COVER STORY OpenZaurus 3.2

OpenZaurus 3.2 Up and Running Dinosaur Alternative Linux geeks install their computers themselves – even if they happen to be PDAs – and doing so allows the to shine. Making the most of your tiny hardware bundle is now easier and quicker with your own OpenZaurus system.

BY NICO LUMMA visipix.com

he Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 PDA is Linux geeks appreciate the fact that resources the system provides. Will you still popular amongst Linux users, the Zaurus boot has a Linux feel to it, need more memory for software (files) Tparticularly because Linux is pre- and that you can use the mini-keyboard or more working memory to run more installed on the system. Whether you to access a shell, and they enjoy the programs simultaneously? feel restricted by the Qtopia desktop, or look&feel of GUI programs based on , An OpenZaurus provides Linux users simply want to ensure that your Linux which remind you of (the equally Qt with more convenient management facil- computers, no matter how small they based) KDE. OpenZaurus takes this con- ities – assuming they have a network may be, exclusively use free software, cept a step further and installs a number connection. The distribution’s package or whatever – there are any number of tools that should be familiar from the manager reminded us of ; pro- reasons to choose OpenZaurus [1]. Linux desktop. The OPIE project [2] pro- gram packages can be installed via the This totally Open Source based vides the desktop, a Qtopia extension command line using the tool, or you distribution is by no means lacking development. can use the GUI in comparison with the original. On OpenZaurus uses an updated 2.4.6 AQPkg. the contrary, version 3.2, which was Kernel as its . A number The Zaurus is a PDA first and fore- released at the end of March, is superior of patches have been added allowing for most; users will expect typical PDA to the original. Unfortunately, installing more PDA support than the original functionality of it. To ensure this, Open- and configuring the system yourself will Linux version supplied with the Zaurus. Zaurus provides an OPIE calendar and mean a lot more work than a system A lot of progress has been made in address book, and the synchronization where the manufacturer has completed WLAN area, just to mention one specific facilities leave nothing to be desired (not these tasks for you. field. even when compared with Windows). Additionally, the operating system comes Memory Issues complete with a whole bunch of tools, The thing that makes from a mail client, through the embed- OpenZaurus really interest- ded Konqueror version (see Figure 3) ing has very little to do and the OPIE Mediaplayer2, to Samba or with administrative faci- rsync [3]. lities. This is mainly the memory issue – of course, Flash Installation userspace software cannot Sound interesting? To install OpenZaurus extend a system’s memory, 3.2 you will first need a 32 MB Compact- but at least the user can Flash card. This is needed to store the decide beforehand how to OpenZaurus image that is flashed onto Figure 1:The PDAs new look Figure 2: System Information distribute the meager the PDA’s ROM. You may need to format

26 July 2003 www.linux-magazine.com OpenZaurus 3.2 COVER STORY

the card with FAT16, although this is typ- connect your PDA up to the ically the default format. network. You need to choose a kernel image To access the PDA from a from [1] at this point. We would recom- Linux PC, first load the USB mend zImage-5500-40memory-24storage. module on the PC by typing bin, which provides enough space for modprobe usbnet in the software, but also allows you to run a command line and then reasonable number of parallel applica- type ifconfig usb0 192.168. tions. Now rename the image to zImage. 129.200 to set up the inter- You will additionally need to download face. You can now log on to the initrd.bin image with the root filesys- the Zaurus from the PC by tem you will be using later. typing ssh [email protected]. You might like to back up any impor- 129.201 on the PC. Figure 3: Surfing with Embed- Figure 4:The AQPkg Package tant data before things start to get OpenZaurus defaults to ded Konqueror Manager Front-end serious; the Zaurus will be completely using a private IP address empty, after flashing the operating sys- 192.168.129.201 for the PDA. You may Similar to Debian, you should consider tem. The flash operation requires some want to change this address for one that an occasional update, to keep your pack- nimble finger work. Grab your Zaurus, you can route onto the Internet for office age list synchronized. Upgrade is used to plug the power cable into the PDA, open use. Home users will typically have to update any packages you have installed. the battery enclosure (don’t forget to resort to using a Linux gateway com- select Replace Battery before doing so) puter to allow the PDA to access the Replicating Data with the and then simultaneously press [C], [D] global Internet in preparation for soft- Desktop and Full Reset in the lower part of the ware installation tasks (see Box 1). Qtopia Desktop [5] is recommended for battery enclosure. To allow Zaurus users to address exter- synchronizing with your desktop, as it The battery and mail LEDs should light nal machines using their host and was for the Zaurus with the original soft- up at this point. If not, this attempt has domain names rather than their IP ware configuration. After the software failed and you will need to start again addresses, you will need to enter the IP has located your Zaurus, OpenZaurus from scratch. After about five minutes address of a nameserver in the /etc/ will issue a security warning to the effect both LEDs switch off. You can now per- resolv.conf file on the PDA. that an unknown computer wants to form another Full Reset, close the battery You can now use AQPkg (see Figure access your system. You will probably enclosure and move the slider to the Nor- 4), the GUI front-end for the command want to permit this access. After doing mal Operation position again. When you line tool ipkg, to install any packages so synchronizing the OpenZaurus based power on, OpenZaurus will pop up to say you require. Remember that you can Zaurus with Qtopia Desktop (using the hello and you can watch the PDA boot. install additionally packages on a Com- Sync option) should be just as easy as pactFlash card if required. The new synchronizing the original Zaurus. ■ New Territory package manager is also aware of feeds Your first steps should be to enter that comprise of software packages. INFO your own data and familiarize yourself Debian users know that the stable feed [1] OpenZaurus:http://www.openzaurus. with the standard programs. If you provides only stable packages (and these org/ discover a few gaps that you want are preferable for a production environ- [2] OPIE:http://www.opie.info/ to fill by installing some of your favorite ment). If you like experimenting, you [3] Heike Jurzik:“Keeping in Sync”,Linux programs, you will first need to can also try out unstable packages. Magazine,Issue 28,March 2003,p66 [4] How-to on Ethernet configuration via Box 1: Accessing the Internet with a private IP address USB:http://www.ruault.com/Zaurus/ ethernet-over-usb-howto.html To allow the Zaurus to access the network with its standard IP address,192.168.129.201,the Linux PC that you use to access the Internet needs to be configured to run NAT (“Network Address [5] Qtopia Desktop 1.6:ftp://ftp.trolltech. Translation”). If this is not currently the case, the system administrator will first need to type com/qtopia/source/qtopia-desktop-1.6.1-1. i386.rpm iptables -t nat -F to clear the firewall table and then the following to set up address translation iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -j U Nico Lumma is the Head of IT at SNAT -o eth0 --to IPAddress.for.Linux.Computer Orangemedia.de

The following command HOR GmbH and looks back T echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/conf/all/forwarding on years of ensures that the Linux PC will actually forward the network packages. experience with the practical application The hotplug mechanism typically provides a more convenient way of accessing the network with of Linux in enterprise THE AU the Zaurus,however, the steps differ from one distribution to the next [4]. environments.

www.linux-magazine.com July 2003 27