el_rico
Newbie
Posts: 11
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« on: 10 March 2010, 09:22:12 am » |
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Hello,
Do you know what is the JTAG board for? Is it just for JTAG purposes only (and then I think I do not need it, since I am totally ignorant about this) or is it also useful for something else?
Can we do all re-flash/un-brick through the mini-USB on the plug itself?
It is not worth getting a board for free if I do not do anything with it...
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madman2003
Newbie
Posts: 8
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« Reply #1 on: 10 March 2010, 12:51:18 pm » |
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To the best of my knowledge you need the JTAG board for getting mini-usb. If you look clearly there is no mini-usb connector on the guruplug, only something they call mini-usb, but which clearly isn't mini-usb (it's probably the connector that has to go to the dev board).
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el_rico
Newbie
Posts: 11
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« Reply #2 on: 10 March 2010, 01:58:16 pm » |
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Oh... Then it's different from the SheevaPlug in that respect. Am I correct to conclude that we then need the JTAG board to install a new OS from scratch? In other words, should I place an order before March 14th  ? |
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NewIT_Marcus
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« Reply #3 on: 10 March 2010, 05:49:38 pm » |
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Oh... Then it's different from the SheevaPlug in that respect. Am I correct to conclude that we then need the JTAG board to install a new OS from scratch? In other words, should I place an order before March 14th ? You don't need the JTAG in order to install a new O/S, but it would make it much easier to do so. |
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Czayen
Newbie
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« Reply #4 on: 11 March 2010, 02:00:32 pm » |
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Correct me if I'm wrong but with the JTAG board you can flash or de-brick loads of routers, top boxes etc. on the market  |
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el_rico
Newbie
Posts: 11
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« Reply #5 on: 14 March 2010, 06:09:12 pm » |
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OK, I'm convinced : ordered!  |
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SRG
Newbie
Posts: 11
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« Reply #6 on: 30 March 2010, 07:41:53 pm » |
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I really don't see exactly what you can do with this JTAG board ?
I've read somewhere on the internet some things about "pausing cpu, evaluating cpu registers, ..." : i don't need at all these features.
But what features has this JTAG board that would made OS update easier ?
I will probably reinstall the OS (with other partition scheme - i plan to buy a 16 or 32 µSD card to install the OS on and just keep the internal NAND 512mo for /boot), can this be done *without* the JTAG board ?
How do we do that with the Guru Plug as there is no vga port ?
Thanks in advance for any clue about this point (otherwise i really find this Guru Plug server really interesting ! I'll buy one as soon as it's available)
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peter a
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« Reply #7 on: 30 March 2010, 08:19:09 pm » |
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The JTAG board is the way to program a board after you have what’s called, bricked it !!. For example deleted or corrupted the bootloader ( uboot ), so normally you shouldn`t need it. But what features has this JTAG board that would made OS update easier ? - None - Installing the OS on the SD card, I would guess that you do it the same way as the sheevaplug. Do it on a second system – or – the guruplug it`s self, while booted from the NAND flash. How do we do that with the Guru Plug as there is no vga port ? The sheevaplug and guruplug is what is called a headless system meaning that there is no monitor. The way to control it is via a second computer using 'Console mode' , connect to the plug via ssh , which is like cmd in windows (MS-DOS) If you are using windows use putty and WinSCP |
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« Last Edit: 30 March 2010, 08:26:53 pm by peter a »
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MoDaX
Newbie
Posts: 6
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« Reply #8 on: 30 March 2010, 10:12:15 pm » |
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Hello, information (or rather lack of) on this JTAG board is so frustrating. So far answers have been vague at best. So I will ask a couple of straight questions: 1) Can I access GuruPlug Server serial interface without that JTAG board? 2) If the answer to the question above is no, what is mini-USB port on GuruPlug Server for? To add more to the confusion, that mini-USB port is nowhere to be seen on Hardware block diagram. For those unaware, one can access serial interface via its mini-USB port on Sheevaplug. The truth is that it won't be easy install a new OS from scratch (without preconfigured image) without serial interface if the installer is interactive or it is NOT designed to be interacted with via ssh/telnet. Also if you render your system unbootable, it might be difficult to get it back as you won't be able to interact with the device (neither send it any commands nor see any errors/kernel dmesg/etc) without serial interface. In other words, serial interface is physical access to the device much like VGA+keyboard for ordinary PC. In my opinion, it is very dangerous to seriously "play" with the device without serial interface... So the only real question is whether JTAG board is necessary to get serial interface to the device or not? |
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peter a
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« Reply #9 on: 30 March 2010, 10:38:52 pm » |
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You are going to have to be able to get to the Uboot environment or you will not going to be able to choose where to boot from, and the only way to do that is via serial .
So it should have serial access like the sheevaplug ?.
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alfon
Newbie
Posts: 28
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« Reply #10 on: 30 March 2010, 11:43:22 pm » |
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My GUESS is that you can get serial access to the Guruplug via the mini-USB port, without the JTAG board, and that the JTAG board is needed in order to bypass U-Boot and get full control of the processor - something that the installer does. In short, I believe it will be possible to use the Guruplug without the JTAG board, as long as U-Boot is intact, but that you will need the JTAG board in order to reflash it, in case U manage to delete U-Boot. But keep in mind that all this is just a guess. It is also my guess that, had NewIT had full hands-on access to a Guruplug, they would already have answered this thread a long time ago. But then, if they had had such access they would also be busy preparing ready-to-boot microSDs and other such goodies for us. Being at the bleeding edge of technology sure has its thrills, but it also has some disadvantages. Not knowing in advance what exactly you are going to get is one of them :-) For example take a look at the Guruplug display ( http://www.globalscaletechnologies.com/t-guruplugdisplaydetails.aspx#features - initially scheduled for release in April). You will see a few inconsistencies in the specs (e.g. 7 GPIO pins in the specs, 6 in the hardware diagram, no port visible in the pictures OR: 10/100MBit ethernet in the specs, no mention thereof in the detailed specs, GB ethernet port in the pictures OR: "Drawing under 5 Watts of power..."/"Power input: 100-240VAC/50-60Hz 19W"). Best regards, Alf |
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el_rico
Newbie
Posts: 11
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« Reply #11 on: 06 April 2010, 12:54:36 pm » |
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The problem is that is seems that the mini USB port listed on the plug itself is actually not a mini USB port: rather a connector to the JTAB board enclosure. The mini USB port is on this enclosure.
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patermann
Newbie
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« Reply #12 on: 10 April 2010, 09:14:54 pm » |
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As there is no longer any mention of a free JTAG board, I am assuming that the offer has ended. That is a shame as I was unable to commit to buying a GuruPlug before but, now that I am, I cannot justify paying an extra £32 to buy it separately, especially as I was going to buy the plus version.
patermann
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MoDaX
Newbie
Posts: 6
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« Reply #13 on: 12 April 2010, 09:23:33 am » |
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I just received an answer from Globalscale Technologies, Inc. to my question(s). It clears everything up. To sum up, whoever wants to play with GuruPlug seriously, will apparently need that JTAG board. |
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peter a
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« Reply #14 on: 12 April 2010, 11:36:46 am » |
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That sounds like I didn`t waste my money pre ordering, and getting the JTAG for free.
Without serial, that going to limit been able to change the Uboot environment or know what’s happening when it doesn`t boot.
not long to wait now , hopefully ?
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« Last Edit: 12 April 2010, 11:38:44 am by peter a »
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