Installing Ubuntu Precise (12.04.2), Saucy (13.10) and Trusty (14.04) using netboot for Calxeda ECX-1000 (Highbank) and ECX-2000 (Midway)

Before You Begin

You will need the following:

1. A management device for console access
2. DHCP available which will provide Internet access (to access the Ubuntu package archive)

3. A TFTP Server accessible from the system

Downloading the Installer

Download the Calxeda Highbank kernel and installer initrd and place them on an available TFTP Server.

For Precise, use this kernel and initrd.

For Saucy Highbank, use this kernel and initrd.

For Saucy Midway, use this kernel and initrd.

For Trusty Highbank, use this kernel and initrd.

For Trusty Midway, use this kernel and initrd.

Booting the Installer on Highbank

Power on the chassis and access the console via IPMI (e.g. "ipmitool -H 10.0.0.101 -U admin -P admin -I lanplus sol activate").

Power on the system processor (e.g. "ipmitool -U admin -P admin -H 10.0.0.101 chassis power on").

Interrupt U-Boot by pressing Enter when prompted to stop autoboot. In some instances you will need to press "s" to stop autoboot

Type the following at the U-Boot prompt, replacing the IP address with the IP address of your TFTP Server:

dhcp
tftpboot ${kernel_addr_r} 10.0.0.10:/vmlinuz
tftpboot ${ramdisk_addr_r} 10.0.0.10:/initrd.gz
setenv bootargs "console=ttyAMA0"
bootz ${kernel_addr_r} ${ramdisk_addr_r}:${filesize} ${fdt_addr}

Note: insert "setenv initrd_high 0xffffffff" after "dhcp" for early u-boot releases.

This will boot into the installer, follow the default partitioning scheme suggested.

Booting the Installer on Midway

Power on the chassis and access the console via IPMI (e.g. "ipmitool -H 10.0.0.101 -U admin -P admin -I lanplus sol activate").

Power on the system processor (e.g. "ipmitool -U admin -P admin -H 10.0.0.101 chassis power on").

Interrupt U-Boot by pressing Enter when prompted to stop autoboot. In some instances you will need to press "s" to stop autoboot

Type the following at the U-Boot prompt, replacing the IP address with the IP address of your TFTP Server:

dhcp
fdt addr 1000
fdt set / model "Calxeda ECX-2000"
tftpboot ${kernel_addr_r} 10.0.0.10:/vmlinuz
tftpboot ${ramdisk_addr_r} 10.0.0.10:/initrd.gz
setenv bootargs "console=ttyAMA0"
bootz ${kernel_addr_r} ${ramdisk_addr_r}:${filesize} ${fdt_addr}

This will boot into the installer, follow the default partitioning scheme suggested.

Booting into the Installed System

Your system should now boot into the installed system.