Re: [Tlf-devel] morphix cdrom problems

[Rein Couperus]

Gday Peter,

glad you like the idea, and hope you can help to support it.
Building and maintaining such a CD is a major project, an will cost lots of 
time (especially testing and debugging). I have started the CD project for 3 
reasons:

1.: To show it can be done easily and find someone who has the time to do it.
2.: To  make something which solves my mobile/dxpedition problems
3.: To promote the use of a real operating system for ham radio.

The CD is not my top priority, my main priority is tlf, and at the moment I am 
finishing the prototype of an rf mail drop system (rflink), using MT63, MFSK 
and PSK to upload logs to the base station and retain connectivity with the 
internet while on the road... meaning I momentarily don't have enough time to 
actively pursue the CD idea... 

If you want to help (maybe you can raise some more support... I have not been 
able to...) I can support you during the start-up phase and give you some 
pointers. This list is a good medium to communicate with the users base...

Now about the actual project...
I have left the Morphix KDE distro intact, and tried to "easy-morph" it by 
dropping .deb's into the deb directory. The real "intellectual added value"  
is in the use of the USB stick and (NEW) the floppy for logs, config files 
and updates; it is a short script in the 'exec' directory.

It is VERY easy to add programs like the ones you mention by just dropping the 
deb into the deb directory after you mount the iso (info on the morphix 
site). The problem is in the testing. Every program you add has to be tested 
for compatilbility, availibility of libraries etc etc... As I don't use AX25 
stuff I have not tested it, and the first user (you) notices it doesn't work.
Also, the more programs you add, the longer the boot time (the debs are 
installed during the boot process).
It is even possible to compile a new kernel if you know how, and I am sure the 
guys producing the next Morphix base module won't mind to compile AX25 into 
the next release (now in testing with 2.6.8) when you ask them to...
So before issueing such a CD on a large scale it will need LOTS OF TESTING!

It would be nice if you could find the time to sort this out... it is too low 
on my list at the moment... If you have specific questions we can handle them 
off-list...

73, and a HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!

Rein PA0R


On Friday 31 December 2004 04:39, Peter Barrett wrote:
> Hi from Perth W.A.
>
> Great idea guys, a live CD full of linux ham stuff!
>
> I had the idea of building a disk like this and trying to get Australian
> Amateur Radio magazine to put out an issue with the CD stuck to the front
> and an article inside on how to use it, you know, like the PC mags do.
>
> Yours is on the similar track.
> The problems I have had are these:
> There are no AX25 drivers. The 2.4.21-xls kernel was compiled without them.
> This makes ax25-tools, libax25, ax25-apps etc pretty much useless, so most
> newbies would be lost. Most hams dont do much DXpeditioning, but they love
> things like oregano, geda, eagle, predict and sattrack.
>
> It would appear to be reasonably straightforward to produce such a cd, with
> everything a ham is likely to go for. I have tried to follow the recipes in
> the Morphix page but still not sure.... Perhaps you could give me a few
> pointers...
>
> cheers
>
> 73deVK6KEG
>
> Peter in Beckenham WA

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