Gentoo on MIPS PDA

peteh · n00b Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1

hello all,

i am using a MIPS Based Pocket PC on a VR4122 Mips CPU, i want to convert it to Linux / Gentoo, can it be done? i know the SG machines are MIPs, but i assume they have a greater horsepower and the MIPS iso's are not going to work. Also as the area it will be stored is small 32MB it will be a problem, hence my leaning towards DSL as it is 50mb
Can the PDA's be setup to boot off MMC / CF cards? i.e setup in Bios (desktop ) type settings?
all input appreciated.

erik258 · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 5:56 pm Post subject:

hello, I used to have a Mobile Pro 770, a similar Pocket PC from NEC. I couldn't overwrite Win CE, but could use netbsd utilities to get into netbsd. Used external CF card to store it -- 32M wasn't near enough. recommend that method if possible. always wanted to get gentoo on it but it broke.

as long as you can build the system on a different host you just might be able to do it. only problem is, you have to go real lightweight as these things can't handle much.
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ddc · Guru Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 525

about Sharp Mobilion PRO PV5000A
it is supported by netbsd (see http://www.netbsd.org/ports/hpcmips/ )
It's based around the Toshiba TX3922U CPU (LE MIPS II)
it should be nice, but not much point unless I can get all the hardware working.

ergo a PDA without a framebuffer is useless.

also, there is a serious problem with crossdev (gentoo) at the moment
issues to emerge the crosscompiler
(debian crosscompiler builder will be have a try ...
while i am waiting gentoo guys fix the crossdev issues)

ddc · Guru Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 525

also ... i am working around using gentoo on embedded system
i can assure 128Mb of are required at least

when you can replace the CF with a 2GB minidrive you get the best suggested

Redhatter · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:01 am Post subject:

Gentoo is waaay too big and clunky to be useful on those MIPS-based PDAs.

That and the kernel support for them has bitrotted to the point of uselessness. You're welcome to try, but I think an Asus EEE or similar PC with Gentoo installed will perform much better, for something similar in size.
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Gentoo/MIPS Cobalt developer, Mozilla herd member.