[tor-bugs] #6981 [Torouter]: changes to recommended DreamPlug torouter boot configuration

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#6981: changes to recommended DreamPlug torouter boot configuration
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 Reporter:  ficus     |          Owner:  ioerror
     Type:  task      |         Status:  new    
 Priority:  normal    |      Milestone:         
Component:  Torouter  |        Version:         
 Keywords:            |         Parent:         
   Points:            |   Actualpoints:         
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 This is a ticket for discussion/debate.

 The old torouter+dreamplug boot process (inherited from the FreedomBox's
 freedom-maker) attempts to use the factory installed u-boot firmware with
 minimal reconfiguration. It can be configured to boot from an internal
 microSD card or from a USB stick, requiring a change in configuration to
 support one or the other.

 More recent linux kernels require newer u-boot firmware, and FreedomBox
 has moved to requiring an update, removing one incentive to stick with the
 old boot configuration:
 http://anonscm.debian.org/gitweb/?p=freedombox/freedom-
 maker.git;a=blob;f=README;h=6039861d2700e89574249ff7e9e6b06885438d84;hb=de1f66f0651a3a7c306331eeda1db93535b1470a
 http://anonscm.debian.org/gitweb/?p=freedombox/freedom-maker.git;a=blob;f
 =flashing-
 notes;h=def3f61e5ea45e4d3a85666ff1cc9f6d7bd27cf5;hb=de1f66f0651a3a7c306331eeda1db93535b1470a

 I think a more user- and developer-friendly configuration would be to
 leave the internal microSD empty and boot from the accessible SD card
 slot. This would mean a single binary image could be targeted (no
 differences in /etc/fstab, initrd.img, or u-boot configuration) and end
 users/owners could easily update or replace the operating system by
 removing the SD card. This might also free up an external USB slot for
 users booting from that.

 I will test with the above configuration and report back.

 One problem is that the new u-boot firmware has USB timeout problems when
 booting from an external USB stick. A fixed boot delay is a workaround.

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/6981>
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