Getting started with the 'Base' image

There is a new getting started, please read.

What is the 'Base' image?
The 'Base' image is a distribution that isn't meant to be released. It's a really basic distribution that is targetting for getting linux, illume (user interface), an installer application and a settings application very stable. And that basic image will be used for making new releases of 'FSO' or 'Om 2008.*'. It will also be the basic for whenever the framework of FSO will be merged into the 'Om 2008.*' distribution (But now we are speaking in the far feature).

The 'Base' image is where the developers of Openmoko are putting their effort. Almost every day you can update your base system. That's an advantage, but also an disadvantage, because fixes can break other stuff. So if you are willing to use this image, you will have the bleeding edge (and also the newest bugs).

You can find a more in depth explanation in my previous blogpost.

Install the 'Base' image

• Download the kernel, the file system image.
• Flash your images with NeoTool
  

Configuring the 'Base' image

• Suspend off: We will put suspend off, because there are to many bugs. For example, you may not get any phone calls anymore. Also it isn't handy for using automatic suspend if you're ssh into you're phone. The connection gets interrupted and cannot be restored again. We put suspend off by opening settings and clicking on the suspend item until it says 'off'.
• Restarting device: The first time I started my 'Base' image, I was unable to ssh into it. After I restarted my Neo FreeRunner, I could ssh into it.
  
• Setting DNS: Also we have to set our dns, because else we can't use the installer on your phone. We can do that by ssh into your Neo FreeRunner (I assume you already have set all your configuration on the host side, else look at Usb networking) and use the editor vi for editing /etc/network/interfaces and add the following under the usb0 section:
  
  up echo nameserver 208.67.222.222 > /etc/resolv.conf
  up echo nameserver 208.67.220.220 >> /etc/resolv.conf
  
  And now we have to restart our Neo FreeRunner, so it sees the new DNS settings. But a restart takes to long, so we are doing a shortcut. Doing the following commands, will set the dns until you reboot.
  
  echo nameserver 208.67.222.222 > /etc/resolv.conf
  echo nameserver 208.67.220.220 >> /etc/resolv.conf
  
  
• Updating opkg: Because the list of applications that opkg can install is outdated, we will have to update opkg by doing:
  
  opkg update
  
  
• Install nano: We will install nano, because it's an easier editor and most people can work with it. You just have to do the following command:
  
  opkg install nano
  
  If you encounter an problem with packagekit, do:
  
  pkill packagekit
  
  
• Install calculator: what is a modern gsm without a calculator. It's like a little computer that is unable to calculate while the calculator was the predecessor of a computer. So we open installer (by pressing the bottom bar) and goto Miscellaneous and install qtopia-phone-x11-calculator.
• Changing illume theme: Now we are using the default 'Om 2008.8' theme, but we want the standard illume theme. This include the 'qwerty' toggle button and will add a new configuration icon.
  
  sed -i -e s,asu,illume, /etc/enlightenment/default_profile
  
  You will have to restart your x before the changes are visible.
  
  /etc/init.d/xserver-nodm restart
  
  Now we will have to turn Suspend off (yet again). You can change it by clicking at the new settings icon on the top bar. Then you will find power and in the second section you will find 'Suspend After Blank' and there you will choose 'Off'.
• Install phone software: Now we have our base system. But we want to use our base system for calling and sending sms's. So we need to install some phone software. I will go for the phone software that's are also in the 'Om 2008.8' image and is Qtopia based.
  
  opkg install task-openmoko-qtopia-x11
  
  Because there is a small problem with starting the command necessary for qtopia applications to work, we will have to do a quickfix. Add the following command at the last but one line in the file /etc/X11/Xsession.d/89qtopia, between the modem power on and the qpe startup.
  
  ldconfig
  
  After a restart, you can now use the 'Base' image for mobile phone purposes, like calling and sms's.
  

Now we are ready.
Have a nice FreeRunner time.