Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Seagate Dockstar - Install Debian Linux

Step 1: Disable the Pogoplug services
- SSH into the DockStar
- command: "killall hbwd"

Step 2: Attach and configure the USB device
- use fdisk (instructions here)
- create 2 partitions: 1st partition type 83 (Linux), second partition type 82 (Linux Swap)
- mark partition 1 as bootable

Step 3: Install Debian Linux
- use instructions here
- this will take a while, after it is finished it will ask you to reboot
- log back in using SSH (PuTTY)
  • If the device does not boot into your new Debian install, you maye have a USB stick that is not suitable for booting from it. Try a "warm boot" by using a pen to push the "Reset" button on the right side of the DockStar.).
  • The device may have a different IP address now (check that using your router)
  • to troubleshoot you can use netconsole as described here
- change root password using "passwd" command
- change the host name by editing the file "/etc/hostname" using vi or nano
- set the timezone by using "dpkg-reconfigure tzdata"
- optionally, install an updated Kernel from here

Step 4: Additional Configuration
- install nano editor "apt-get install nano"
- install sudo with "apt-get install sudo"
- add additional users with "adduser"
- install other packages for internet radio, samba, I2C etc. (will be covered in later posts)

Step 5: make a copy/backup of your system
If you have the system configured and running, you can make a backup copy onto another USB stick with the following command:

dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sdb


This assumes that the boot USB drive is /dev/sda and the traget drive is /dev/sdb
ALL DATA ON /dev/sdb WILL BE ERASED!

Related links:
DIY Audio - hackable linux (openWRT) ethernet board
http://www.mikrocontroller.net/articles/Dockstar
http://ahsoftware.de/dockstar/
http://www.rudiswiki.de/wiki/DockStarDebian
Ten(ish) steps to setting up a Seagate Dockstar
http://anwendungsentwickler.ws/dockstar_freeagent_bekommt_zuwachs/entry/316/