Computing

Software - GNU/Linux Software Projects

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| Software | Linux | Legacy |

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Listed below are some of the projects I have worked on or have packaged to make life a little easier.  Debian/Ubuntu users may add the following APT repository to their sources.list if they wish:

deb http://debian.russecke.net/ ./ deb-src http://debian.russecke.net/ ./

You may also browse the packages here.

Software

• notifier-applet - display notfication messages from UDP packets on the GNOME panel.
• site-upload - quickly upload website changes from the command line.
• SimpleWXR - import posts into WordPress using a simplified WXR XML format.
• helper-scripts - a set of tools to help with the maintenance of Debian-based system.
• synctree - a tool to synchronize two directory trees based on a set of rules.
• bup - yet another easy to use backup tool.

Packages

• lirc-modules - updated LIRC modules packages.
• keyspan - kernel module Debian packages for Keyspan USB to serial converters.
• nedit - my preferred graphical text editor.
• xbox - packages for the Microsoft Xbox.
• misterhouse - a home automation program written in Perl.
• sorune - a tool used to manage the database on the Neuros Audio player.
• cats2procmailrc - a tool generate a procmail recipe from a simple, human readable mail categories file.

Debian on Motorola MCP750

Posted on May 05, 2003.

I actually did not do the work to create this, but I wanted to make it available to the free software community.  Special thanks to Eric Valette for all the hard work in putting it together.

Basically, the kernel image used on the rescue disk for the Debian 2.2 "Potato" PowerPC distribution will not work on the Motorola MCP750.  There are a few patches required to make the IRQ mapping and IDE controller work properly.  If you do not have a native PPC or cross-compiler environment to build a PPC kernel, then you will not be able build a kernel with the required patches.  Even if you do, the MCP750 may not be able to boot from floppy or CDROM, depending on what type of CompactPCI chassis it is installed in.  Therefore, you will need to network boot the board, which requires a combination rescue/root image to be transferred to the board via TFTP.  Eric's image provides that setup, using a Linux 2.2.17-pre9 kernel.  Here are the files:

• boot-mcp750.bin - the kernel/installer image.
• BOOTING - board setup example (env, niot, and nbo).

Be sure that you have "Network PReP-Boot Mode Enabled" set to "Y" and don't be surprised if the "nbo" command fails with "Network Boot Controller/Device Error".  Just try again.  Once the installer is up, you may install Debian in the usual fashion EXCEPT if you are installing to hard disk.  If that is the case DO NOT use the installer to setup your partition table (cfdisk).  Doing so will not work and will also break the installer, requiring a reboot.  Instead, scroll down to the last few installation options and select "Start a shell".  From here, use fdisk (not cfdisk) to setup the partitions and exit the shell when complete.  Also, I recommend using /dev/hdc1 as the root partition, since this is the default boot parameter in Eric's image.  Otherwise, you can use a hex editor to easily change it (is there an rdev for PPC?).

Once I had Debian installed and upgraded to a sid/woody setup, I built a 2.4.x kernel for it.  The 2.4.18-pre6 kernel worked on the MCP750 without any special modifications.  While the 2.2.17-pre9 from Eric did not work on the MCPN750 (non-system slot version of the MCP750), the 2.4.18 seemed to.