Please see my gripe about Linksys return policy and customer service before you buy a Linksys or Cisco product.

Debian Linux on the NSLU2 (slug)#

There seems to be four "major" distributions that can be installed on the NSLU2.
After some consideration I decided to chicken out and try the "safest" version first; the Unslung firmware.

http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/Unslung/HomePage

After doing some more consideration, I thought "what the hell" and decided to go with the Debian thingie instead. Have tried a number of Linux distros, but never Debian. Since I have no experience with flashing and fiddling with the NSLU2, installing a new Linux distro must be a good idea. Besides I know there is somehting called 'apt-get', so that makes me an expert! :)

• Downloaded the distribution from http://www.slug-firmware.net/d-dls.php

Also, the readme file of the download site redirects to http://www.cyrius.com/debian/nslu2/ which contains information about the Debian ARM distro. Excellent!
A tutorial/walkthrough on how to install the dang thing also exists on those pages (http://www.cyrius.com/debian/nslu2/install.html)

So, lets go!

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For my miserable failures, read this

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NOTE: In the NSLU web interface, under Administration, remember to fill in all fields, including the DNS field (below the rest!). If not, chances are that you after the flash will have the Ready/Status light of the NSLU2 box stay on constant red, without anything happening for the forseeable future!

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This time around I use Putty from a Windows box instead of OpenSSH from my Linux box, and things seem to go a LOT smoother.. and faster! Go figure!

Loaded the Debian image, this time using the "SerComm" utility for Windows.

Boot up, wait for "beep-beep-beep". I add my USB disk to USB port 2.

Initial download and components to install#

Chooses mirror Sweden (closest), and a swedish site
Wait for some files to be downloaded.
Choose components to download, the install doc (referenced above) says:

* ext3-modules-2.6.17-2-ixp4xx-di: EXT3 filesystem support
* partman-auto: Automatically partition storage devices (partman)
* partman-ext3: Add to partman support for ext3
* scsi-core-modules-2.6.17-2-ixp4xx-di: Core SCSI subsystem
* usb-storage-modules-2.6.17-2-ixp4xx-di: USB storage support

so I add them and choose "continue". Wait for it ("Additional components") to download. You'll even get a progress bar, wow!

"Detecting hardware"

The partitioning of hard disks part#

I choose Guided partition
Next, a menu shows up ("Starting up the partitioner") where you can choose where to install the Debian installation. Leave all the /dev/mtblockX "disks" alone, and choose the SCSI option (even if you don't have any SCSI disks).
Next, another menu. "All files in one partition".
"Finish partitioning and write to disk". "Yes", confirm you're not crazy. Wait for it to create the partitions.

Add a root password when prompted. Don't forget it :)
Add a "normal" user as well, typically yourself.

"Installing the base system". This takes a while.

Choose if you wish to participate in a package popularity contest.. why not? "Yes"

Next comes the "Select and install software" menu, where you can choose from a few predetermined packages;

ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ⤠[!] Software selection ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
 â                                                                                             â
  â Choose software to install:                                                                 â
 â                                                                                             â
 â                                   [ ] Desktop environment                                   â
 â                                   [*] Web server                                            â
 â                                   [ ] Print server                                          â
 â                                   [ ] DNS server                                            â
 â                                   [*] File server                                           â
 â                                   [ ] Mail server                                           â
 â                                   [*] SQL database                                          â
 â                                   [ ] Laptop                                                â
 â                                   [*] Standard system                                       â
 â                                                                                             â
 â                                         <Continue>                                          â
 â                                                                                             â
  âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ

Next you need to choose a "Workgroup/Domain name" (I suppose this is because I chose a fileserver installation). I choose "No" for WINS server.

Next, obviously, an error

âââââââââââââââââââââââââââ⤠[!!] Configuring postgresql-common ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
â                                 Installation step failed                                  â
â An installation step failed. You can try to run the failing item again from the menu, or  â
â skip it and choose something else. The failing step is: Select and install software       â
â                                                                                           â
â                                        <Continue>                                         â
â                                                                                           â
âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ

Brilliant!

Next from the installation menu that I get thrown to, I choose "Configure flash memory for boot", and wait

When the slug boots up again, it seems to be working!

Trouble and fixes encountered later on, that could have been avoided#

There is a troubleshoot page at the http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/Debian/TroubleShooting that contain some remedies to problems, some of which I encountered.
In order to avoid one gotcha, before you reboot, do this (as described on that page):
Edit the file /etc/default/rcS and set FSCKFIX=yes, to prevent fsck problems from hanging your boot waiting for you to press "y" on a nonexistent console.

If it takes a long, long time (~1 hour) to boot, your hardware clock may be confused (this also happened to me). To fix, do as stated on that page:
To fix, remove and replace the battery to reset the RTC. As a temporary fix, can connect the disk to another computer and delete/move the hwclock script link from /etc/rcS.d

$ cd /etc/rcS.d
$ mv S11hwclock.sh dont_S11hwclock_sh

I tried the temporary fix first, and it fixed it for me.
I feel very fixed now!
Fixety-fix-fix-fix!