Slug installation

Our first task is to reflash the Linksys NSLU2. This box will later be used as a file server at Valhall, though it currently stands silently at Bilskirnir.

Now, I actually already reflashed it with Debian/NSLU2, but I though I’d redo it to document the process. There is already a quite good document describing the installation process. This installation guide will be more specific, however, describing how I got things to work.

A look at what we need for this task:

• A slug (not a slimy one, I mean a Linksys NSLU2)
• A installation medium for Debian (it won’t fit in internal flash); I used a 2 GB memory stick
• A computer running Kubuntu
• A switch and some network cables
• A lot of patience (the Slug isn’t very fast) and some coffee

First, we put all the equipment in place:

1. Connect the slug to a power outlet.
2. Connect a network cable from the slug to the switch.
3. Connect a network cable from the computer to the switch (I use wireless normally, but this don’t work for reflashing with upslug2).
4. Connect the memory stick to USB port 1 on the slug (port 2 probably works, but I haven’t tested so I can’t confirm this).

Power on the slug and set it to receive a IP address via DHCP. (Information about this can be found in the manual, I think.) When done, power off the slug again.

Ok, let’s download all the programs we need to the laptop. The binary image for the Debian Installer (with Intel’s proprietary network driver) can be found at slug-firmware.net. At the time of writing the most up to date image is Etch RC2, so I grabbed that one. You have to accept Intel’s license before you download. I don’t think there’s any indecent stuff there, but then I just skimmed it (and I’m certainly not a lawyer). We also need the upslug2 tool which I downloaded with apt (for Kubuntu, it is in the Universe repository, be sure you enable this first):

sudo apt-get install upslug2

Next, put the slug in upgrade mode:

1. Press and hold the reset button with a metal clip (the hole is quite deep, so a pen won’t do)
2. Power on the slug without releasing the reset button
3. The top diode () shines yellow for approximately 10 seconds – keep the reset button down.
4. When the top diode turns to amber (the change is quite subtle, be sure to do this in a dark room) immediately release the reset button (you have at least a second I think).
5. The diode should now flash amber. If not, restart the process.

As far as I can tell, the slug will stay in upgrade mode until you reboot it, so you don’t have to hurry starting the reflash.

Now go back to the Konsole window you should have started, and type:

cd
mkdir slug
mv download/debian-etch-rc2-20070308.zip slug/
cd slug
unzip debian-etch-rc2-20070308.zip

Now run the upslug2 tool to reflash (upslug2 has to be run as root because of how it interacts with the network interface):

sudo upslug2 -i di-nslu2.bin

The installation process should begin. The upslug2 tool will report the MAC address for the slug. Use this to set up a static lease for it. I set it to 192.168.1.6 for this.
When the installation finished (it says “Rebooting… done”) you have to wait a while (5 minutes perhaps) before you can log on to your debian installation via SSH.

Coming up, the Debian Installer….