Wonder if a memory device (like /dev/mem) could point to your flash and then
simply use mount to attach the flash via that device as a file system. It
would be
read-only though, but the flash isn't well suited as a writable file systems
anyway
(limit of 100.000 erase cycles typically, for strataflash at least).
If this is possible, you could imbed a minimal RAM file system in the OS
(like the
install kernel) with just enough support to mount the flash FS and continue
execution
from it. Choice of FS could be anything NetBSD in general supports, don't
know about
the size of various FS drivers though. 

Disclaimer: I don't know if this will work, it sounds a little too easy.

Kurt Alstrup

-- 
George: What should we do if we step on a land-mine? 
Blackadder: Well George, standard procedure is to jump 200 ft. up 
            in the air and scatter yourself over a large area! 


-----Original Message-----
From: Unice, Kyle [mailto:kyle.unice@intel.com]
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2001 1:27 PM
To: 'tech-embed@netbsd.org'
Subject: NetBSD File Systems


I have gotten to the point of having NetBSD trying to mount a file system on
our little embedded system.  The system has FLASH and RAM but not much else.
What is the current thought on file systems inside these types of systems?
Does one allocat a piece of flash and format it as an ffs file system?  If
so, is there a set of Flash chip drivers somewhere for NetBSD?

Thanks for the help,
Kyle

W. Kyle Unice
Senior Software Engineer                 Email: kyle <dot> unice <at>
intel.com
Internet Management Appliance Div.   Voice: (801) 445-0509
Intel Corp.                                         FAX: (801) 445-0104
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