[Soekris] grub net4521

[burlen]

Hi, I just got a new 4G CF card and am trying to get my net4521 up and 
running. I specifically would like to put ubuntu on it, with a  
debootstrap cross install via my laptop. Its has been a while since I 
played with this board and I seem to have misplaced all of the 
documentation. As such there a few things I am not quite sure of:

1) net4521 bios reports a different geometry than fdisk on the laptop.
net4521: 971 c 128 h 63 s
laptop: 1018 c 124 h 62 s
Is this an issue when partitioning/ cross installing?

2) regarding the partitioning, is a Fat16/32 file system required?

3) after the debootsrap install to cf on laptop, chroot into the new 
install, and mounting proc and sys, issuing a ls /dev/ reveals there are 
no hard drives(/dev/hd*, /dev/sd*). Is that a problem? Would I then have 
to run MAKEDEV? or should I just leave well enough alone?

4) I am seeing grub errors most recently. Grub loading stage2 read 
error. Can anyone advise as to the correct way to cross install grub for 
the net4521?

I am pretty sure what I'm doing wrong is related to one or all of the 4 
above, any clarification for my confused mind is greatly appreciated.
thanks in advance
Burlen