Hi,

I would like to learn some more about the Kernel which powers the n900, and why it is seemingly not possible to use newer Kernels > 2.6.28.
My understanding till now is, that it is impossible because of nokia-blobs, but i could not find any more detailed information about that.
Why is it for example not possible to patch newer Kernels in a way to stay conform to any older API which might be used by closed-source-components?
As you see, i am not a Kernel-Specialist but would be never the less grateful if someone could enlighten me a little bit, or point me to some documentation.

Kind regards,
nebel

Man, use Google, seriously.

https://github.com/skry/linux-n900

The N900 can run newer kernels (Skry's patchset IIRC can even be applied to 3.8 series, the newest kernels)

Fremantle on the other hand, is made of old components that break ABI-wise with new internals (a large part of which are open source!)
This is to be remedied soon enough by the Fremantle-on-Squeeze project.

Thanks for your answer, but i think my question was not precise enough. I'm aware of the possibility to run newer Kernels, that is without the closed-source-components on the n900.

My Question is more why patches get backported to 2.6.28, instead of patching newer Kernels to support the old ABI and therefor make it possible to use newer Kernels with the Fremantle closed-source components. Is this somehow technicaly / legaly not possible?

kind regards
nebel

because the new kernels link the ''parts'' in a different way , it's easy to apply the new fixes to a working kernel than to build a new one and start to integrate drivers(some of them are closed-source -powervr , navilink gps , ofono with its pulseaudio).maemo isn't complely open-source that's why you can't do that

To save a 30 paragraph explanation:

It's asymptotically close to NP-hard, and seriously not worth doing given the limited resources devs have.

Let me just clear this up:
The PowerVR driver isn't a major blocker for new kernels. It is however, a major blocker for newer X.org versions, and decent power management (among other things that turn the OMAP 3430 into a power sink).
The other nigh-unmovable brick to N900 running on 99.9999% open drivers is the cellular modem (BB5).

Nokia has developed patches for Ofono (which is open source) to support the BB5 chip, and patches to support the serial interface between the OMAP and BB5.
As a result, calls and data work on non-Maemo systems (see Nemo).
Unfortunately, Nokia's development spending on Ofono's hardware adaptation for the N900 was cut short by the Elopocalypse, and thus a proper, open GPS driver never came out.

PowerVr , Navilink , Ofono (no disrespect to the Nemo , but a entry-level user can't use it as daily use) , new kernel(3.x series) on maemo it's a dream that can't be fulfilled , at least not now

Da what? Links, please? Pretty please?

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=89416