Installation of Debian on an NSLU2

HowTo install Debian on an NSLU2 from Linksys

Disclaimer

This is my short excerpt of how I installed Debian on a NSLU2. It is recommended to first read the original Links. NO guarantee that it works with your Box !!! If you really know what you're doing, then proceed here and take it as a vague guideline.
My box compiles gpsdrive, and gpsd. gpsd seems to work fine, gpsdrive starts, but cannot get a valid X11 Connection.

Good Luck and beware from creating a dead Brick out of your NSLU2

For clocking your NSLU2 to 266Mhz see here

Installation

  • Connect to the NSLU2 (Web interface) and configure Network completely incl. DNS und GW
  • Download from http://www.slug-firmware.net/d-dls.php
    over www.slug-firmware.net ... download ... debian-etch-beta2-20060311.zip
  • upload di-nslu2.bin to the Box
    ( Administration - Advanced - Upgrade)
    oder upslug (siehe unten)
  • Connect to the NSLU2 and start installing onto the Harddisk 
    ssh 192.168.0.6 -l installer; # pwd: install
plug in USB Harddisk
menu
    yes, yes, yes,...
    Entire Disk    ext3
  • put your NSLU2 in upgrade mode:
    • Disconnect any disks and/or devices from the USB ports.
    • Power off the NSLU2
    • Press and hold the reset button.
    • Press and release the power button to power on the NSLU2.
    • Wait for 10 seconds watching the ready/status LED.
    • After 10 seconds it will change from amber to red.
    • Immediately release the reset button.
    • The NSLU2 ready/status LED will flash alternately red/green
    • The NSLU2 is now in upgrade mode.
  • Download and compile upslug2 from CVS: 
    cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/nslu login 
cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/nslu co -P upslug2
./configure 
make
sudo install -o root -g root -m 4755 upslug2 /usr/bin/upslug2
  • Upload the Boot image which starts from sda1
  • # Since the NSLU2 Kernel has no time support currently you need a time source
    ssh 192.168.0.6 -l root
# Probably you have to change your Password
apt-get install ntp
    
apt-get install ntpdate

Basically your NSLU2 should have debian now
  • Install Authorized Keys for easier login 
    scp .authorized_keys 192.168.0.6:/root/.ssh/
scp .authorized_keys 192.168.0.6:/home/tweety/.ssh/
  • Install more software: 
    ssh 192.168.0.6 -l root
# Probably you have to change your Password again
apt-get install xbase-clients

# For Building
apt-get install automake1.9 libart-2.0-dev libart-dev 
apt-get install libgdal1-1.3.1 libgdal1-1.3.1-dev libgdal1-1.3.1-grass 
apt-get install libgeos-dev libgeos2 libgtk2.0-dev libpcre3-dev
apt-get install libmysqlclient15-dev

# For running current gpsdrive Version
apt-get install gdal-bin grass 
apt-get install gpsd gpsdrive
  • perl Stuff for geoinfo.pl 
    apt-get install libhttp-request-ascgi-perl libdate-manip-perl
apt-get install libwww-mechanize-perl libtext-query-perl
  • For debuild: 
    apt-get install devscripts fakeroot debhelper
  • For mysql to work: 
    /usr/bin/mysqladmin -u root password 'enter-your-good-new-password-here'
  • For Database to be created: 
    geoinfo.pl --db-user=root --db-password='enter-your-good-new-password-here'