DebuggingBootSequence

  1. Debugging the boot sequence on the Nokia 770

Debugging the boot sequence on the Nokia 770

If you are using Sardine or otherwise hacking your 770 you might end up with a device that does not boot to the Desktop. Like this.

How do you debug that?

Going over the boot sequence in the serial console is a great option, if you have the necessary kit.

A poor man's alternative is to hack init and friends to output useful progress or state info to the MMC. This is particularly easy to do if you are booting from MMC in the first place since the rootfs and be read and written on a PC.

  • Create /etc/initscript like this
#!/bin/sh

touch /var/tmp/init.out
echo "--- Init $1 $2 $3 $4 ---" >>/var/tmp/init.out
eval exec "$4" >>/var/tmp/init.out 2>&1
  • Boot your device and reproduce the defect
  • Look for clues in /var/tmp/init.out

Add extra output to the init scripts themselves, repeat as necessary.