TCube Info

This page describes how to load Linux on the T-Cube board.

Table Of Contents:

Hardware Used

 * Board Order Number:    SEMC5701(T-Cube)/SHIMAFUJI
 * CPU
 * VR5701 (NEC VR5500A SOC chip) (333MHz)
 * Memory
 * 64 Mbyte SDRAM
 * 16 Mbyte Flash
 * Graphics controller
 * SMI (SM722GX )
 * Other Feature
 * Timer x 4 ( VR5701 )
 * UART x2 ( VR5701 /16550 compatible)
 * PCI ( VR5701 ) -- no PCI connector/header on the baord
 * Sound AC97 ( VR5701 )
 * IDE/Compact Flash ( VR5701 )
 * RTC (RV 5C348B)
 * Ethernet ( Intel GD82559ERSL3DG )
 * USB(USB2) ( NEC uPD720101 )
 * CF

Software and Configuration Files Used

 * PMON
 * setup
 * boot
 * Toolchain
 * Mips Toolchain from Lineo
 * kernel
 * celinux-040503.tar.bz2
 * root filesystem
 * [unprepared]

Preparing Target Hardware and Connections

 * Connections:
 * Host machine Ethernet to hub (I configured as 192.168.1.1)
 * T-Cube Ethernet to hub (I configured as 192.168.1.2)
 * Connect serial cable between T-Cube and host machine
 * Serial1 connector to interface module serial port
 * Other end of null-modem cable to first serial port (ttyS0) on the Linux host machine

Preparing Host Software

 * Download and place files in /tftpboot
 * Make sure tftpd is ready to run
 * Confirm minicom is configured to access /dev/ttyS0, at 115K N81

Using PMON to Boot the Kernel

 * Root filesystem is NFS

Building the Kernel
Here are some commands I used to build the kernel:
 * cd celinux-040503/
 * export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH
 * cp arch/mips/defconfig-tcube .config
 * make ARCH=mips CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- menuconfig
 * disable XIP
 * make ARCH=mips CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- dep
 * make ARCH=mips CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux-

Preparing the Kernel to Download

 * cp vmlinux /tftpboot/

Starting the NFS daemon

 * /etc/rc.d/init.d/nfs start

Setting Environment Variable and Write Environment Value on T-Cube

 * minicom (set to /dev/ttyS0)
 * Set environment variable
 * Set variable tty0 (I used "set tty0 115200")
 * Set variable netaddr (I used "set netaddr 192.168.1.2")
 * Set variable bootaddr (I used "set bootaddr 192.168.1.1")
 * Set variable bootfile (I used "set bootfile vmlinux")
 * Write environment value
 * Employed "write_env" command

Downloading the Kernel to T-Cube

 * minicom (set to /dev/ttyS0)
 * Download the kernel
 * Employ "boot" command
 * As "boot" command completes, "Entry-address" appears.

Booting the Kernel

 * Employ "go" command (I used "g -e Entry-address")