simple question

hey guys sorry in advance for the following stupid questions.
I have flashed U-boot in my 128 Mb 2440 device.Its U-boot
1.3.2-mini2440(Oct 6 2009-12:51:09)version .Okay now my question:-

1.)can i use any kinda kernel with it?i mean do i have to keep in mind any
factors/points while compiling my kernel for this U-boot version or
something?

2.)What is the difference between compiling a kernel and compiling a file
system? where do i get the source filesystem to compile from. 

3.)Is it true U-boot cant work with .img. which types it can work with.

4.)how can i compile a .jjfs2 file-system.I've tried the "buildroot" method
but there were some issues with the internet connection.Is there any other
method with standalone PC??

5.)Isn't it possible to compile kernel and filesystem together for my 2440
device  :(

I know its miserable but thats what my present condition is. help!

1. the kernel version really needs to be the same version as what is used
to make your kernel modules.  Sometimes things work and sometimes they
don't.  I have used a newer kernel version with the rootfs image in the
download support package from Kernel Concepts and most things seem to work.

2. You compile a kernel and construct a root filesystem then make an image
of it to place in the root section.  Source?  I have been making my own,
only problem it doesn't do a lot (USB, SD card, tftp).  Evidently, you can
get the source say for arm-root-Qtopia and modify it yourself.  Haven't
tried to do that.

3. Correct it produces uImages.

4. Having been through that process over the last month I could suggest
either a hard way or maybe an easy way!  I understand buildroot is quite
popular and also OpenEmbedded.  Been here? 
http://code.google.com/p/mini2440/

5. You compile the kernel and flash it to the kernel section with uboot and
then flash your rootfs to the root section.


Another tutorial that is useful is:
http://narnia.cs.ttu.edu/drupal/node/131


The hard way:
Search Google for <Building Embedded Linux Systems.pdf> an excellent book. 
And spend a few months and probably a fair bit of support.
 
The easy or maybe easier way would to work to a tutorial:

"Creating a Root File System for Linux on OMAP35x" from TI is what I mostly
followed.  I found an example rootfs for the mini2440 floating around
somewhere and started with that.  See if you can find <rootfsjffs2.gz>, if
not I'll post it.  Then if you get really disparate I could post a tutorial
I've written.

Great fun, but be prepared to invest significant amount of time.

u r my man..thanks there :)..tough i cudn't understand few of ur
points.well m really breaking my head on this stuff.I'll need ur help ahead
.Lemme go on the path u showed first.hoping to have a rather more technical
discussion ahead :).

"You compile a kernel and construct a root filesystem then make an image
of it to place in the root section.  Source?  I have been making my own,
only problem it doesn't do a lot (USB, SD card, tftp).  Evidently, you can
get the source say for arm-root-Qtopia and modify it yourself.  Haven't
tried to do that."


Okay i'll have to ask u this..correct me if i'm wrong

well when i say i'm compiling a kernel i get the stuff ( kernel source
code)  from www.kernel.org first  and make menuconfig and make it and then
i get a compiled kernel ryt? 

but how do u compile a filesystem??same process??same kernel source
code??or does it has to do with anything to select/deselect when doing
menuconfig??

kernel: get the prepatched  image + toolchain from
http://www.arm9.net/mini2440-linux.asp , install the toolchain
(arm...gcc..), unpack the kernel to a suitable location, "make menuconfig".
as the kernel is prepatched, you save a lot of time. Then flash the kernel
via supervivi.

rootfs: get buildroot from buildroot.net, unpack to a suitable location,
"make menuconfig", this builds the rootfs + crosscompilertoolchain +
ext2-image of rootfs. get mkyaffs, mount the root...ext2 via loopback and
create root.yaffs. flash it via supervivi.

ok, that took 2 wooks for me to figure out, wut several dozen rebuilds,
repompiles etc.

No, don't go to kernel.org unless you want to learn how to build from
scratch and then deal with the fact that they are not up to date.

#4 buserror has sorted some issues out which would make things less
painful.  I would suggest starting with the kernel source for 2.6.32.7
which you git from his site or play around with
Linux 2.6.32.2 (2010-01-13) 81 MB
on this site.

Throw <mini2440> into Google, there are lotsa good tutorials out there. 
Have you done http://narnia.cs.ttu.edu/drupal/node/131 yet?

You don't compile the root filesystem.  Re-read #2.

Sam,

See we answered at the same time, but 8 hours later.

I now understand where 'compiling the rootfs" comes from (buildroot).  Does
buildroot allow you to setup your rcS, inittab, fstab, mdev files as part
of this process?

After just about "breaking my head" to quote Kevin on doing it from scratch
I'll have to have a look at buildroot.

hey guys i've tried buildroot thing. downloaded and did make menuconfig but
it was taking hell lot of time i read on their website that i can do that
locally too.So i downloaded all the sources and then tried make.But as fate
has it for me it stuck at something saying-
"cannot find -lX11"
now what the hell is that i searched on the net..(yaa one thing i use
ubuntu version 9.04)..found out its some X windows development tool/library
and stuff..searched for how to install that..did sudo apt-get install X11
doesnt work..I guess to proceed with compiling the build root rootfs i need
to have lX11.But how do i install that.

The more i try the more the knot tightens..help me breathe!

else if somebody can show me an alternative to buildroot!