I’ve been using the familiar linux distribution for HP Ipaqs since version 0.7.2, first on my 5555 and now with more support on my 3870 series Ipaq. In matter of fact a lot of stuff posted here also works for Zaurus handhelds running linux/opie.
getting started
- Don’t brick your device while installing the bootloader, follow every instruction, never disconnect power. “to brick your device” means leaving the handhelds unusable because no firmware is installed correctly, you’ll have to reprogram the ROM with something like a JTag (for 3600, 3900, 5400) which is quite annoying.
- Read the handhelds.org Wiki, check out Irongeek’s superb notes or openembedded.org for developer/cross-compiling info.
- Read the SlimDown howto and release notes of your familiar version
- Be aware of the fact that you have a regular debian linux system on your handheld, so it’s like hacking around on any other linux based system.
- Get yourself a flash card reader extension and a CF card. I always reflash my Ipaq from the CF card. It’s alot faster and handier than doing it over a serial hyperterminal connection.
- To do post installation work connect the Ipaq to your LAN either wired or wireless (depends on what hardware pcmcia cards you have lying around). I always use a unencrypted wireless network because configuration get’s very easy (don’t forget that typing is annoying with the stylus and the onscreen keyboard). Then I connect to my Ipaq over SSH and feel happy!
- I recomend installing everything to your Rom, because it won’t get erased after a reboot and even remains in place after a complete battery drain. Usually the whole root system by default installs to your Rom and leaves you enough space for individual apps (on 32Mb I have like 10Mb left). The Ram gets mounted at /var. Try the Non Volatile Ram Disk (nvrd, site down now?) to get a persistant /var (get the kernel module).
applications I installed (using Opie 1.2)
- qpegps - GPS map app, download maps with this tool.
- gpsd - gps server, parses Nmea data, needed by kismet or qpegps. I have problems getting any version to run with either kismet without dropping the connection all the times or qpegps not even recognising it (at the moment it’s gpsd v2.8).
- kismet, kismet-qt - Passive wireless scanner with graphical interface.
- flite (festival) - text to speech engine for kismet. On my 200mhz it slows down kismet very hard, but it’s cool to go warwalking with an earplug.
- zethereal - Like the big ethereal packet analyzer. If zethereal or the kismet-qt interface dont work install sharp compatibility libs (for gcc 2.x compiled apps to work on gcc 3.x+) and select the apps from within the libs settings menu to run with the old libraries.
- aircrack - Unfortunately I couldn’t get aireplay to work because the hostap wireless drivers don’t seem to be compiled correctly (without raw send?). I’m not really into cross-compiling..
- ettercap - A really cool app to do “man in the middle attacks” and sniffing. But it’s a bit hard to use without a big screen and keyboard. Be sure to turn off line wraping and set the environment var term to linux with export term=linux.
- qpenmapfe, nmap
- tcpdump
- wellenreiter - Active wireless scanner, really cool app! I like the signal meter.
- konqueror
- thc-hydra
feeds
You find applications packed as .ipk at the following places:
screenshots
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