NetBSD/hpcarm User How-To page

Using NetBSD/hpcarm

Getting started with NetBSD/hpcarm


Getting started with NetBSD/hpcarm

Files to prepare

You need at least 3 files to start NetBSD/hpcarm.

hpcboot.exe
bootloader which runs in the WindowsCE environment. It currently supports WinCE2.11 and PocketPC(WinCE 3.xx) machines. It is available at sys/arch/hpc/stand/binary/ARM/. (From the NetBSD-current sources; see Tracking NetBSD-current.)
netbsd (kernel)

iPAQ: ftp://ftp.NetBSD.org/pub/NetBSD/NetBSD-3.0/hpcarm/binary/kernel/netbsd-IPAQ.gz

Jornada 720: ftp://ftp.NetBSD.org/pub/NetBSD/NetBSD-3.0/hpcarm/binary/kernel/netbsd-JORNADA720.gz

miniroot.fs (filesystem image, generated with vnconfig)
Coming soon.

Booting from memory card

This is probably the easiest way, for now.

Connect some device to the serial port. Use 19200bps, no parity, 8bits.

Prepare a DOS-formatted memory card, and copy the above 3 files (currently only 2 files) onto the card.

Insert the card into your WinCE machine.

Checking: did you connect the serial cable already? The serial cable MUST be plugged into WinCE machine before starting hpcboot.exe.

Go into "Explorer" (not "Internet Explorer"), go one directory down to your memory card (the name of the memory card differs by localization), and invoke hpcboot.exe. Alternatively, you may want to setup autoboot, if your WinCE product allows you to.

In hpcboot, setup the following items.

"kernel" screen:

  • Line 1: set the pathname to "netbsd". Should be "\Storage Card 1\" (without the quotes) and "netbsd", or whatever is suitable.
  • Line 2: specify the machine type you are using. At this moment this should not matter too much. In the future, when we got X support, the information will be used to determine screen size and keyboard type.
  • Line 3 and 4: specify the filesystem type. At present, we have no miniroot.fs, so this option is meaningless.
  • Line 5: You definitely want "Serial console". For other items, choose as you like.

Pray. Tap "boot" at the bottom. You will see "Last chance: Push OK to boot" dialog. Tap OK or return (obviously). If you are successful, you will see boot message like this on your serial port. Congratulations!

Building binary files

See the crosscompiling howto.