Have you an idea to do that please ? My knowledge on linux are little but I'm learning a lot with LinuxMCE :)

Thank you very much Hary ;)

edit : there is some informations about 16bits cards here : http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/kernel/pcmcia/cardmgr-to-pcmciautils.html
But I dont understand it and it's for a 2.4 kernel version ...
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: hari on May 21, 2009, 03:17:38 pm
that is for 2.6 and looks pretty good.. just follow the instructions..

br, Hari
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 21, 2009, 03:35:54 pm
I don't find the /etc/modprob.conf so I've thinked that was for 2.4 but it's write 2.6 on top of the page.
I'm reading lot of things at this momoment so I'm little confused ...

Sorry for my stupid post and thank's for your help ;)
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 21, 2009, 05:53:46 pm
I've tryed to add "install pcmcia_core /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install pcmcia_core; /sbin/modprobe pcmcia" but it don't work because the little image does'nt had install binaries :(

I'm searching, I'm searching ...

All ideas are welcom
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 22, 2009, 08:42:34 am
I don't understand ... I've made lot of tests and finaly I've rebuild my kernel with the 32 bits support cardbus delete.
To do that I've copied the /boot/conf ... file in the src dir to have the same configuration. I've just desactivate the 32 bit support.
Before, my generated initrd file was 4,7 Mo (I'm using the DisklessBuild_default.sh script)
After it's 17 Mo and my tablet don't work. I think I've not enought RAM (32 Mo)

How after the new configuration this file is so big ? I've made a mistake ?

Thank's
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: hari on May 22, 2009, 01:39:34 pm
if the controller supports 32bit i'd really recommend to get a cardbus card. Much less hassle. I've never network-booted over a 16bit pcmcia card, so I cannot elaborate on what needs to go into the kubuntu initrd.

You could unpack the initrd and see what exactly went in there..

br, Hari
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 22, 2009, 02:16:28 pm
The problem if I change my nic is I'm not sure to find the NDIS driver necessary to make a boot floppy to could boot pcmcia via PXE.
I've extract the initrd, there isn't modprob.conf :(
I've made lot of tests ... I've add Install binrary file, add a modprob.cof but nothing work :(

Just a question ... I've rebuild the kernel by :
I've downloaded the kernel source 2.6.22-14
I've copy /boot/config.... to /usr/src/linux source dir/ .config
I've made a make menuconfig and disable 32 bits pccard support
I've run make-kpkg clean
I've run : fakeroot make-kpkg --initrd --append-to-version=-custom kernel_image kernel_headers
To finish I'v installed the .deb

I'm finding a strange thing ... with this little modification my new /boot/initrd-image is 47 Mo and the old is 7 Mo. It's the same when I build the initramfs, the size 7x more important (I hope you know what I mean)
Is t a good practice to re-setup my kernel ?

Thank you
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: hari on May 22, 2009, 02:39:20 pm
did you try to manually create the initrd?
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 22, 2009, 02:45:33 pm
No I don't, my knowledge are too bad for that.
I was thinked that the once way to build it is to ru mkintramfs no ?
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 24, 2009, 08:20:57 am
I've made a test because I find the initrd size too big compared to original size so I've copyied the /boot/congig ... file in my src folder and I don't modify it.
I've build the kernel and the size is 7x much important that original ...

I've made a mistake ?

Thank you ;)
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: hari on May 24, 2009, 09:58:06 am
hmm, this is strange. Did you use the config-<blah> for your running kernel?

best regards,
Hari
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 24, 2009, 10:28:59 am
I think that I use the config file who is make with my build kernel because to build it I create 2 .deb and install it.
I test, I test because I've not more knowledge.

Have you a good method to rebuild my kernel please ?

Thank's ;)
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: hari on May 24, 2009, 12:11:33 pm
make bzImage :-p

if i were you, I'd really get a 32 bit card. I'm not sure but I think the recent ones should do PXE fine.

br, Hari
Title: Re: PXE Booting and PCMCIA issue
Post by: jesaipa on May 24, 2009, 07:16:17 pm
I've searched a 32 bit card PXE capable but I don't find :( So more, I don't think that my bios is capable

I put it in standby because I'm tired, I'm searching since more one week without result

Thank's for your help Hary ;)