Comments on: PC Engines alix3d3 with Debian Lenny

By: filip

filip — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:34:28 +0000

Hi Vladimir,

I read this a bit late, but I can confirm Debian Lenny works without any hacks with new bios.
As for installing new bios, you can also get USB CD-ROM (borrow from someone) and to make bootable DOS CD.
I can’t upload working linux flash image since I’m using USB HDD.
There is a problems here too, if BIOS did not recognize USB HDD, you need a CF with GRUB instructed to boot from HDD.
It works pretty well
CF are not recommended for many write operations as any OS will do.
You can of course install linux as read only, but this is not very useful.

By: Vladimir

Vladimir — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:57:25 +0000

Hi Dimitar,

I think I also have a problem with the bios on the alix 3d3 board…..
what is the simplest solution to upgrade bios…all the instructions that are on pcengines website could not make to work..

I made fredos bootable cf card , added bios for alix board, alixbio7 files , and my boot stops on the initdiskbad or missing command interpreter

I feel like absoulte beginner but not quite

what is the simple solution for bios upgrade of alix 3d3d board with award bios ver 7 ?

thnx, Vladimir

By: DataMatrix

DataMatrix — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:22:31 +0000

Hello, Vladimir.
If I understood correctly you want to use a CF (Compact Flash) card instead of usb flash stick. In my next post ( http://blog.datamatrix-bg.net/2009/06/04/debian-on-alix-3d3/ ) I’ve attached a tar.gz archive of my setup and have some instructions on how to put it to a flash stick, but instead of /dev/sdc you will probably have /dev/cf or something like that for you CF card.
My alix3d3 is currently inoperable (probably beyond repair) due to reversing the supply power polarity and I’m currently unable to afford a new one (and a CF card) to test my statement above and give you direct help.

Best regards, Dimitar.

By: Vladimir

Vladimir — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:53:39 +0000

Hi,

I see that it is possible to install debian on the alix 3d3 board….hm…I read the instructions but my knowledge about linux is nowhere close to honored writer above

Is there any chance some solution that does not include compiling the kernel and similar.

Lets say CF image or similar that I can copy to CF Card!

I am willing to donate some $ for help on this matter!

Best regards, Vladimir

By: DataMatrix

DataMatrix — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:28:03 +0000

There are three files in there, I’m not entirely sure which one to use and how.

Edit: ok, I understood what the third one does (.com file), but I’m unsure of which version of the firmware to use (alix0.bin or alix2.bin).

By: Iasho

Iasho — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:06:29 +0000

Did you try latest BIOS from PCEngines?

http://www.pcengines.ch/file/alixbio7.zip

…Fix LEDs, VGA DDC issue (boot hang), free up MFGPT timers…