Introduction; Flash Partitions; Ffs Partitions - Symbol PDT 7500 Series Product Reference Manual

Introduction

This chapter describes the Terminal Configuration Manager (TCM), and how it is used to
specify and load files into the flash memory of the PDT 7500 using the terminal's Initial
Program Loader (IPL).
TCM is a tool used primarily in the mass-deployment of a terminal configuration to the field.
It allows the files and the directory structure(s) that are stored on the flash file system folders
of the terminal to be converted into partitions. These partitions can then be converted into
Hex files that are downloaded to the terminal. This processing allows all of the individual
files, possibly dozens, loaded on the Platform, Application, and (optionally) the Data folders
of your system to be stored in one file. There is one file for each partition. The hex files are
named after the root folder (or partition) they represent (e.g., Platform.hex, Application.hex,
etc.).
This process requires several steps:
1. Determine the final configuration of your system.
2. Copy the files from the Platform, Application, and Data folders of the terminal onto
the Hard Drive of your development computer.
3. Create the TCM script.
4. Build the partitions using TCM.
5. Boot the terminal into the Initial Program Loader (IPL) mode. In this special mode,
the terminal can accept the hex files.
6. Using TCM, download the partitions to the terminal.
These steps are outlined in this chapter.

Flash Partitions

In addition to the RAM-based storage standard on Windows CE terminals, the PDT 7500 is
also equipped with a non-volatile Flash-based storage area which can store data (partitions)
that can not be corrupted by a cold boot. This Flash area is divided into two categories: Flash
File System (FFS) Partitions and Non-FFS Partitions.

FFS Partitions

The PDT 7500 terminal includes up to three FFS partitions. These partitions appear to the
terminal as a hard drive that the OS file system can write files to and read files from. Data is
retained even if power is removed. The three FFS Partitions are as follows:
Configuring the Terminal
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