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z2buntu video

Submitted by mozzwald on Sun, 06/20/2010 - 15:13
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Here's a video of what I've been working on. This zipit is ubooted running the 2.6.35-rc1 kernel, has been hardware modded for USB host, and is running a tweaked version of z2buntu. The new menu program I'm using is lxlauncher with keyboard support enabled and works extremely well.

EDIT: rkdavis has posted a follow up to my video. He gives proper credit which I failed to do. Check out his response at http://russelldavis.org/2010/06/mozzwalds-zipitz2-usb-host-video/

Hey Mozzwald, Any chance you

Submitted by azend (not verified) on Sat, 08/14/2010 - 19:10.

Hey Mozzwald,

Any chance you could post some more in depth instructions on adding usb host to the z2? I am interested because I am thinking of attaching my arduino to the z2 in order to make a uav. Having a z2 aboard a uav, in my opinion, is the cheap alternative to more expensive solutions because it has an lcd screen, has a long lasting battery, and it has wifi.

Thanks,
azend

USB Host basic info

Submitted by mozzwald on Sat, 08/14/2010 - 19:52.

Previously it had been thought there was a required hardware mod to the Z2 which was basically the removal of a surface mount resistor. Recently, I have replaced the resistor and still have working USB host so the removal appears not to be required.

So the minimum required mods would be to upgrade your bootloader to U-Boot, use a newer kernel that has USB host support compiled in (which is in my latest post), and have a USB dongle/dock for the Zipit. If you do some diging around at linux.zipitwireless.com you should find some scattered info about pinouts and such but no definitive guide.

I'm working on a more in depth post about USB Host, so keep checking back.

So how much of a hardware

Submitted by azend (not verified) on Sat, 08/14/2010 - 23:15.

So how much of a hardware hack would you still need?

could i use a usb to serial

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 08/01/2010 - 09:57.

could i use a usb to serial adaptor with this and run minicom?

USB to Serial

Submitted by mozzwald on Sun, 08/01/2010 - 13:32.

It does work. I have successfully connected an Arduino, which uses the FTDI USB to Serial chipset, to the Zipit. You just have to have the correct modules compiled for whatever USB to Serial adapter you are using.

Advantages?

Submitted by Naitsirhc Hsem (not verified) on Mon, 08/02/2010 - 04:51.

how would the arduino help? more processing power?

Arduino

Submitted by mozzwald on Mon, 08/02/2010 - 17:15.

The Arduino doesn't add processing power to the Zipit. It can be used to interface the Zipit with "real world" devices. Perhaps some motors or sensors?

Zipit OS

Submitted by Naitsirhc Hsem (not verified) on Fri, 07/16/2010 - 16:26.

could the armel versions of ubuntu http://releases.ubuntu.com/10.04/ be used on the zipit? my SD card is cracked and I don't know when I will get a new one so I can't test it now.

Thanks,
Naitsirhc

Ubuntu 10.04

Submitted by mozzwald on Fri, 07/16/2010 - 16:59.

Unfortunately the only Ubuntu distribution that will work on the Zipit Z2 is Jaunty 9.04 which is compiled for armv5. The newer Ubuntu distros are for other arm versions. See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ARM for more info.

Slitaz

Submitted by Naitsirhc Hsem (not verified) on Fri, 07/16/2010 - 17:56.

I hope slitaz 4.0 on arm will support the zipit (arm 5). have you checked out slitaz, 30mb os, lots of packages, pretty sweet.

Slitaz

Submitted by mozzwald on Fri, 07/16/2010 - 18:50.

I have not looked into slitaz arm nor have I used it before. Seems interesting.

Dang Good Video

Submitted by DoorToDoorGeek (not verified) on Thu, 06/24/2010 - 16:26.

Thanks for the video, I am looking forward to more post

Thanks for the update!

usb host! please give us some info!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/21/2010 - 02:36.

I am very curious about the USB host mode, as well, and I'd like to know how you got a 2.6.35-rc1 kernel running on the z2.

Thanks for this blog!

The usb host is amazing how

Submitted by eitriv (not verified) on Sun, 06/20/2010 - 22:16.

The usb host is amazing how can I do that, any explanation somewhere?
Thanks

USB Host

Submitted by Geordy (not verified) on Sun, 06/20/2010 - 23:03.

I agree with eitriv. Not that I'm not interested in the other stuff you are doing with zUbuntu but I'd love to see a howto of the USB host more than anything. Did you have to do any internal mod to get it on that expansion connector?

USB Host

Submitted by mozzwald on Mon, 06/21/2010 - 04:33.

This is all still in the works and needs more testing, but this is what you need for host mode. You first need to replace the stock Blob bootloader with uboot, you will need a kernel with USB support, and you need a hardware modification to the zipit. USB is brought to expansion connector already, but the hardware mod changes it from USB on the go to USB host.

I'm still working on the bugs with the 2.6.35 kernel. When those bugs are fixed, I will release uboot and the kernel.

USB Host

Submitted by rkdavis (not verified) on Tue, 06/22/2010 - 12:31.

Mozzwald, great video. Perhaps a bit early to actually post it as GPSFan hadn't confirmed that the required hardware mod is 100% safe and he and I hadn't done much testing but it seems to be safe so WTH. Still it is a nice video. I think i'll link to this entry on my blog. The way you did the cable attached directly to a powered hub is a nice idea too.