When I was trying to find proper kernel configs for the dockstar, I had to try several builds. Everytime my kernel didn’t boot I had to revert the arcNumber and install a working kernel again.

There are two ways to test a kernel:

  1. Grab another USB stick, make a backup and try the kernel on this backup. If you always do a new backup before testing another build, it will take a long time.
  2. Test the kernel on the running system (or a backup-stick) and reinstall another kernel in case yours wont boot. In difference to 1. you do this in a chrooted jail.

I want to explain how you do the chroot thing with some lines. The first thing you have to do if the device wont boot is to detach all USB devices and let the dockstar boot into Pogoplug (remember the login: root:stxadmin). Then you only attach the USB stick you want to revert the kernel on!

mkdir /tmp/disk
mount /dev/sda1 /tmp/disk # mount your rootfs
export PATH=$PATH:/sbin:/usr/sbin

# go into jail
LANG=C chroot /tmp/disk/ /bin/bash

# downgrade to heavykernel
cd /tmp
wget 193.16.217.9/files/dockstarheavy.deb
dpkg -i --force-overwrite dockstarheavy.deb
mv /boot/uInitrd /boot/org1.uInitrd

# get out the jail
exit

# change back the arcNumber
cd /tmp
wget http://jeff.doozan.com/debian/uboot/fw_printenv
chmod +x fw_printenv
ln -s fw_printenv fw_setenv
./fw_setenv arcNumber 2097

Now you are ready to reboot the dockstar into your debian installation:

reboot