Running Linux on a Ipaq

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Running Linux on a Ipaq

• VaibhaV Sharma
• Ishi Systems Inc.
• vsharma_at_ishisystems.com
• http//vsharma.net

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PDA?

• Personal Digital Assistant
• Personal Organization
• Productivity enhancer
• Fun
• Ego
• You My brick smaller than yours ? and it plays
  mp3s too
• Me I could hit and knock u off with mine!
• Geekdome

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HP-Compaq pocket PC

• Originally by Compaq (now HP)
• Ipaq 3650 launched in 2000
• Runs Windows CE 3.0
• Pre-installed bloatware
• Feature rich hardware bricks

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Ipaq 3650

• 206 MHz Intel StrongARM Processor
• 32 MB of RAM
• 16 MB of Flash ROM
• 12-bit (4096 color) TFT Display
• Stereo audio output jack and inbuilt speaker/mic
• Infrared port
• Serial OR USB 1.1 compliant docking cradle
• Sleeve based support for expansion cards

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Why not Windows CE?

• Weird user interface
• Poor application support (vs. Palm / Linux)
• Rich vendor poor support

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What is in there?

• FlashROM
• Windows Boot loader
• Windows CE Operating System
• Peripheral devices
• Optional CF sleeve
• CF Storage
• Wireless connectivity
• GPS devices

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Linux ports for the ipaq

• Familiar Linux Distribution
• GPE - X windows / GTK-2.2 widget toolkit
• OPIE - fork of Qtopia env. by Trolltech
• Intimate Project
• Full blown debian system. Needs atleast 140 MB

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What comes with linux on the ipaq?

• The power of opensource
• Hundreds of applications
• Easy user interface
• Fully customizable
• Multiple user logins
• Server/desktop

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Linux install in a nutshell

• Backup data
• Backup WinCE image
• Backup bootloader image
• Install ARM bootloader
• Reprogram Flash ROM (overwrite WinCE image with
  Linux image)
• Reboot

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Backup!

• Use Microsoft ActiveSync
• Use BootBlaster
• Backup boot loader
• Backup Wince Image

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Backup!
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Backup and Reprogram
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Reboot
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Reprogram

• Looks for an image
• Matches md5sum
• Erasing
• Programming
• Verifying
• Done!
• Reboot

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Look ma! Linux on Ipaq!
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Look ma! Linux on Ipaq!
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GPE loads up
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The GPE Desktop (Login)
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The GPE Desktop (free)
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The GPE Desktop (network)
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The GPE Desktop (Music)
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The GPE Desktop (ipkg irc)
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The GPE Desktop (apps)
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The OPIE Desktop
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The OPIE Desktop
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What else can I do?

• Cisco console
• WIFI / GPS / Bluetooth
• Run X applications remotely
• Flood ping other PDAs )

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Restoring Windows CE

• Transfer Wince image to the CF card
• Generate a reflash.ctl file
• md5sums root
• Generate the md5sum
• md5sum wince_image.gz /mnt/hda/md5sums
• Reboot with action key pressed
• Follow prompts
• Reboot
• All your bloat are belong to you

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Questions?
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Thank You