[ubuntu-mythtv] Ubuntu/Mythbuntu specific kernel command line params

[Scott D. Davilla]

>I don't know that such a document exists, but was probably started 
>at 
><http://wiki.flimzy.com/index.php/Casper_boot_process>http://wiki.flimzy.com/index.php/Casper_boot_process
>
>Adding the word 'casper' allows all of the casper scripts to take 
>control.  They are used for creating the special mount point that is 
>read only w/ the tmpfs overlay.  They end up living in the initramfs 
>gz.  Adding the file= allows a preseed, but nothing specific to 
>Mythbuntu is in this preseed as of yet (this is changing for 
>Intrepid).  It's most useful to OEMs who want to do an automated 
>install.  It might actually end up being useful to you too though, 
>if we end up with a special AppleTV preseed to install with all the 
>best default options directly to an Apple TV.  I would be glad to 
>include such a thing on the disk w/ an easy to choose option.
>
>Get things working without the preseed though before you get started.
>
>The best way to look at some of the magic happening in casper is to 
>apt-get source it.  Everything is executed in canonical 'C' order 
>and straightforward to follow.
>

Thanks for this pointer, mountroot() looks like a good place to poke around.

This question is aimed at installs without a cdrom using a reference 
to the iso on a flash drive or the iso extracted to a flash drive.

Every voodoo that I've tried results in not finding the root file 
system during boot of the LiveCD either as an iso or iso extracted to 
USB flash drive. The USB flash drive should work as others are doing 
this but for some reason it's not working under the AppleTV. I see 
accesses to the internal PATA and USB flash but casper does not find 
what it's looking for and I get dropped to the iniramfs prompt.

Tried a Hardy network install, interesting that the disk order 
flipped, the internal PATA became "/dev/sdb" and the USB flash was 
"/dev/sda". I thought disk controllers on the PCI bus were always 
probed first. Danger, danger Will Robinson.

The Mythbuntu Hardy requires very minimal mods, no kernel rebuild 
required as we can take advantage of passing kernel module options to 
enable analog audio and IR support. I'd still like to figure out why 
xorg.conf is not getting setup correctly and requires a trip through 
setting the display resolution or nvidia-xsettings. As telnet/ssh are 
not up, it becomes real interesting trying to open a terminal window 
while the screen is messed up. Interesting the mouse/cursor tracking 
is correct so if you know where to go in the menu to open a terminal 
window, this can be done.