linuxbios to run gui apps

schneidz · 09-07-2007, 11:41 AM

i got a conventional pc (celeron d based dell)

i havent yet tried to flash my bios with linux but does anyone have an opinion if i can get menus in an embedded system (maybe using direct framebuffer - whatever that is)

as a failsafe i can 'startx' assuming i can mount /dev/hda1 but it prolly would take a while to load all those resources.

my aim is to have my system fully functional from power on in 5 seconds. much like a linksys router (embedded linux) is fully functional in < 1 second from plugging it in.

MS3FGX · 09-08-2007, 08:55 AM

I think you need to clarify what you mean by "fully functional".

Linux in BIOS can have a rudimentary GUI by using the framebuffer, but if you are trying to implement a complete desktop OS in BIOS (and booting under 5 seconds), that is just never going to happen.

You can load the kernel from the BIOS EEPROM, but at some point you are going to have to mount the drive and start loading all the libraries and applications from there if you want to have something that even resembles an every-day machine.

schneidz · 09-09-2007, 10:06 AM

thanks that helps from a generic plausibility standpoint.

by fully-functional i dont mean using gnome/ kde but at least getting a command-line where i can submit some commands. some of those commands will be on a hard-drive so i would like to execute them without causing a large bottleneck. eventually a touch-screen menu would be nice.

i hope i can get framebuffer specifics from the linuxbios website.

if anyone has done something like this before, please share.

thanks,

bryantrv · 09-09-2007, 11:08 AM

You might poke around http://www.linuxdevices.com/

jtshaw · 09-12-2007, 10:54 AM

Moved to Linux - Embedded at the posters request.

schneidz · 09-12-2007, 05:11 PM

how 'bout that. i got the first post in the new forum. id like to thank the acadamy...

mr007 · 09-16-2007, 02:38 AM

Buy a compact flash PCI adapter, plug into it a compact flash card and run whatever you want from it, (after booting under 5secs from LinuxBIOS into rudimentary command line).
Should serve your purpose just fine as far as my understanding of your problem goes.

schneidz · 09-17-2007, 12:03 PM

thanx mr bond (why dont you ask q for a pen with a remote control or something to get what i want)

i thought of that - i will probably try it with an ide-drive first as a proof of concept.

this is more software at this point, but who knows any framebuffer faq's ?

thanks,