piCore 6.0 rc1

[bmarkus]

First release candidate of piCore 6.0 is available.

Download link:

http://repo.tinycorelinux.net/6.x/armv6/release_candidates/

This is a beta level cut. If you decide to help test, then please test carefully. We don't want anyone to lose data.

Since this is an beta cut, although the team has worked through several preview cuts, we ask that only experienced users test. This cut is not for production use. The features in any beta may change before a public release candidate is available.

Note that the fltk library has been updated to 1.3.3 to enable unicode. fltk-1.1 and 1.3 can be installed at the same time, and old apps using 1.1 will continue to work.


We appreciate testing and feedback.


Changelog for 6.0 rc1:

* first partion, mmcblk0p1 size reduced
* serial terminal restarts with login after exit
* safe overclocking enabled by deafult, startup time is 20% less now
* default cpufreq governor changed to performance
* cpufreq governor set to ondemand when startup finished
* shell history deleted


Changelog for 6.0 Beta355:

* kernel updated to 3.12.35


Changelog for 6.0 Beta200:

* kernel updated to 3.14.23


Changelog for 6.0 Beta100:

* kernel updated to 3.18.0


Changelog for 6.0 Beta2:

* kernel updated to 3.17.4
* RPi firmware updated to December 3 release
* serial terminal now started by default
* preinstalled components updated


Changelog for 6.0 Beta1:

* kernel updated to 3.17.3
* glibc updated to 2.20
* gcc updated to 4.9.2
* e2fsprogs base libs/apps updated to 1.42.12
* util-linux base libs/apps updated to 2.25.2

[bmarkus]

Additional notes:

• X version will follow in next days
• if you are using the SSH image, make a backup (sudo filetool.sh -b) to save your SSH keys generated at first use to get new keys at every boot
• If you are using images with preinstalled extensions, do not forget to resize mmcblk0p2 partion, as described in README!

Request:

Please test your system removing waitusb=5 option in cmdline.txt It was necessary in 5.x to get mmcblk0p2 recognized and for safety left in rc1 but not needed at least in my test enveronment. Let me know your result.

[Gerrelt]

Installed my squeezelite radio with WiFi, and everything is working, even after removing "waitusb = 5".
It's very handy the SSH key files are allready in teh filetools.lst file, thanks!

One thing I noticed: If I change the volume through alsamixer, the setting isn't saved.
Do I have to add some config file to filetools.lst? I will investigate further.

Have a great 2015! 

[sodface]

This version is working with my A+, wifi, and w1 temp sensor.  Removing waitusb=5 did not cause any problems.  40 seconds from power on until I receive a text on my phone from the rpi with the temperature.

Also, I was reading on cmdline.txt and it was mentioned that initrd= parameter is not required.  I removed initrd=0x00a00000,3730404 as well as the waitusb=5 and it still boots fine.  Is there a reason to leave the initrd= in cmdline.txt?

[bmarkus]

Thanks for trying.

Also, I was reading on cmdline.txt and it was mentioned that initrd= parameter is not required.  I removed initrd=0x00a00000,3730404 as well as the waitusb=5 and it still boots fine.  Is there a reason to leave the initrd= in cmdline.txt?

Thanks for mentioning. It is a heritage from previos versions. I can confirm rc1 boots without this parameter. BTW, where did you read it?

[sodface]

Thanks for mentioning. It is a heritage from previos versions. I can confirm rc1 boots without this parameter. BTW, where did you read it?

Hi bmarkus, I tried to find the page so I could include the reference in my post but I wasn't able to find it again, even in my browser history.  I was trying to find out if you can have multiple initramfs files like you can with a pxe boot and while searching for that I noted the comment about not needing the initrd= line.

There is one reference here but he doesn't mention where he found the info:

update: Adding initrd=0x00f00000 to /boot/cmdline.txt does not appear to be necessary (My Pi boots file to an LVM root without it). The initramfs entry in /boot/config.txt is required, however.

http://johnlane.ie/boot-a-raspberry-pi-with-an-lvm-root-partition.html

I'll see if I can find a more official reference.

[Paul_123]

Please test your system removing waitusb=5 option in cmdline.txt It was necessary in 5.x to get mmcblk0p2 recognized and for safety left in rc1 but not needed at least in my test enveronment. Let me know your result.

Worked fine. 

Are the vnc server and clients on the 6.0 repo?

[bmarkus]

sodface@

Thanks for the info. I haven't seen it mentioned before and now searching the net I found in every docs saying it is needed in command line. However it boots up fine without which makes life a bit easier and cleaner.

Paul_123@

Thanks!

[sodface]

Hi bmarkus, I've been trying to understand the initrd= and why it works without it and maybe this explains it?

http://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=10532

Is it that earlier versions of start.elf did not set ATAG_INITRD2 which is why the initrd= entry was needed in cmdline.txt but then start.elf was updated to set ATAG_INITRD2 making the initrd entry in cmdline.txt redundant?

[Gerrelt]

I've removed the  initrd= entry too, and everything is still working.

[Paul_123]

Do you have the X version ready?   I can get X to start, but no menu....I cannot seem to find the complete list of extensions needed.

Not sure if you saw my note.....can you put the vnc client and server in the v6.x repo

[bmarkus]

Hi Paul,

X version is work in progress, first I wanted to finish base. Will make it soon as well as adding vnc.

Regards... Béla

[bmarkus]

X version uploaded. waitusb and initrd settings now removed from cmdline.txt otherwise base is the same.

[Greg Erskine]

hi bmarkus,

The README file needs a couple of minor updates.

1. piCore-5.x -> piCore-6.x (4 times)

2. The heading "Core Book" should be preceded with 2 blank lines not 1.

regards
Greg

[bmarkus]

Thanks, fixed.