Un-Bricking Linux Plug Computers 68
An anonymous reader writes "Accidentally 'bricking' a little Linux plug computer doesn't have to be forever. This is a good howto on repairing a non-booting Linux plug computer. For example if it uses the uBoot environment then it already has some good built-in recovery tools. The article also mentions ESIA, the Sheevaplug installer, openocd, and GuruPlug."
Oblig. pedantry (Score:5, Interesting)
Isn't the fact that you can "unbrick" it mean it's not really bricked?
Also I think this requires JTAG, which comes with Sheevaplug but is sold separately from Guruplug, and AFAIK is not available on the PogoPlug, et al. So, not quite so useful for me (I just picked up a PogoPlug on the cheap with the intent of running Plugbox Linux [plugapps.com].
Agree: it's NOT "bricked" (Score:5, Interesting)
Hear hear! Let's recall that "brick" basically means "turning your equipment into something completely worthless, equivalent to a brick".
I propose the following "USB cable" test:
Has your device been rendered so unusable that you'd be willing to give it to me if I gave you a USB cable?
If the answer is "yes", then you have bricked your device. Congratulations.
If the answer is "no, let me work on this for a bit --I think I can restore partial functionality by pressing this reset button for 30 seconds, and then at least it will function as a glorified wall clock", then this is not "bricked".
If you say, "This is the third time I've bricked my device --I had to SSH into it and do 'sudo reboot'" --then the brick is in your brain.
Now, having said this, it's possible that the owner of the computer didn't know it was possible to undo the damage, in which case, yes, the device is bricked because he might as well have traded it in for a USB cable, prior to knowing how to salvage his device.
You can substitute any marginally useful but cheap piece of equipment for "USB cable".
Disclaimer: no, I haven't RTFA.