[syslinux] 10 year old question

[Daryl Kuchay]

Thank you for that. I’ve set up the thinstation-v5.6.1.iso in vm and setup the chroot. I did my first ./build —allmodules and wrote the iso to usb using lili version 2.0 so that I can boot with older syslinux. I am doing this for the needed hardware profile to build from inside the vm however the usb has been stuck on the syslinux version line with a line following: Thinstation..... for 30 minutes now. Since the version of syslinux is v3.82 the only conclusion is incompatible kernel. Did you use a pae kernel for the build —allmodules iso? My hardware will not support if you did....


Oh wait, 45 minutes later I got an error message that indicates:

Not enough memory to lead map. 

I have committed to memory what kernel modules are needed to support the hardware. Aside from memory I have several kernel config files I could share. Is there another way to determine a “hardware profile” for your build environment? 


Thank you
Daryl

> On May 13, 2020, at 1:17 PM, Don Cupp <doncuppjr at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> The DevStation uses a full i686 kernel, but when you recompile the kernel for your old machines, you can change the compatibility. I think the UP(uni processor) kernel might already work for you. I did do some builds for geode.
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> On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 10:12:51 AM PDT, Daryl Kuchay <daryl.kuchay at icloud.com> wrote: 
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> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Think I have that installed in vm. I was on github page and saw a mention of a devstation iso file and when I clicked on it I saw devstation-6.x.x on its way in. Wanted to get devstation on iso for 5.6.1 if possible? Easier to install to vm. 
> 
> When I startup the iso that I did download, TS-5.6.1 installer I get a message that my cpu is too old. I set up on p3 in vm due to having a 586 geode cpu on the target hardware. It lacks the noP instruction to make it full i686. Would rather know sooner than later if cpu is showstopper
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On May 13, 2020, at 1:05 PM, Don Cupp <doncuppjr at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> 
>> https://sourceforge.net/projects/thinstation/files/thinstation/thinstation-5/TS-5.6.1-Installer-0921.iso/download
>> 
>> Hope those still work.
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>> On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 09:45:01 AM PDT, Daryl Kuchay <daryl.kuchay at icloud.com> wrote: 
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>> Do you have a download link for devstation-5.6.1? Cant find it within files at sourceforge.
>> 
>> Thank you
>> 
>>>> On May 13, 2020, at 11:56 AM, Don Cupp <doncuppjr at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Try ThinStation 5.6(last 32bit version) trade out the syslinux for the older version. Maybe rev the kernel.
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>>>> On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 08:38:59 AM PDT, Daryl Kuchay via Syslinux <syslinux at syslinux.org> wrote: 
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>>> 
>>> Hi All,
>>> 
>>> I used to run webdt.org and this was built to support a tablet computer that hit the market around the late 90’s. DT Research makes them and they get sold to mostly enterprise applications. That being said there are still a few hundred thousand of these in circulation. 
>>> 
>>> The hardware is a bit of a hack. Its usb1.1 with a 44 pin flash module on 44 pin pata half height headers. MFGR grounded pin 44 so we cant easily swap out these for generic larger replacements. Average size of this module is 500mb. These originally came with windows ce. Bios is American Micro Devices XpressROM_DT366_0.01.10. Hardware is AMD Geode. Updated Bios is dated 7/21/2005. 
>>> 
>>> Syslinux is used to boot many distributions of linux however on this hardware the most recent version of syslinux that I have seen work is version 3.82 or version 3.83. If I try a distribution on v4 or newer of syslinux I see the boot hang on the first line indicating what version of syslinux is being used. 
>>> 
>>> webdt.org has been read only for years now and mostly due to the fact that owners of the hardware are limited to old versions of puppy linux, the last to support the aging hardware in the world. This is largely due to the fact that syslinux has updated to the point of no longer supporting the hardware. Grub-0.97 is also the last version of grub that supports the hardware so this is not singular. 
>>> 
>>> The irony of the packaging timelines with regard to this hardware are humorous. At the point in time that linux console tools, and namely inputattach, started to support this hardware (penmount serial touchscreen being able to attach to evdev) was about one version behind the point that syslinux started to not support the hardware. Accidental I am sure however it is very hard to make a version fo linux to support this hardware due to these timelines. 
>>> 
>>> My questions are:
>>> 
>>> Was this by design? I well understand dropping legacy to advance code but with so many of these in the wild.....  ebay dt research or webdt. I see over a thousand of them today in lot quantities.
>>> 
>>> Is there anything I can do to get more modern versions of syslinux to boot on the hardware in question?  IE workarounds or modifications to boot lines being used?
>>> 
>>> We are supported by linux kernel up to version 5 on the hardware. It would be nice if other areas of linux followed suit. I have leaned on distribution maintainers to possibly make an iso with older syslinux on it so that owners of the hardware would be supported however many indicate they would not be sure they could support it. 
>>> 
>>> If you were me what would you do? 
>>> 
>>> Thank you in advance!
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