eTux is a project to create a full blown Linux distribution for PsiLinux, a project to port Linux to the Psion Series 5/5mx/7 set of computers. It is based on the Debian project, and will support either use of the dpkg or ipkg system (we haven't decided which yet).

Please note that development on eTux has ceased after I sold both my Psion 5 and 5mx; I simply wasn't doing any work on them and they were just gathering dust...

We are basing eTux on the Linux Kernel 2.2.1, solely because PsiLinux has only ported that kernel to the Series 5. The 5mx has kernel 2.4.5, but as we are all Series 5 developers, that is useless as far as we're concerned. The distribution will be made up of two parts:

• The Kernel - A binary image for Arlo to load
• The Root Image - Can take form as an initrd, or a CF partition

eTux is aiming to make the installation process easy (by way of OPL programs and bash script installers), and also to supply the base root image, and ways to easily update the system without modifying everything.

Status

Right, at last development has commenced! We have decided to base it on Debian, and at the moment we are experimenting with Debian Potato 2.2r5.

It seems to work perfectly OK, and a few of the scripts have already been made. The first kernel has now become available, and it's main feature is the introduction of a 4bpp framebuffer, oh joy!.

It seems that a member of the PsiLinux project has managed to get X working on the Series 5's big brother, the 5mx, but memory constraints are too high on the 5 for this to happen, so if a GUI is put on the 5, it'll definitely be either PicoGUI or Microwindows. The Qte/Opie/Qtopia port has been cancelled since the 5mx can't even run it at a decent speed :)

So, we present eTux 1.0 Alpha 1 (version 0.1) to you in the form of a root filesystem (that is still heavily reminiscent of Debian), and a kernel image.

Note - this distribution is at the moment ONLY for Series 5 users. I have acquired a 5mx PDA, but there is so much support for the 5mx that I may not bother making eTux work on it.

eTux downloads:

Main Filesystem Image (Sourceforge mirror)
Main Series 5 Kernel (Sourceforge mirror)

Main Filesystem Image (Local mirror)
Main Series 5 Kernel (Local mirror)