A good sub-architecture to base new ports on?

A good sub-architecture to base new ports on?

[Alexey Zaytsev]

Hey.

With all the ARM tree rework, I'm wondering, what would be a good (and
simple) sub-architecture on which to base new ports. The target is a
somewhat dated chip used in ADSL routers, so no DT, or multiplatform.
I'm looking at ixp4xx, because I'm somewhat familiar with the
platform, but is it a good reference?

A good sub-architecture to base new ports on?

[Arnd Bergmann]

On Wednesday 16 May 2012, Alexey Zaytsev wrote:
> Hey.
> 
> With all the ARM tree rework, I'm wondering, what would be a good (and
> simple) sub-architecture on which to base new ports. The target is a
> somewhat dated chip used in ADSL routers, so no DT, or multiplatform.
> I'm looking at ixp4xx, because I'm somewhat familiar with the
> platform, but is it a good reference?

For a new subarchitecture, using DT is required, but it should not make
your work harder. spear3xx/6xx is a good example of an older platform
that was recently converted (take the arm-soc tree as a base, it contains
the latest version).

Another good one would be highbank, but that contains a lot of stuff you
don't need.

ixp4xx is not very actively maintained, so I would not use that as
a base.

What platform are you talking about? I know of a few people that are
working on getting older platforms ported to Linux, so maybe someone
is already working on a port.

	Arnd

A good sub-architecture to base new ports on?

[Alexey Zaytsev]

On Wed, May 16, 2012 at 6:57 PM, Arnd Bergmann <arnd@arndb.de> wrote:
> On Wednesday 16 May 2012, Alexey Zaytsev wrote:
>> Hey.
>>
>> With all the ARM tree rework, I'm wondering, what would be a good (and
>> simple) sub-architecture on which to base new ports. The target is a
>> somewhat dated chip used in ADSL routers, so no DT, or multiplatform.
>> I'm looking at ixp4xx, because I'm somewhat familiar with the
>> platform, but is it a good reference?
>

Thanks for the reply.

> For a new subarchitecture, using DT is required, but it should not make
> your work harder. spear3xx/6xx is a good example of an older platform
> that was recently converted (take the arm-soc tree as a base, it contains
> the latest version).

Will do. Thanks for the arm-soc pointer.

> Another good one would be highbank, but that contains a lot of stuff you
> don't need.
>
> ixp4xx is not very actively maintained, so I would not use that as
> a base.
>
> What platform are you talking about? I know of a few people that are
> working on getting older platforms ported to Linux, so maybe someone
> is already working on a port.

It's a 'Solos' soc from Connexant. They released kernel code for
2.6.11, and I'm up-porting it to the current kernel. I know at least
two other people interested in the port, adding them to CC. If you
know anyone else, it would be great to share the effort.

A good sub-architecture to base new ports on?

[Jorge Amorós Argos]

Hi Alexey and co,

I up-ported Solos open code to Openwrt with Linux 2.6.30. I think the 
only missing module was ADSL.

Anyway, compiling was successful but I can't tell if it was functional.

Mainly 2 big issues:

  * No knowledge how to build the image (I wanted to have a self-lzma
    image in order to save room)
  * My Solos based router, Xavi 7968, is a bitchy one. I found no way to
    easily upload firmware into flash. It took me hours to make 1 trial.


I'll be glad to share the code with whoever need it and maybe we can 
take those old routers back to a better world.

Regards,
Jorge

El 17/05/2012 17:29, Alexey Zaytsev escribi?:
> On Wed, May 16, 2012 at 6:57 PM, Arnd Bergmann<arnd@arndb.de>  wrote:
>> On Wednesday 16 May 2012, Alexey Zaytsev wrote:
>>> Hey.
>>>
>>> With all the ARM tree rework, I'm wondering, what would be a good (and
>>> simple) sub-architecture on which to base new ports. The target is a
>>> somewhat dated chip used in ADSL routers, so no DT, or multiplatform.
>>> I'm looking at ixp4xx, because I'm somewhat familiar with the
>>> platform, but is it a good reference?
> Thanks for the reply.
>
>> For a new subarchitecture, using DT is required, but it should not make
>> your work harder. spear3xx/6xx is a good example of an older platform
>> that was recently converted (take the arm-soc tree as a base, it contains
>> the latest version).
> Will do. Thanks for the arm-soc pointer.
>
>> Another good one would be highbank, but that contains a lot of stuff you
>> don't need.
>>
>> ixp4xx is not very actively maintained, so I would not use that as
>> a base.
>>
>> What platform are you talking about? I know of a few people that are
>> working on getting older platforms ported to Linux, so maybe someone
>> is already working on a port.
> It's a 'Solos' soc from Connexant. They released kernel code for
> 2.6.11, and I'm up-porting it to the current kernel. I know at least
> two other people interested in the port, adding them to CC. If you
> know anyone else, it would be great to share the effort.
>

-- 
Jorge Amor?s Argos

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A good sub-architecture to base new ports on?

[Arnd Bergmann]

On Thursday 17 May 2012, Jorge Amor?s Argos wrote:
> Hi Alexey and co,
> 
> I up-ported Solos open code to Openwrt with Linux 2.6.30. I think the 
> only missing module was ADSL.

Ah, very good!

> Anyway, compiling was successful but I can't tell if it was functional.
> 
> Mainly 2 big issues:
> 
>   * No knowledge how to build the image (I wanted to have a self-lzma
>     image in order to save room)

LZMA support was added to arm linux in 2.6.35, and XZ support some time
after that.

>   * My Solos based router, Xavi 7968, is a bitchy one. I found no way to
>     easily upload firmware into flash. It took me hours to make 1 trial.
> 
> 
> I'll be glad to share the code with whoever need it and maybe we can 
> take those old routers back to a better world.

I think that would be helpful.

	Arnd

A good sub-architecture to base new ports on?

[Alexey Zaytsev]

On Fri, May 18, 2012 at 4:31 PM, Arnd Bergmann <arnd@arndb.de> wrote:
> On Thursday 17 May 2012, Jorge Amor?s Argos wrote:
>> Hi Alexey and co,
>>
>> I up-ported Solos open code to Openwrt with Linux 2.6.30. I think the
>> only missing module was ADSL.

That's really nice. Did you get the wi-fi module working as well?

>
> Ah, very good!

I've got it working for 2.6.31, but that needs a lot of cleanup.

>
>> Anyway, compiling was successful but I can't tell if it was functional.
>>
>> Mainly 2 big issues:
>>
>> ? * No knowledge how to build the image (I wanted to have a self-lzma
>> ? ? image in order to save room)
>
> LZMA support was added to arm linux in 2.6.35, and XZ support some time
> after that.
>
>> ? * My Solos based router, Xavi 7968, is a bitchy one. I found no way to
>> ? ? easily upload firmware into flash. It took me hours to make 1 trial.
>>
>>
>> I'll be glad to share the code with whoever need it and maybe we can
>> take those old routers back to a better world.
>
> I think that would be helpful.

Yeah. I'll put my work somewhere publicly as well soon.

A good sub-architecture to base new ports on?

[Jorge Amorós Argos]

No wi-fi. I just wanted to have the basis working and then build up the 
rest.

How should we proceed now? Where can we share the code?

Regards,
Jorge

El 21/05/2012 22:19, Alexey Zaytsev escribi?:
> On Fri, May 18, 2012 at 4:31 PM, Arnd Bergmann<arnd@arndb.de>  wrote:
>> On Thursday 17 May 2012, Jorge Amor?s Argos wrote:
>>> Hi Alexey and co,
>>>
>>> I up-ported Solos open code to Openwrt with Linux 2.6.30. I think the
>>> only missing module was ADSL.
> That's really nice. Did you get the wi-fi module working as well?
>
>> Ah, very good!
> I've got it working for 2.6.31, but that needs a lot of cleanup.
>
>>> Anyway, compiling was successful but I can't tell if it was functional.
>>>
>>> Mainly 2 big issues:
>>>
>>>    * No knowledge how to build the image (I wanted to have a self-lzma
>>>      image in order to save room)
>> LZMA support was added to arm linux in 2.6.35, and XZ support some time
>> after that.
>>
>>>    * My Solos based router, Xavi 7968, is a bitchy one. I found no way to
>>>      easily upload firmware into flash. It took me hours to make 1 trial.
>>>
>>>
>>> I'll be glad to share the code with whoever need it and maybe we can
>>> take those old routers back to a better world.
>> I think that would be helpful.
> Yeah. I'll put my work somewhere publicly as well soon.
>

-- 
Jorge Amor?s Argos

A good sub-architecture to base new ports on?

[Volkan K.]

Jorge Amor?s Argos <joramar76 <at> yahoo.es> writes:

> 
> No wi-fi. I just wanted to have the basis working and then build up the 
> rest.
> 
> How should we proceed now? Where can we share the code?
> 
> Regards,
> Jorge
> 

Hello,

I'm interested in the port, could you please share the code on SourceForge.net?

Please see: http://sourceforge.net/publish/

Best Regards,
Volkan

A good sub-architecture to base new ports on?

[Arnd Bergmann]

On Thursday 17 May 2012, Alexey Zaytsev wrote:
> On Wed, May 16, 2012 at 6:57 PM, Arnd Bergmann <arnd@arndb.de> wrote:
> > On Wednesday 16 May 2012, Alexey Zaytsev wrote:
> > Another good one would be highbank, but that contains a lot of stuff you
> > don't need.
> >
> > ixp4xx is not very actively maintained, so I would not use that as
> > a base.
> >
> > What platform are you talking about? I know of a few people that are
> > working on getting older platforms ported to Linux, so maybe someone
> > is already working on a port.
> 
> It's a 'Solos' soc from Connexant. They released kernel code for
> 2.6.11, and I'm up-porting it to the current kernel. I know at least
> two other people interested in the port, adding them to CC. If you
> know anyone else, it would be great to share the effort.

I haven't heard of that architecture before, but I just found the 2.6.11
source you mentioned. spear6xx is probably a good example in that case,
being from a similar age.

Most of the arch code has actually moved to other subsystems nowadays
and would not be considered part of the platform but instead goes to

timer -> drivers/clksource
watchdog -> drivers/watchdog
msc+crypto -> drivers/crypto
spi -> drivers/spi
defaultrestore -> use gpio-keys and a shell script in user space
gpio -> drivers/gpio
gpio-if -> use existing sysfs insterface rather than new driver
udc -> probably similar enough to one that is already there that you
       can resuse code
drivers/serial/solos-serial -> drivers/tty/serial (from /drivers/serial)
driver/net/arm/solos-ether -> drivers/net/ethernet/conexant

My guess is that getting basic functionality (serial, timer, gpio, spi,
watchdog) is all fairly straightforward when you do it right. Ethernet
is going to be harder but is just one driver, and it's hard to tell
how much work the crypto stuff needs.

	Arnd

A good sub-architecture to base new ports on?

[Volkan K.]

Hello,

I'm interested in the port, could you please share the code on 
SourceForge.net?

Please see: http://sourceforge.net/publish/

Best Regards,
Volkan

On Wednesday 23 May 2012, Jorge Amor?s Argos wrote:
>  No wi-fi. I just wanted to have the basis working and then build up the
>  rest.
>
>  How should we proceed now? Where can we share the code?
>
>  Regards,
>  Jorge