* '''Launchpad Entry''': UbuntuSpec:mobile-arm-karmic-easy-redboot-management
 * '''Created''': 2009-06-11
 * '''Contributors''': OliverGrawert
 * '''Packages affected''': redboot-tools

== Summary ==

We currently have limited tools to help manage and maintain RedBoot in Ubuntu, which is a common bootloader on ARM devices.

== Release Note ==

Ubuntu now includes tools for managing RedBoot on the ARM architecture.

== Rationale ==

Being able to update Redboot to add significant new functionality, or to correct serious bugs is desirable.

== Design ==
 * Creation and inclusion of utilites to do the following:
   * Inclusion of a script to install Redboot to flash or equivelent
   * Addition to the fconfig command to initialize Redboot's FIS tables
   * These scripts need to be integrated into debian-cd so arch specific hacks can be dropped
   * In addition, usb-creator should use these scripts to convert from ISO to IMG assuming ISO is desirable for armel

== Test/Demo Plan ==

== Unresolved issues ==


== BOF Notes ==

Redboot Scripting

* Currently have scripts that change and edit config
* http://people.ubuntu.com/~ogra/arm/babbage/redboot-install has a prototype for
  a redboot installer script
* Script to flash redboot in package flash-kernel
* During installation ubiquity and debian-installer set up /etc/kernel-img.conf to call the flash-kernel script as a postinst hook

* Redboot Linux tools (allow manipulation of Redboot from Linux), currently in the redboot-tools package in the ubuntu archive
	* fconfig
		* No init command to initialize redboot
	* fis
* Need to patch the fconfig script to do what is needed
* A redbooot-install script similar to the above prototype script will be added to the redboot-tools package
  * the script needs to create a raw wrapper partition to protect the space from being overwritten unintentional by partitioning tools
  * the redboot-tools scripts need to be used to create the cd images in debian-cd, so arch specific hacks in debian-cd can be dropped
  * usb-creator should use the redboot-tools to convert from iso format (if it is actually desired to have .iso images for armel devices)

== ACTION ==
 * ogra to finish redboot-install (make it also usable from x86 so users can create bootable devices in a cross platform way
 * dyfet to take a look at the missing bits to get an "fconfig init" command that sets up an initial redboot configuration without needing a binary blob
 * in case it is decided to use iso images for armel, ogra will discuss the needed changes to usb-creator with evand	

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CategorySpec