Test setup for Update.1 builds
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This page discusses the several ways that update.1-series and derived builds can be installed for testing.
Next, a warning: as of build update.1-699, activities are no longer bundled with the core build -- they must be installed separately. This choice was made because OLPC found itself unable to maintain separate builds for each large installation of its laptops - primarily due to lack of skilled labor. In effect, OLPC has created a "core build" without activities that can be easily customized with a customization key to suit the needs of each deployment.
- Which laptops are "write-protected" and why does it matter?
- XOs come in two flavors: write-protected (also, "secure") and unprotected.
- All mass-produced machines (e.g. G1G1 and recent deployments) were created "write-protected".
- Developer keys cause the machine to boot in "unprotected" mode and can be used to permanently remove "write protection".
- Different instructions need to be followed for "write-protected" vs. "unprotected" machines.
- Different instructions are needed depending on whether you are reflashing or updating to the new build.
- Depending on the security settings of the laptop, different instructions are needed for installing signed and unsigned builds.
- Which builds are signed, and why does it matter?
- There are three streams for update.1 builds -- official, [1], update.1. The first two are signed, the last isn't. The workflow is:
- Update.1 builds are created (for example, "update.1-699"), and if they pass testing such that they're an improvement over previous candidates, they may become a signed "candidate" build.
- Candidate builds are represented in the form "candidate-699", and are our latest proposed final build for a release.
- Official builds are builds that have been passed to Quanta for installation on new laptops. Notwithstanding an Unscheduled software release, we expect only one of these builds per release cycle.
- I olpc-update'd to an update.1 build; booted, and now I have no activities! How do I get my activities back?
- You can download the G1G1_Activity_Pack, unzip it onto a USB key, and reboot.
- On write-protected machines, the customization will be automatically installed.
- On unprotected machines, you need to hold the x game-pad key as the machine comes on. (See Cheat codes for more details.)
- What's the recommended way to
- with a Reflash/Customization USB key prepared according to the instructions at Customization key.
- Upgrading an machine
- "Secure" machines without developer keys will reflash and customize from a properly prepared Customization key without any intervention. "Insecure" machines with a developer key installed require all four game keys to be held at boot to boot a customization key.
- Creating your own activity pack
- The create-customization-key Python script will create a customization key for G1G1 (or Mexico, or Peru, or "all"). You should first prepare a USB customization key with your desired activities; then, in the root of the USB disk, run:
python ./create-customization-key G1G1
At present, the simplest, most robust instructions for studying build update.1-702 are:
By copy-nand
- Procure an XO & developer key or a non-secure XO.
- Prepare a USB key to
- install build update.1-702 via your favorite mechanism via copy-nand (see [[2]] for files),
- host the Customization key, and
- install an activity pack such as [3] (cjb: update this link at will)
- Use the USB key to perform the installation and customization steps.
By olpc-update
- Procure an XO & developer key or a non-secure XO.
- Prepare a USB key to
- host the Customization key, and
- install an activity pack such as [4] (cjb: update this link at will)
- Use olpc-update to update to update.1-702
- Use the customization key to install an activity pack.