Embedded Open-Source Linux Development

Course Description

This intermediate-level, two-day course provides embedded systems developers with experience in creating an embedded open-source Linux operating system on a Xilinx development board. The course offers students hands-on experience from building the environment to booting the system using a basic, single-processor System on Chip (SoC) design with Linux 2.6 from the Xilinx kernel tree.

This course introduces embedded Linux components, use of open-source components, environment configurations, network components, and debugging/profiling options for embedded Linux platforms. The primary focus is on embedded Linux development in conjunction with the Xilinx tool flow.

Level

Intermediate

Training Duration

2 days

Who Should Attend?

Embedded software developers interested in customizing an open-source Linux kernel for a Xilinx embedded processor system.

Prerequisites

• Experience in C or C++ programming
• Basic understanding of VHDL or Verilog design
• Basic microprocessor design experience and understanding of MicroBlaze™ or PowerPC® processor architecture
• Knowledge of operating system architecture
• Experience using a Linux command-line shell for common file operations

Software Tools

• ISE® Foundation™ design tools 10.1 (v9.1i also included)
• Embedded Development Kit 10.1

Skills Gained

After completing this comprehensive training, you will be able to:

• Build a Linux development environment from pretested tool components
• Identify the basic concepts of an embedded Linux operating system
• Configure a Xilinx FPGA for a Linux operating system
• Determine scheduling requirements for an embedded Linux operating system and apply them to the FPGA configuration
• Analyze system requirements for interprocess communication and configure the FPGA
• Determine system requirements for memory management
• Develop and add Linux device drivers to the system

Course Outline

Day 1

• Course Agenda and Introduction
• Building the Environment
• Lab 1: Building the Environment
• Basic Linux System
• Lab 2: Basic Linux System

Day 2

• Booting and Debugging
• Lab 3: Boot Loader
• Peripherals and Drivers
• Lab 4: Peripherals and Drivers
• Embedded Linux Memory Manager
• Processes, Scheduling, and Timing

Lab Descriptions

• Lab 1: Building the Environment – On a virtual machine environment, download and build a Linux development system that integrates Xilinx tools and open-source components. Includes the use of build scripts
• Lab 2: Basic Linux System – Configure the kernel; build the kernel without a root file system; download and start the kernel with xmd; try basic debugging techniques; build a minimal rootfs, rebuild Linux with a minimal rootfs; and boot Linux and login
• Lab 3: Boot Loader – Analyze the starting point of the kernel; analyze the boot messages; add the first-stage boot loader; add U-Boot, boot Linux with U-Boot; and boot Linux with an NFS rootfs
• Lab 4: Peripherals and Drivers – Program a Hello World kernel module; compile external kernel modules; and create a simple gpio driver