Hi, I recently purchased a D-link DWA-110 USB wifi adapter (rt73) for
my beagleboard (rev C4). It worked perfectly in the Ubuntu (10.10)
netbook image without any issues (but not in Angstrom).
However, for my project, I don't really need the full netbook install
and was wondering how to get it working in the minimal ubuntu image. I
was able to boot the minimal ubuntu image from my beagleboard,
however, I was unable to get anything working with it besides from
serial communication to my laptop (I could login through serial and
browse the filesystem). A cursor appeared on the screen I was
connected to through hdmi, but there was no text and there was no
keyboard support through my usb hub.
I was wondering how I could get the minimal image working with
keyboard support and a shell on screen at least (I hope that this is
possible and I'm not misunderstanding the role of the minimal image).
Additionally, I would probably need to install drivers for my usb to
wifi adapter, but I don't know how I would do that without internet
access (I don't have a usb to ethernet adapter - yet). Would I need to
place the files in the appropriate location on the sd card while the
card is mounted on my laptop?
Sorry if these are basic questions, but I feel like they aren't
answered by the Beagleboard Ubuntu wiki page (for the minimal install
it says that you need networking to install a gui, but I feel that it
doesn't elaborate on what I need to get that working...).
Hi, I recently purchased a D-link DWA-110 USB wifi adapter (rt73) for
my beagleboard (rev C4). It worked perfectly in the Ubuntu (10.10)
netbook image without any issues (but not in Angstrom).
However, for my project, I don't really need the full netbook install
and was wondering how to get it working in the minimal ubuntu image. I
was able to boot the minimal ubuntu image from my beagleboard,
however, I was unable to get anything working with it besides from
serial communication to my laptop (I could login through serial and
browse the filesystem). A cursor appeared on the screen I was
connected to through hdmi, but there was no text and there was no
keyboard support through my usb hub.
First, which image? (exact file name please) Are you using a 'real'
usb 2.0 powered hub? And can you provide a serial boot up log?
I was wondering how I could get the minimal image working with
keyboard support and a shell on screen at least (I hope that this is
possible and I'm not misunderstanding the role of the minimal image).
Well, it should be working, post what i listed above so we can atleast
troubleshoot it..
Additionally, I would probably need to install drivers for my usb to
wifi adapter, but I don't know how I would do that without internet
access (I don't have a usb to ethernet adapter - yet). Would I need to
place the files in the appropriate location on the sd card while the
card is mounted on my laptop?
Sorry if these are basic questions, but I feel like they aren't
answered by the Beagleboard Ubuntu wiki page (for the minimal install
it says that you need networking to install a gui, but I feel that it
doesn't elaborate on what I need to get that working...).
Your just confusing yourself..
A wifi adapter is also included in that definition 'need networking'
on the elinux guide.. Most wifi adapters should work out of the box
with those minimal images, but there are always odd ball adapters that
just never work.. (which chipset)
Thanks for the help. I ended up getting the minimal ubuntu
distribution working properly by connecting to a different monitor. It
displays a shell on screen. The minimal distribution also includes
drivers for my wifi card as well (D-link DWA 110 - rt73 chipset). In
case this helps someone else searching the forums, the only commands I
needed to type to get wifi working were:
sudo ifconfig wlan0 up
sudo iwconfig wlan0 essid <name of wireless network>
sudo dhclient wlan0
I believe that these are posted somewhere in the wiki as well. After I
had screen output, wifi, and keyboard support, I was able to get any
additional packages I needed (openssh-server, etc.).
I do have one additional question however. Is it possible to remove
the 10 second autoboot wait time? Specifically, what bootargs would I
need to set at the U-boot prompt? I don't know if using the same
commands in Section 4 of http://code.google.com/p/beagleboard/wiki/HowToGetAngstromRunning
will work with the minimal ubuntu distribution. Thanks again.
Assuming I'm reading your question correctly, the 10-second autoboot is
hard coded in u-boot. Changing bootarg values won't affect it. You'd
need to modify the u-boot configuration file
(include/configs/omap3_beagle.h) and change
#define CONFIG_BOOTDELAY 10
to
#define CONFIG_BOOTDELAY 3
then recompile u-boot and replace the one you're using with the newly
compiled version.
The versions of u-boot in the beagleboard-validation images on gitorious
appear to have changed this already (or some branches have, at least).
You might see if you can find a binary of one of these.
The u-boot included in that demo image should be the 3 second one..
With that ubuntu formated sd card, hold down the 'user' button on
power up and let it re-flash the nand with the new MLO and
u-boot.bin..