Run Linux on HPiPAQ

Article Title: run Linux on HPiPAQ on the handheld computer. Linux is a technology channel of the IT lab in China. Includes basic categories such as desktop applications, Linux system management, kernel research, embedded systems, and open source.
Install Linux on iPAQ™It may be a good way to give mature hardware new vigor or make existing tools better, especially when you are a fan of Desktop Linux. In this process, you can take full advantage of the existing knowledge, and enjoy the benefits of familiarization (punning, Familiar) and free open source software. In this article, we will learn how to arm your HP-Compaq iPAQ PDA with Linux.
　　
IPAQ is a type of PDA brand produced by Hewlett Packard (the older model brand is Compaq ). The initial model was 1999 released in 3600, with a 206-Mhz Strongarm processor, 32 mb rom, and 32 mb ram, running the PocketPC 2000 operating system. Since then, many models with different options have been launched. The latest model has built-in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and SDIO capabilities to run the PocketPC 2003 operating system. All these devices are powerful enough to run Linux smoothly. This article discusses why you may choose to do so and studies some possible options.
　　
　　 Why not run Linux instead of Pocket PC?
Before you start to install and use Linux on iPAQ, the obvious question to consider is, why did you switch from PocketPC 200x to Linux?
　　
There are many legitimate reasons for no longer being abused (how many times I am looking for you, Slashdot reader) "because you can", including:
　　
My personal feeling: Many people just feel more comfortable using the Linux environment as users or developers.
Continuous upgrade/support: Linux is continuously improved and security defects are being fixed. However, the original software may not be fully supported and cannot be upgraded to the latest version in many cases. This is not free even if the operating system/application can be upgraded.
Freedom: from an ideological point of view, or because you want to get a lot of other benefits (such as your ability to fix defects and a more powerful user community ), many prefer open source software.
Practical Ability: running Linux makes it possible for many things that are hard to achieve, expensive, or impossible to achieve when using PocketPC.
Applications: by running a standard Linux release version, you can easily port many applications (some do not need to be changed at all, many only need to be changed ).
Operating system functionality: this operating system has Remote X (Remote X) and original socket.
　　
　　 Select hardware
Once you decide to try Linux on iPAQ, you must first select the iPAQ hardware to use. In general, older hardware will get better support (because developers have more time to work with it ). Reliable options include H3100, H3600, H3700, H3800, H3900, H5100, H5400, and H5500. Support for newer devices is added at any time. Therefore, if your iPAQ is newer, there is no hope at all-you can choose to participate in the development version (even if you only want to test the software, if you do not have development experience), or stay on the sidelines until your hardware gets official support. At the same time, if you don't want to wait, you can find a second-hand old machine at any time. For testing, I am using a fairly old H3650 model that is thrown in the office.
　　
　　 Download release version
Well, since you have selected some hardware, the next step is to determine where to get Linux and how to install it on the device.
　　
Suppose you do not plan to transform your own system (this is completely feasible and time-consuming ), the easiest way to install Linux on your device is to get a special release that supports these devices. One of the most popular releases (which I have decided to use) is provided by the Familiar Project (see the link to the Web site in references, familiar for short ".
　　
Like most Desktop Linux releases, Familiar consists of two independent components:
　　
Kernel and basic system.
GUI/desktop environment.
　　
You can download three different styles of Familiar (the fourth style is only intended for developers, it does not have a GUI, but it is also available ). Each of these styles has the same kernel and basic system, but different guis. In the field of Desktop Linux, it can be analogous to installing a release version, such as Red Hat or Mandrake, and selecting a desktop environment, such as KDE or GNOME. Indeed, once you start viewing the options, you can gain a deeper understanding of the similarities between different desktop environments.
　　
These three styles are:
　　
GPE (GPE handheld computer Environment, GPE Palmtop Environment), based on GTK, is most similar to GNOME in the desktop field.
OPIE (Open handheld Integrated Environment, that is, Open Palmtop Integrated Environment), based on Qtopia, is most similar to KDE In the desktop field.
Pypaq, based on Python and GTK.
　　
The first two, GPE and OPIE, are more widely used than pypaq. If you do not have enough reason to select another one after you select one, you only need to select one (the installation takes a short time, so if you do not like the choice, you can start another style at any time ).
　　
After selecting the appropriate file to be downloaded (GPE), you can install it.
　　
　　 Install Linux
For detailed installation instructions, see the Familiar Web site version notes. The instructions below will help you understand this process, but these steps may be completely changed, as in the Linux field previously.
　　
The first step of installation is to install a new boot loader ). Similar to LILO or GRUB in a general desktop system, this is the initial program that runs when iPAQ starts and allows you to load Linux.
　　
The boot loader installation contains two files: The WindowsCE Executable File (bootblaster.exe) and the boot loader itself. To install the boot loader, you must first transfer these files to iPAQ. There are many ways to complete this task, such as through ActiveSync, through a memory card (CF/SD/MMC, if supported by your handheld device), or through a network connection (IF configured ).
　　
After the boot loader program and the boot loader file are installed on the device, you only need to run it. ). Pay attention to the following two points:
　　
If you back up your current operating system through a serial link, please be patient: it takes about 15 minutes on my machine.
The boot loader installer seems to require that the boot loader file be In the My Documents folder (or a subfolder ).
　　
Now that the boot loader has been installed, If you restart the device, you should see a different screen from the common one-the new boot loader.
　　
The next step is to install the operating system itself, which is released as a single jffs2 (journaling flash file system version 2) archive file. Depending on the hardware you are using, there are three independent options for how to proceed:
　　
If you have a CompactFlash box (Jacket) and a CompactFlash memory card (SD/MMC cards are not supported in this process), the simplest method is, use WinCE or another machine to upload three files (jffs2 file, reflash. ctl and md5sums) copy to the root of the CF card and put the card into the box (obviously, also put iPAQ In The Box ). Now, you only need to press the record button (on the left) to reset the device, and then you should see a list of images on the card (usually only one ). Use joypad to select an image and install it directly-This takes several minutes.
　　
If you do not have a CF box/card, you need to use a serial cable/bracket (cradle ). Unfortunately, you cannot use a USB cable/bracket, so if your device is attached with only one of them, you will need to buy one (available everywhere and quite cheap ). In addition, it is best to refer to the installation instructions provided with the device for detailed instructions. However, the basic method is to connect iPAQ to a host computer, then, the jffs2 file is transmitted to iPAQ through a serial line (using the ymodem protocol ). Once the file has been stored on the device, you can use the boot command to quickly store the file (flash). This command will be as fast as the previous command to store the device.
　　
Note that transmission may take some time (I spent more than 20 minutes ).
　　
If you have a CF box, it is possible to install Linux on a CF memory card, instead of re-storing the internal device quickly, so that the PocketPC will not be changed. The reason why I say "relative" is that PocketPC stores user data (in DRAM, it will erase all user data (because Linux uses all available DRAM ). This is still a practical method because it supports a basic form of Dual Boot (although additional backup/restoration is required when switching to or from Linux ). Unfortunately, there is very little information about this method; it is not directly supported by the Familiar release because it requires users to create a custom initrd file system. For those interested in this method, there is a dedicated release (a branch of Familiar) tailored for a large capacity (more than 160 Mb) CF card named Intimate ). Unfortunately, it seems that the development of this release version has been stopped: The last release was on July 22, November 2001, and the latest news on the Web page was published on July 22, June 2003.
　　
No matter which method you choose to use, the saved procedure is now complete-congratulations! If everything goes well, you should now have a Linux-based PDA.
　　
　　 Connect
Your PDA is now a fully functional and fully available system. Depending on the GUI components you want to use (GPE, OPIE, etc.), the exact available applications will be different in general. However, the functions at the basic level are the same: each release version includes a Web browser, diary, Address Book, email client, and so on-all are what you expect the PDA to have.
　　
Unless you plan to use PDA in completely non-connection mode, you should first establish some connections. The most basic level of connection is simple serial/USB synchronization with the host PC for maximum flexibility. In addition, the exact steps vary depending on your hardware-the range is large, it can be completely wireless access (if you have a supported (built-in/CF/PCMCIA) Wi-fi card), LAN access (also need a supported card ), based on the Bluetooth TCP/IP, the supported modem is used for dial-up Internet access, and the TCP/IP tunnel is transmitted through the host PC over the USB or serial cable.
　　
Due to lack of hardware, I can only use the PPP that connects to a Linux desktop machine to set TCP/IP on the serial cable, and set the Linux machine