[Arm-netbook] Improving the wiki, build and test processes for allwinner kernel and ubuntu images for the Mele A1000/A2000

[Matthew Boyd]

lkcl luke <luke.leighton <at> gmail.com> writes:

> 
> On Sun, Jun 3, 2012 at 10:15 AM, Henrik Nordström
> <henrik <at> henriknordstrom.net> wrote:
> > lör 2012-06-02 klockan 23:49 +0000 skrev Matthew Boyd:
> >> The one real big strike though is I have a Polaroid PMID701C tablet as my
> >> Allwinner A10 platform not a MELE 1000 like most.
> >
> > If you want to participate in development & testing at current stage
> > then modifying the tablet to add serial console is a good idea, assuming
> > you are not afraid of opening it up. There should be internal test pads
> > for the serial console.
> 
>  ... or, get one of those SD-card adaptor things, the ones where with
> some boot params it's possible to turn the SD card into a JTAG and
> serial port.  hmm... that means having to boot off of NAND flash,
> doesn't it?  bit more complicated than it seems...
> 
>  l.
> 
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I did make an SD card adaptor, though I think I trimmed it just a bit too much 
and managed to have it wiggle just enough to blow out one of the ports because 
now the tablet recognizes an uSD is installed, but does not tell me anything is 
on it.  I can still get the tx side off, though all I have been able to see is 
when it starts booting the kernel, have not gotten a peep out of u-boot or 
bImage (depending on which version I have loaded up at the time).  I was 
figuring on trying to tap straight off of the test points on the motherboard by 
the A10 that by schematics and location on the A10 should be the serial TX and  
RX, and JTAG ports.  I was figuring on attaching them to a uSD to SD adaptor 
that I could mount into the device without being to obtrusive, though I can 
only get the pads narrowed down to a 50/50 shot on each of the group of 3.
I have installed a second flash in an empty slot on it too, though as yet I 
have not gotten anywhere with it.  That was why I was working on the console 
since it looks like there are options for working with NAND available in the u-
boot if I can get there.
And for the record, before you ask, I have a PL-2303 USB to serial adaptor that 
I pulled the level changer off of to get it down to 3.3V.  I have pin 4 tied to 
the 3.3V coming off of the tablet to make sure it is running at the right 
voltage.  I have since made a second uSD adaptor that I hand filed to get it to 
fit in tighter so that part should be better now.
Here are a few more of my notes from the add the flash project (including 
picture of the test points near the A10)
http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?780-Working-on-adding-another-Flash-to-
the-empty-slot
And if you are interested in the tablet in general here is a teardown 
photoshoot that I have added several links to datasheets I have found:
http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?520-PMID701c-Another-Tear-Down-Photo-
Shoot&highlight=datasheet