Installing UBUNTU on a Compact Flash

by Scott Preston - 2007-05-08 14:00:54

Instructions for installing UBUNTU 6.10 on a VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX. This is a simple 5 step process and you will need the alternate i386 ISO.

Contact Me if you would like to purchase a Compact Flash pre-installed with Ubuntu.

The installation of UBUNTU on the compact flash was not that difficult, but it took me 3 tries.

Ubuntu 6.10-Desktop VGA set to 1024x768-16 - Not enough space on my 2GB Flash.
Ubuntu 6.10-Server VGA set to 1024x768-16 - Strange Errors "Unknown Interrupt or fault at EIP...".
Ubuntu 6.10-Alternate VGA set to 1024x768-16 - Slow but it installed and restarted.
I removed my install CD-ROM and modified the /etc/apt/sources file by commenting out the CD-ROM as the first place to look for install packages.
I installed SSH - sudo apt-get install ssh openssh-server.

Part Info all purchased from NewEgg.Com for $237.70 including shipping.

MB VIA EPIA M10000 CLE266 VIA C3 - $149.99
SANDISK COMPACT FLASH 2GB (Ultra 2) - $68.99 (now much less)
SYBA SD-CF-IDE-DI IDE to Compact Flash Adapter - $9.99

Notes on the IDE Adapter: I have external power jumper selected, 5VDC vs. 3.3, and it's in Master/Single mode.

I have not had any problems with this solution, if you have any problems or updates to this, add a comment. Or if there is a version of Ubuntu or other Linux distro you would like information on, please leave a comment.

Comments About This Article

The M10000's do come with the C3 processor which can run under 50watts of power supply. I found an adapter built by Adonics which can dual boot two compact flashes but the best part about this architecture is the pricing you can get 2gb Microcenter store brand compact flash for $19.99 and the 4gb for $29.99.

Scott you really are a genius.

Posted by: John Opoku at Tuesday May 29, 2007

We are trying to do this as well, but can't get it to detect the flash card during install. Is there a specific driver you have to use?

Posted by: Kris Zimmer at Tuesday Aug 21, 2007

You need to have a card adapter, and you also need to make sure it's powered. I had to connect my adapter to the power supply, then I had no problems.

Posted by: Scott Preston at Thursday Sep 27, 2007

I am trying to do this same thing with different hardware though. I have a CF to IDE with a 4 GB CF card. When I boot into Ubuntu Live CD The screen never leaves the Ubuntu screen with the Knight Rider progress bar. It hangs there with the progress bar going from right to left for hours. I am using Ubuntu 7.10 Live. Other OS's see the CF with no problems (Knoppix / MS). Any Idea's?

Posted by: Jeremiah at Monday Jan 28, 2008

Hi, do you have any readonly file system on the CF card? I know flash cards will die real fast if written to as if a normal drive. Windows XPe uses a enhanced write filter ram drive, as does Voyage linux with tmpfs and also Debian Router where tmpfs is rsynced to the flash drive on demand. Ive recently been playing with different distros for a highly functional embedded router and will probably go with Debian Router as its the least intrusive to enable running off compact flash.

Cheers

Posted by: Chris at Thursday Mar 13, 2008

I'm thinking of doing something similar. My understanding is that a modern CF card will actually last several years due to write averaging in the card controller. What I am more concerned about are things like start up times and general system speed. How well does the system run compared with a standard HDD?

Posted by: Brad at Friday Mar 14, 2008

Hi,

You have the same problem than me. I use a sandisk ultraII 2Go and it run on "removed mode" instead "Fixed Mode " to be reconize as a real disk.
Use a transcend disk, i will try with an another card on mac OS 9.22

cheers,

bob1969

Posted by: bob1969 at Wednesday Mar 19, 2008

I have thought about doing this as well, been with ubuntu for 2yrs now. Lovers it :)
Would the newest ubuntu 7.10 gutsy gibbon install on a 4g ultra II compact flash as well? I have both the desktop and alternate CDs- I'd like to do it using a VIA "green pc" board with the included c7-d processor- and wanna make this thing as quiet as I can in a slimline casing (I wanted to get solid state drives... but wowzers, Compactflash to IDE is the same principle). I would purchase it if I could get it preinstalled on the CompactFlash, and possible just go ahead and apply updates that it comes across during first bootup.

Posted by: joey at Sunday Mar 30, 2008