Software projects/OS/SOLEIL

Disclaimer

• Same as here.
• The release thread is located here: http://boards.openpandora.org/index.php/topic/10894-application-soleil/
• The build system is GPL V3.

Helping this project

• Same as here.

What is SOLEIL ?

• In french, Soleil means Sun.
• SOLEIL is a Slackware operating system.
• The Pandora version of SOLEIL is based on SL4P, Slackware for Pandora, itself based on Slackware ARM.

Ok, but what is SOLEIL ?!!?

• It's the core of a mobile network. In a few seconds, you can use your Pandora to act as:
  • a firewall/gateway/router
  • a DNS server
  • a DHCP server
  • a NFS server
  • a Inetd server
  • a distcc server, networked distributed compilation system for faster ARM compilations
  • a PXE boot server to start simultaneously multiple x86 32 bits and 64 bits PC. Currently supported are:
    • Dyne:bolic, a Linux home studio for making music
    • System Rescue CD, a Gentoo-based Linux to repair filesystems, recover data etc.
    • GParted, a Debian-based Linux for partitioning and formatting hard drives, SSD, SD cards etc.
    • Ghost for Linux (G4L), a powerful hard drive clone/backup utility
    • MemTest, different versions of a RAM testing tool
    • Hardware Detection Tool, for quickly make an inventory of the booted PC's hardware
  • And the main feature is to act as a PXE boot server to start two persistent versions of Slackware, 32 bits and 64 bits

Media choice

• SOLEIL runs on a SD card. 32G or more are recommended if you plan to install all features. A minimal install may run on 8G although no size plan is clearly defined for now.
• The SD card must support Linux filesystems, see this SD compatibility chart.
• I myself recommend the SanDisk Extreme or Extreme Pro cards.

Accessories choice

• Although there's ways to do without, you'll need one or two USB to Ethernet adapters.
• I myself recommend those twos. They can be connected to each other without the need of an external power supply:
  • For letting USB host ports available - http://www.logitec.co.jp/products/lan/lantxu2h3/index.php
  • For Gigabit ethernet at the lowest current drain - http://www.trendnet.com/products/proddetail.asp?prod=275_TU2-ETG

Installation

• Follow the SL4P procedure: http://pandorawiki.org/Software_projects/OS/Slackware#Installation
• Instead of grabbing the SL4P release, get SOLEIL rootfs here: http://slackware.openpandora.org/pandora/index.php?dir=SOLEIL%2FSOLEIL-14.0%2Frootfs

Rootfs versions

• There's two rootfs, minimal and maximal.
• Minimal (16G SD card) only contains a 32 bit Slackware PXE, and all extra features can be installed (at the exception of the 64 bit PXE) as long as you have internet. Be careful to use a 32G SD card if you want to install extra features.
• Maximal (32G SD card) contains all features.

Setup

• Once the rootfs is installed on the SD card, you have to setup a "Master" client PC. Edit /etc/dhcpd.conf, and replace the 00:00:00:00:00:00 MAC adress with the one from this "Master".
• The Master PC has a full read/write access to the NFS, Network File System.
• Connect only the ethernet adapter that will be connected to the LAN. It will be named eth0 and this is important as the network setup is static.
• Boot the Pandora. Once you see the Xfce desktop, SOLEIL is ready.
• If you have a two adapter setup, shut down the OP, plug the internet-side adapter (will be eth1), and boot again.
• If you made a mistake with the ethernet names, edit /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules .

Installing the extra features in the minimal rootfs

• Get internet, be root using su - , then, if you want to install GParted:

cd /etc/SOLEIL/installers
sh 4.1-x86-GPARTED.sh

• Same for G4L, System Rescue CD and Dyne:bolic
• There is no way to install the Slackware 64 bit PXE filesystem for now
• For the Slackware installers, get the 32 and 64 bits install-dvd .isos here: http://mirrors.slackware.com/slackware-iso/ , and copy them respectively in /srv/exports/nfs/SOLEIL/installers/slackware/14.0/x86_32/iso/ and /srv/exports/nfs/SOLEIL/installers/slackware/14.0/x86_64/iso/ , then reboot the Pandora.

Switch back to normal Slackware mode

• It's pretty simple:

chmod -x /etc/rc.d/rc.SOLEIL
chmod +x /etc/rc.d/rc.networkmanager

• And reboot.
• Invert the chmod's to come back to SOLEIL.

Differences with SL4P

• There is no started network manager, all IP addresses are configured statically.
• The previously mentioned services are running.
• USB host is enabled by default.