Install Prebuilt Kernels From sheeva.with-linux.com

From PlugWiki

WARNING - This procedure will not work on a SheevaPlug as shipped from the factory because the flash partition is too small for the Prebuilt Kernels and you will end up with an unbootable kernel http://plugcomputer.org/plugforum/index.php?topic=377.0. Check out the SheevaPlug Installer http://www.openplug.org/plugwiki/index.php/SheevaPlug_Installer

If all you want to do is update your kernel to a newer version on the default installation of Debian (ed: Does this work on other distros?), prebuilt kernels (and module packages) are available at http://sheeva.with-linux.com/sheeva/ that can be installed with a few simple commands. This method of kernel upgrade does not require any cross-compile environment or other complex tool-chain, just the plug itself and a serial terminal to it.

These instructions will use kernel version 2.6.30.6 as an example, newer versions may be available.

1. Boot up the plug
2. Log into the plug as root via a serial terminal (not via SSH)
3. Install wget if it is not yet installed:

   apt-get install wget

4. Save the README file from sheeva.with-linux.com to the plug (storing it to root's home directory is fine):

   wget http://sheeva.with-linux.com/sheeva/README-2.6.30.6

5. Due to changes in vm security a change must be made in /etc/sysctl.d/10-process-security.conf. vm.mmap_min_addr should be set to 32768 (This change is safe for any kernel version). If this is not done it is likely that you will not be able to login remotely. Although you should still be able to login as root on the main console.
   
   Create or modify the file /etc/sysctl.d/10-process-security.conf and add the following line:

   vm.mmap_min_addr = 32768

6. Make the README executable:

   chmod 755 README-2.6.30.6

7. Run the README script to download and write the modules and image:

   ./README-2.6.30.6

8. Reboot:

   shutdown -r now

9. When the boot process starts, press a key to enter the uBoot console.
10. (From the main console in uBoot):

    1. setenv mainlineLinux yes

    2. setenv arcNumber 2097

    3. View the current bootargs with:

       printenv bootargs

       Be careful here! You want to "add" rootfstype=jffs2, and change "nand_mtd" to "orion_nand" without changing the rest of your bootargs. Don't copy the sample exactly as the start locations of nand partitions can vary.

       setenv bootargs rootfstype=jffs2 console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=orion_nand:0x400000@0x100000(uImage),0x1fb00000@0x500000(rootfs) rw root=/dev/mtdblock1 rw ip=192.168.1.9:192.168.1.4:192.168.1.4:255.255.255.0:DB88FXX81:eth0:none

    4. Save the changes:

       saveenv

    5. Restart the boot process using the new settings:

       reset

Your plug should reboot and be using the new kernel.

These instructions are based on the README files and help from cbxbiker61 at http://plugcomputer.org/plugforum/index.php?topic=529.0