[oe] New IXP4XX-based Machine

[Mark Gollahon]

Rod Whitby wrote ..
> Mark Gollahon wrote:
> > Rod Whitby wrote ..
> >> That was a bug in the newly rewritten ixp4xx conf which I
> >> believe is now fixed.
> > 
> > Great!  When was the diff applied?  I'd like to get it.
> 
> Probably on Sunday:
> Commit by rwhitby on org.oe.dev :: r0e933978... / (26 files in 10 dirs):
> ixp4xx-related files: Replaced IXP4XX_MACHINE_ENDIAN with
> SITEINFO_ENDIANESS throughout OE, removing all instances of
> ixp4xx-specific ENDIAN checks in the OE metadata.
> 
> > Right now its not much more than a bunch of MACHINE_EXTRA_RDEPENDS and
> > MACHINE_EXTRA_RRECOMMENDS settings thanks to your changes.  However,
> there
> > is an embedded four-port eth switch chip in the box.  Since the
> > manufacturer had to patch a number of areas in the Intel drivers to get
> it
> > to work originally, I am expecting to have to do the same with the GPL
> > ixp4xx eth drivers.  That would mean kernel patches, which would probably
> > mean its own kernel .bb, etc.
> 
> Actually, it would be good for you to talk to the GPL ethernet driver
> author, and get those patches upstream.

I will once I've determined that patches are necessary.  I'm really hoping they aren't - but I'm not "holding my breath"....

> > From what I've seen of OE, it seems easier
> > to support a new machine .conf along with its own kernel .bb than trying
> > to shim a new kernel config in an old machine .conf (oh, BTW, to build
> for
> > *this machine*, you have to use *that machine's* .conf file, but make
> > PREFERRED_PROVIDER_virtual/kernel be *this*).  Newbies are already 
> > overwhelmed by OE's sheer configurability, throwing yet another exception
> > in on this just doesn't seem right to me.
> 
> Agreed.  What's the machine?  Got any internal photos ;-)

It is an Arlotto SG205.  They also have an SG305, but I don't have access to that machine or know its contents.  However if the mainboard is any indication, its got at least a mini-pci slot more than the SG205.  I'm sending pics along with this message.  Hope you don't mind the megabyte pics.  Figured it would give you a better look that way.

> >> I'm willing to work with you to get this right.
> > 
> > I know - thank you.  I just wish I had discovered what was the issue
> with
> > building the root filesys image before now....
> 
> Let's work together, and make sure that ixp4xx{be,le}.conf are files
> that can be used for (included in) a number of such machine configurations.

Sounds good to me!

Regards,
-Mark Gollahon