[Gc-linux-devel] Re: modchip Viper Extreme

[Masken <ma...@em...>]

TuiTo wrote:
> Masken wrote:
>> The Viper Extreme's USB port is supposed to be 2-way and programmable, 
>> but its specs hasn't been released yet.
>>
>> I wouldn't store the linux kernel on the chip's flash for two reasons:
>> it would take almost all of the available space and, since the kernel 
>> gets updated every now and then, one would have to reflash it. It 
>> would be better, I think, to store a small apploader on the chip and 
>> load the kernel via USB. This could be done automatically on Cube 
>> startup.
>>
> 
> this is nice too. But the main idea for for uploading the kernel 
> directly was to make the cube completly independent (say, you're 
> travelling and want to watch some movies).

The kernel by itself isn't a working system; for example, mplayer and 
its attendant libraries takes several megabytes of space, requiring 
storage on DVD (see the mfe-distro) or on an NFS/NBD server.

So since you need extra storage anyway, you might as well put the kernel 
with the rest of the linux system.