[BusyBox] Howtos/resources for...

[Tom Cameron]

Mark,
	You're 10% correct...there is a _lot_ of crossover between the two
(making a boot floppy and making a distro.  This is something I've learned
quite a bit about lately.
	I appreciate your help...I'm sure your docs will come in more handy
than you expect them to.  It's good to know that others have had/do have the
same ideas as I...it's reassuring.  Small distros are the new "craze"...and
I am happy to say that I've been on the bandwagon since before it had wheels
and was pointed down hill.  ; )
	Anyway...thank you again!  It's great how we help each other out.
Anyway...enough.  Thanks!

--
Thomas Cameron
Network Technician / Operations Specialist
St. Mary's Bank

P.S.   If I get the system going, my next step will be to do it with uClibc.
I will keep you abreast of my developments...as there is always room to make
a floppy smaller.  ; )


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Mark Whitley [SMTP:markw at lineo.com]
> Sent:	Thursday, December 21, 2000 5:53 PM
> To:	Tom Cameron
> Cc:	busybox at busybox.net
> Subject:	Re: [BusyBox] Howtos/resources for...
> 
> On Thu, Dec 21, 2000 at 03:11:11PM -0500, Tom Cameron wrote:
> > Hello all,
> > 	I am trying to build a small distribution of Linux with BusyBox,
> > TinyLogin, and uClibc...however, there are few resources of information
> in
> > regards to how this could be done.  I have tried to use the Linux From
> > Scratch guide, and substitute the above apps/sources when
> appropriate...but
> > it failed...miserably.  Anyone with notes, manuals, and/or any other
> form of
> > documentation regarding this matter, please let me know.  Your help is
> much
> > appreciated!  Thanks in advance for any help.
> 
> Foreword: I'm sensing a pattern here. The other day somebody asked for a
> "new
> applet HOWTO", a TODO item that has been on my list for awhile. Now, the
> call
> goes out for a "Building a Busybox Image HOWTO", which has _also_ been on
> my
> TODO list for awhile. Spooky. Maybe this is a message to me that I need to
> bump up the priority of some of the things on my TODO list.
> 
> 
> Anywho, on to your question...
> 
> I have written up a *very* sketchy little doc of my own on making a
> Busybox-based boot floppy using SysLinux. I'm investigating the use of
> rdev,
> too, but SysLinux seems to be a little friendlier. (Note: I personally
> would
> not use LILO as a boot loader on a floppy.)
> 
> Since you ask, I'm attaching some of my (once again, *very* sketchy)
> notes,
> which include URLs to other sites that have info on building boot floppies
> in
> different ways.
> 
> 
> Okay, let's have some disclaimers:
> 
> Disclaimer #1: These notes of mine are not guaranteed to give you a
> workable
> boot floppy, even if you follow them precisely. I'm still experimenting /
> debugging with ways to do this, and I've probably left some important
> steps
> out.
> 
> Disclaimer #2: I realize that building a Linux boot floppy is essentially
> a
> solved problem that many folks, far more worthy than myself, have done
> before,
> time and time again. However, I thought it would be a worthwhile endeavor
> to
> write a doc that explains specifically how to build a Busybox-enriched /
> TinyLogin-enriched boot floppy. Additional plans were to discuss issues of
> making a distro that could boot out of DiskOnChip, DiskOnModule, etc.
> 
> Disclaimer #3: I further realize that you asked for advice on building a
> small
> distribution, and no so much about building a boot floppy, but trust me
> when I
> tell you that there's a lot of crossover between the two.
> 
> Disclaimer #4: Did I mention that these notes are sketchy?
> 
> 
> Bob's your uncle. One of these days (RSN) I hope to have a more
> presentable
> HOWTO that I can put in the docs/ directory. Anybody that wants to help
> offer
> comments, etc. to help make that plan a reality is welcome to pitch in.
> 
> 
> Mark Whitley
> markw at lineo.com << File: bf.txt >>