On Oct 09 2003, at 17:13, Papacostantinou, Phillip was caught saying:
> Hi,
> 
> I am designing an embeded computer product, using a Pentium-M processor
> board 
> with a Flash Disk (for holding the runtime Image and loading it into the
> Processor Memory).
> 
> The operating system (kernel) will be Linux.
> I do not have a hard disk (or any other storage device) as part of this
> system  ie no storage device to write to.
> 
> I have been told that Linux will not be able to wok without a File System,
> ie without a hard disk.
> 
> Is anyone aware or able to comment with certainty on this subject ??
> 
> Would the Linux Operating System be able to be configured to run without a
> hard disk or any file system ?
> 	If NO, Is there a way of tricking Linux to think that a File System
> is present, but rather in memory ?

You need a filesystem b/c you need to be able to run applications
as a kernel byitself is fairly useless. If you just need a minimal FS,
you might be able to fit it into your  Flash Disk (how big is it?)
and mount that RO and mount a ramdisk RW for things like /var and /tmp.

~Deepak


-- 
Deepak Saxena - dsaxena@plexity.net

"To eliminate the concept of waste means to design things - products,
 packaging, and systems - from the very beggining on the understanding 
 that waste does not exist" - William McDonough & Michael Braungart,
                 From Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things