[vmips] Re: vtech helio

[Brian R. Gaeke]

> Date: Fri, 02 Jan 2004 00:52:33 -0800
> From: "John L.Utz III" <john at utzweb.net>
> To: "Brian R. Gaeke" <brg at dgate.org>
> Cc: john at utzweb.net, vmips at dgate.org
> Subject: Re: vtech helio
> 
> Hello Brian;
> 
> tnx for taking the time to research this.
> 
> At Thu, 1 Jan 2004 23:22:50 -0600,
> "Brian R. Gaeke" <brg at dgate.org> wrote:
> > 
> > Hi,
> > 
> > I'm unable to locate any documentation specific to the Philips R3912, so I'm
> > unable to say how well VMIPS would be able to model it. VMIPS models the
> > original MIPS R3000/R3000A.
> > 
> > On the other hand, have you looked at
> > http://vhl-tools.sourceforge.net/emu.html ? They claim to have a Helio
> > emulator "complete enough to run Linux".
> 
> i am familiar with that emulator, but i wanted to work from a more
> 'inside-out' sort of thing. i appreciated your embedding of gdbserver and your
> faithful r3k emulation, because these seem to suit my way of doing things.
> 
> i will revisit their stuff again...but i will continue to learn what i can
> from your stuff!
> 
> tnx!
> 
> johnu
> 
> 
> > /opt/mips is just the default directory where VMIPS expects to find your
> > MIPS cross toolchain. You can use configure's --with-mips option to specify
> > whichever directory you installed your MIPS toolchain into.
> > 
> > -Brian
> > 
> > > Hi;
> > > 
> > > I have a vtech helio that i wish to ultimately use as a midi 'controller' and
> > > patch repository and whatnot.
> > > 
> > > toward that end, i wish to get the teensiest, tiniest linux kernel running on
> > > it.
> > > 
> > > the problem is that flashing a helio is a raging pain in the ass (among other
> > > things, it wants very fresh batteries or it runs out of voltage to drive the
> > > write cycle on the flash).
> > > 
> > > so, since we all know that programming tends to be Compile, Fiddle, Compile,
> > > and that embedded programming tends to be Compile, Flash, Reboot, Fiddle,
> > > Compile, it behooves me to invest the cycles in accurate emulation up front so
> > > that i only play with the hardware when i am confident that i have somethng
> > > that works.
> > > 
> > > so how accurately does vmips model a phillips r3912? if it's missing stuff,
> > > how does one go about defining what's missing and then implementing it?
> > > 
> > > and how does one map /opt/mips in configure to whatever toolchain one is
> > > using? i am currently using crosstool to build a mipsel chain, but i am unsure
> > > what portion of that chain equates to /opt/mips ( is this an SGI-ism?  we
> > > dont have /opt's on freebsd filesystems...)
> > > 
> > > tnx for any answers you can provide!
> > > 
> > > johnu