How can I have a simple commandline based OS?

0

I have an Cortex A8 based development board, I would like to setup a simple OS, for example to connect through SSH to the board and upload/write new program(blink led etc). The board comes with a CD which is contains the Linux kernel, 

make zImage

I followed this tutorial, this is for Android, but I don't want a GUI.

After the compilation what am I supposed to do, I would like to have almost the same functionality as Ubuntu server.

What I am supposed to copy to the SD card?

OHLÁLÁ

Posted 2012-07-12T08:36:23.407

Reputation: 141

ARM boards often use the U-Boot bootloader, and the Linux kernel in uImage files rather than zImage. You really do not need to use ssh if you have a secure network. I use telnet since the LAN consists of just the PC and the ARM board with a switch (using static IP addresses.) – sawdust – 2012-07-12T09:18:36.520

If you don't want a GUI, then you don't need a new kernel. Simply inhibit the start of the X server during init (the exact procedure to do this depends on the startup mechanism, but usually involves rc scripts). But maybe you have misstated what you want. Do you really want a shell in a terminal on the VGA/LCD display, OR did you really want a headless configuration with the console on the serial port, /dev/tty ? That may require a new kernel build, or at least a new kernel command line. – sawdust – 2012-07-13T09:10:50.957

Answers

1

Good news is there's an ubuntu port for the cortex A8 (well, for some varients). However unlike x86, there's no uniform port for them -they use varients of the same processor, so there are different versions for say, a TI, Allwinner or other ARM processor. Without knowing your exact processor type its hard to recommend a distro or build you can use.

Here's the ubuntu builds for 12.04. Likewise debian has ports as do other OSes. Chances are there's a prebuilt linux distro you can use, but once again, depends on what the dev board actually is.

Journeyman Geek

Posted 2012-07-12T08:36:23.407

Reputation: 119 122

The type of the processor is s5pv210(Samsung) – OHLÁLÁ – 2012-07-12T08:53:55.820

"there's an ubuntu port for the cortex A8 (well, for some varients)." - You would need to use an image that was built for your specific board as well as the specific version/manufacturer of an ARM Cortex A8 processor. You have now left the comfortable world of standardized PC hardware. – sawdust – 2012-07-12T09:16:34.103

Asked: 2012-07-12T08:36:23.407

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Active: 2012-07-12T08:50:41.893