> > > One other small ROM that will check the Flash ROM's checksum and/or a jumper
> > > on the board, and if it fails beep a tune on the speaker, and then expect a
> > > raw Flash ROM image sent to it on the first serial port?
> > > That's the simplest way I think. A floppy could be used, too, but that'd mean
> > > more complexity in the 'small ROM'.
> > a floppy would be much better
> > and then again, what about ls-120?
> Floppies are more generic. You don't want to have to support every
> conceivable device in an "emergency" flash ROM. But you could put enough
OK, but floppies are just kind of getting out of style. In two years, new
PCs probably won't have any more floppy drives. They 'll have ZIP or LS-120
drives (which will be too small some time later, when another update is at
hand).
> I don't know how much flash ROM's cost, but I think it would be infinitely
> cool to put a kernel and minimal filesystem in ROM (~5-7MB, less if
> compressed -- like debian's "base") to allow booting from any device Linux
> supports. This would also allow such cool things as diskless clients that
> can net boot.
nice idea. It would probably be a good idea to include with the motherboard a
small device which plugs into a serial or parallel (or USB <g>) port and if
you hold a key while booting the system will be loaded from an EEPROM on
this small device, containing a small amount of flashing and system recovery
tools. The device might look like one of these loopback hardware testing
plugs - just a little bigger because it'd have to house a (probably also
flashable) chip containing a few MB of boot code.
This'd be complete independant of the mainboard (almost), and might be a
rescue/last resort for complete breakdowns.
--
_ciao, Jens_______________________________http://www.pinguin.conetix.de_
cat /dev/boiler/water | tea | sieve > /cup
mount -t hdev /dev/human/mouth01 /mouth ; cat /cup >/mouth/gulp
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