Re: Developing on the isl3893

Erich Schubert <erich <at> vitavonni.de> [040727]:
> Hi,
> 
> > It would be nice if we can try to update the kernel to the latest 2.4
> > version (25 and 26).
> 
> Yes, we really could need that... In working with the 2.4 kernel
> included with the SDK i managed to find a reproducible kernel crash, the
> trivial fix is included in the latest release candidates (maybe i missed
> the actual release, i don' use 2.4 here myself any more)
> It was fixed as part of the bridge updates, it's non-critical since you
> need root privileges anyway to trigger it.
> 
> What i'd really like to do is setting up a newer libc.
> But to use recent uclinux one has to write a lot of configuration files,
> profiles and so on. Adding a new arch to uclinux is not easy. I had
> started doing so, but it didn't even build clean - some part apparently
> tried to build with FPU emulation, some other part without (and i don't
> even know if we do have a FPU... i guess not)
> 
> > Phil presented emdebian at Bordeaux RMLL, and we thought about making
> > emdebian packages for this platform.
> 
> Well, as said before i don't see any use of the "Debian" thing here.
> It is too different from the main Debian platform to be merged.

Emdedian goal is to have a manageable way to deal with sources...

And to produce binaries...

> In fact i think we'll never be able to use this platform with free
> software only, the MVC is too low-level and complex for that.
> As long as the system _depends_ on a binary-only firmware, we would have
> to put everything into "contrib" and non-free accoring to the DFSG.

The kernel can be compiled without MVC support, with support for eth
(ISL3893 Standalone ethernet support), and support for the wireless pci
device.

I will try to boot some kernels in tftp as soon as I get my AP back.

u> > In fact I want to know if it's possible to have only the booter which
> > can remain proprietary (the kernel can support the eth interface:
> > isl3893eth.c).
> 
> I don't think so. The MVC handles a lot of things. Even if you refer to
> isl3893eth.c - is this a 100% native linux driver?

Yes, it is.

> I guess that this driver is a mere interface to the MVC.

No.

> As do all the other intersil drivers: they all need a firmware to be
> installed in the chipset, either loaded via software or from some flash
> chip included (as with my prism2.5 card)

Yes, with prism54 that's also one problem. And the 2.4.19 does not
support firmware loadings.

I will try as soon as possible, and also to try to update the patches to
the kernel...

--

-- 
Benjamin Henrion <bh <at> udev.org>
http://bh.udev.org
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