[oe] Linux on Nokia 5800

[GNUtoo]

On Tue, 2010-02-23 at 01:03 -0800, KaruppuSwamy T wrote:
> I have installed openembedded to get familiar with embedded linux development.
> I have some good experience in building the linux from scratch (lfs)
> and using gentoo for some time.
> 
> To play with real hardware, I have got my wife's Nokia 5800 which
> seems to be a crap for day to day use. So I am dedicating this mobile
> for my embedded linux play.
> 
> Please let me know how to start with it to develop an image for
> Nokia 5800. How to target (customize) the arm build for this device?
> It seems to be Nokia 5800 is based on ARM11 processor. My aim is not
> to run a Mobile app in it, instead a linux distro.
According to the specs I found, it runs symbian
I am not aware of a symbian bootloader like haret(maybe it exists)
So...
If you can't find one you will have to develop a bootloader
Then you need to find the exact cpu/soc model.
If there is a port of the linux kenrel for it,you could use it but you
will need drivers.
Finding the serial port or jtag would help a lot since you won't
necessary see something on the screen at first.
Most of the time that requires disassembling the phone and soldering.
A big issue would also be the lack of documentation,you would need to do
reverse-engineering and so write something like haret which also does
reverse engineering.

All that is too much time consuming,so maybe choose a better model which
already runs some sort of linux kernel.
The time spent on writing drivers and adapting the kernel depends on:
*the recentness of your kernel(you want a recent kernel)
*the fact that you have proprietary drivers or not
*the fact that the kernel is standard or not(I'm thinking about android)
*the completeness of the port

So:
*or use qemuarm target or something like this(there are also some x86
targets)
*or buy some hardware that is supported...
Some devices like the nanonote(I don't know the state of openembedded
support,but runs GNU/Linux) or the sheevaplug(should be well suported)
don't cost a lot,and it will save you a lot of time and frustration.

Denis.