There are several possibilities to install Debian on the Sheevaplug.

First of all the Kernel which comes preinstalled with the Sheevaplug would be enough to run a Debian System. So the first approach would be to create a root file system from scratch using debootstrap. This file system can then be copied over to a SD Card or USB Stick. The boot loader uboot would get a new config in order to start the original Linux kernel aside with the new debian root file system.

In favor to habe a fully debianized system on the Sheevaplug the next step is to add to the debootstrap process also the possibility to include a debian based kernel.

Here is a link about how to create a debian based root file system found on plugcomputer.org and here is another more sophisticated howto which also includes the newest debain kernel which also supports the Sheevaplug.

Doing the above approach means really to go down deep into building a Debian based system. It includes a lot of manual steps and requires a really good understanding of the Linux system. The positive thing about it is to learn a lot how Debian works and how it is build together.

The alternative and much faster approach is to use the "normal" Debian Installation, which recently was adapted for the Sheevaplug. Martin Michlmayr has a great howto for installing Debian stable and testing on the Sheevaplug here. Basically all you need is to download a Linux kernel (uImage) and init RAM disc (uInitrd), copy it over to the plug, install the Debian System normally like you would do on a normal desktop system and adapt uboot boot loader at the end to start always your new Debian.

My Sheevaplug now runs Debian on a 4 GB SD card and finally my homepage (which you are now reading) is running from it. :-)

Here a picture of my Sheevaplug just running under my cupboard.

I followed the instructions on this side to update the boot loader of the Sheevaplug.

You will need a USB stick formatted with FAT16 not FAT32. Taking my 16 GB USB Stick didn't work for that reason ;-) So search for one smaller than 4 GB.

After successfull update and reboot of the Sheevaplug it displayed now the new version during booting. Also I realised that manually reset the device revealed the whole boot output:

  __  __                      _ _
 |  \/  | __ _ _ ____   _____| | |
 | |\/| |/ _` | '__\ \ / / _ \ | |
 | |  | | (_| | |   \ V /  __/ | |
 |_|  |_|\__,_|_|    \_/ \___|_|_|
 _   _     ____              _
| | | |   | __ )  ___   ___ | |_ 
| | | |___|  _ \ / _ \ / _ \| __| 
| |_| |___| |_) | (_) | (_) | |_ 
 \___/    |____/ \___/ \___/ \__| 
 ** MARVELL BOARD: SHEEVA PLUG LE 

U-Boot 1.1.4 (Dec 27 2009 - 22:03:21) Marvell version: 3.4.27

U-Boot code: 00600000 -> 0067FFF0  BSS: -> 006CFEE0
Soc: 88F6281 A1 (DDR2)
CPU running @ 1200Mhz L2 running @ 400Mhz
SysClock = 400Mhz , TClock = 200Mhz 
DRAM CAS Latency = 5 tRP = 5 tRAS = 18 tRCD=6
DRAM CS[0] base 0x00000000   size 256MB 
DRAM CS[1] base 0x10000000   size 256MB 
DRAM Total size 512MB  16bit width
Addresses 8M - 0M are saved for the U-Boot usage.
Mem malloc Initialization (8M - 7M): Done
NAND:512 MB
Flash:  0 kB
CPU : Marvell Feroceon (Rev 1)
Streaming disabled 
Write allocate disabled

USB 0: host mode
PEX 0: interface detected no Link.
Net:   egiga0 [PRIME]
Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0 
Marvell>>

Ok, now lets go ahead with Debian installation... :-)

Connecting the Sheevaplug via the debug console with Mac OS X is a bit tricky because it involves to install a driver and patch the Sheevaplug device ID to a system file in Mac OS X.
Following the instructions here should be very straight forward. There are also instructions for connecting on Windows and Linux.

After successful installation reboot Mac OS X. Connect your Sheevaplug with a mini-USB cable to your Computer. Power it on and check which device ID it got.

ls -l /dev/tty.usbserial*
crw-rw-rw- 1  root  9,  28  16 Jun 19:14 /dev/tty.usbserial-FTxxxxxxA
crw-rw-rw- 1  root  9,  30  16 Jun 19:15 /dev/tty.usbserial-FTxxxxxxB

("xxxxxx" is your Sheevaplug's unique device ID.)

Now lets have a first check of our Sheevaplug and learn how to interrupt the boot process. Power off the Sheevaplug. Start a terminal and prepare to connect to the plug:

screen /dev/tty.usbserial-FTxxxxxxB 115200

Plug in the power cable of your Sheevaplug device and hit return in terminal after 2-3 seconds. Then press the space bar to interrupt the boot process in the early boot loader stage.

You should see something like that on your terminal:

512 MB

CPU : Marvell Feroceon (Rev 1)

Streaming disabled
Write allocate disabled

USB 0: host mode
PEX 0: interface detected no Link.
Net:   egiga0 [PRIME], egiga1
Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0 
Marvell>>

In the uboot prompt "Marvell>>" we can figure out the version of uboot.

Marvell>> version

U-Boot 1.1.4 (Jul 14 2009 - 06:46:57) Marvell version: 3.4.16

Yeah, mine has unfortunately an old version of uboot. According to here boot support from SD card was added with version 3.4.19. Because I want to install Debian on a SD card and boot from it, the next step will be to update the uboot boot loader of my Sheevaplug. :-)

I took me 8 weeks to wait until Globalscale Technologies finally shipped my Sheevaplug - a small sized but well powered little tiny Linux Computer on ARM embedded processor basis. It is told to consume only 5 - 8 watts of power. It features a 1,2 GHz ARM Processor aside 512 MD DDR2 SDRAM and 512 MB internal flash storage. It also has a LAN, USB port and a SD card slot. For accessing the early boot stages of the installed linux kernel it features a mini-USB port to connect a serial console. Here are some images of the unpacking procedure :)

It is really so small, that it fits on one hand :)

My plan is to install Debian Linux on it and use it primarily as my web server at home to run this web site on it. It comes pre-installed with Ubuntu Linux, but definitely my favor is Debian. This is also a very good opportunity to learn more about Debian on ARM processors. When it comes to cross-compiling, building cross-compilation tool chains and creating cross-platform root file systems for the ARM architecture it is often much easier to have a live ARM Linux system in your hands.

1. Nudeln kochen und abgiessen
2. Speck anbraten
3. Sahne, Salz und Pfeffer dazugeben
   
4. Nudeln dazu
5. Eigelb dazu
   
6. Schinkennudeln auf dem Teller geben und mit Parmesan bestreuen
   

Für 4 Personen.

4 Eiweiß mit Handrührer schlagen.

700 ml Milch aufkochen.

In einer Schale 3 - 4 Lagen Butterkekse stapeln.

Eiweiß mit Löffel schöpfen und in der Milch 1 Minute kochen. Dabei die Eiweiß "Nockle" mit dem Löffen drehen.

Die Nockle auf den Keksen in die Schale legen.

4 Eidotter mit 4 Esslöffel Zucker mit dem Handrührer schlagen. Diese Mischung in die gekochte Milch unter rühren langsam unterheben. Die Ei-Milch Mischung darf nicht kochen. Nur erhitzen und dabei rühren bis die Mischung dickflüssig geworden ist. Dann über die Nockle und Kekse gießen.

Die Schale 4 - 5 Stunden im Kühlschrank abkühlen lassen.