[W12.bis.dssnp] debian package for the Kernel

[Jonas Smedegaard]

Quoting Natanael Arndt (2012-12-15 14:00:53)
> Am 14.12.2012 23:07, schrieb Jonas Smedegaard:
> > Quoting Sebastian Tramp (2012-12-14 21:22:08)
> >> @nate: Can you provide a kernel package for us as described here: 
> >> http://newbiedoc.sourceforge.net/system/kernel-pkg.html
> > Uhm, that document was last edited in 2003, and first step is to 
> > create a boot floppy. :-/
> >
> > It might nowadays be as simple as doing a "make deb" directly from 
> > unpacked source tree (after configuring).
> >
> > Else the best documentation on building based on the official Debian 
> > kernel packages is probably this: 
> > http://kernel-handbook.alioth.debian.org/ch-common-tasks.html#s-common-official
> >
> > It would be quite nice if you you enable most possible modules (i.e. 
> > base your configuration on most recent armhf config).

> Currently a normal debian package will work,

I guess you really mean that a normal Debian package will *not* work...


> because the uImage is on the boot partition [1], which is currently 
> not mounted into the root filesystem on run time.
> We can mount it with
>     mount /dev/mmcblk0p1 /boot/

If you are right that normal Debian packages (i.e. the structuring of 
installed files) won't fit the needs of the partition needed by 
hardware/u-boot then really it is an indication that you are talking 
about a _different_ partition.

Please let's refer to that as the "bootloader partition.

Yes, I know that http://linux-sunxi.org/FirstSteps calls that partition 
a "boot partition" but that really confuses matters: This bootloader 
partition has special requirements dictated by hardware and u-boot, 
whereas the /boot folder which _may_ be on a separate partition has 
special requirements dictated by the Debian kernel packages.

Other bootloaders like refit, grub, aboot etcetera may try to extend the 
use of the boot dir/partition, but only as long as their use coexist 
nicely with the kernel package use of that area.

So please make Debian-style kernel package, and then _copy_ the needed 
core files from the /boot dir of the root partition to the proper place 
and name in the bootloader partition.

Long-term that copying should probably be moved to either u-boot-tools 
or flash-kernel.


> So we have to find out if there are any special things regarding the 
> boot process we have to pay attention to and if the normal debian 
> kernel packages can this. Furthermore I currently don't know a way how 
> to have multiple kernels on the system and what would happen if 
> multiple kernel packages are installed.

You are here talking about classic issues handled (I believe) in 
u-boot-tools and/or flash-kernel - I sincerely believe it is wrong to 
try make the kernel package handle that.

...and I sincerely believe it is silly (no offense intended) to reinvent 
the wheel: Please consider joining the #emdebian chatrum at OFTC and 
discuss such issues with those who have fought similar issues for years!


Kind regards,

 - Jonas

-- 
 * Jonas Smedegaard - idealist & Internet-arkitekt
 * Tlf.: +45 40843136  Website: http://dr.jones.dk/

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