Re: Sarge on WRT54G-like Embedded Device?
Quantum Scientific wrote:
> We are investigating the possibility of installing Sarge into an embedded
> device with a Broadcom BCM4704KPB MIPS processor.
>
> I see that, although I believe MIPS processors are endian-agnostic, there are
> two Debian releases? I don't know which is suited to the 4704. I've been
> unable to get the datasheet.
MIPS CPUs can run in both endianness modes, this is determined by either
the board wiring or by the firmware. As a rule of thumb, the small
Broadcom CPUs tend to be used in little endian mode.
> This embedded device has the Broadcom processor with hardware IPSec and two
> ethernet ports, 32MB flash, 128MB DDR SDRAM, a BCM5325A2 switch, JTag and
> what looks like a serial port.
A basic Debian installation needs about 128 MB disk space, so you will
have to remove unwanted packages and documentation.
> My plan is to install Debian Sarge into a UML image for it and compile the
> basic apps usually used in embedded devices. But how to determine which
> drivers are appropriate, by just looking at the board? I'd rather Debian
> autosize the hardware if possible for things I don't know exist, in the
> processor for example. Which driver is best for this hardware IPSec? The
> Wifi radio is as yet unsupported in Linux, so has anyone used NDisWrapper in
> embedded?
I have a hard time to understand this paragraph. What exactly do you
want to do?
> Am I best advised to set up Sarge and trim out the unneeded files (docs, etc),
> or to just use a distro like OpenWRT?
This depends on the purpose. If you just want to run it as a WAP, then
OpenWRT seems to be a good choice.
> Are there any special toolchain
> considerations for this processor/ would Broadcom have a free toolchain?
The processor is to my knowledge MIPS32 ISA compatible, this shouldn't
pose any problem.
Thiemo
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