Re: [Linux-7110-psion] pppd/getty/rz ?

[Nigel G. <ny...@ot...>]

On Mon, 14 Oct 2002 08:27:24 +0200 (CEST)
Jess Robinson <cas...@de...> wrote:
> Hi Nigel,
> The initrd is just a ex2fs, isn't it? So I could mount it using loop and
> add other programs such as minicom or agetty?
 
Yup that will work a treat, just gunzip the initrd.gz & mount -o loop <initrd> <mountpoint>
Thats just how I tinkered this together...

	But, be warned; the initrd I based this on is itself based on libc-2.1.2 - its tricky finding binaries,
some stuff compiled against later libc does work happily. (I was using bits from wookie's ipkg 0.3 distro)
	I got as far as pppd with broken agetty, but the required libs (libshadow was a problem for libc as i remember)
soon bloated the initrd when it was unpacked to bigger than the kernel's reserved ramdisks :(
This failure came late one night & i gave up on ppp & agetty. By all means have a go - many like me will 
love you forever ;-)
	I think the best approach without a recompile for bigger ramdisks may be minicom at both ends -
assuming it is not too library hungry - or some other transfer tool (plip springs to mind).
Somehow I never thought of minicom, it would make a good general purpose initrd.
	However,  your problems over the serial link are odd... Maybe your kernel is ^still^ not quite happpy?
	Also have you tried the ^big stick^ method, lowering the link to 57600?
	If you manage a minicom initrd please share - if i dont hear from you I'll give it a go soon.

best regards & best of luck,
Nigel

Rev. N.R. Garnett 
(Minister of Perpetual Consumption, Beer Church)
(Reverend, Universal Life Church)

"If God had intended us to drink beer, he would have given us stomachs."
    								David Daye