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1 © 2017 Arm Limited

 Embedded Linux
Introduction

© 2017 Arm Limited

Goals

To introduce the structure of the Embedded Linux Online Course

To introduce the concept of embedded systems
To provide a few illustrative examples of Linux-based embedded systems

3 © 2017 Arm Limited

Summary

Course structure
Introduction to embedded systems
Linux in embedded systems

4 © 2017 Arm Limited

Summary

Course structure
Introduction to embedded systems
Linux in embedded systems

5 © 2017 Arm Limited

Course Structure

Module 1: Linux in Embedded Systems

• Definition of embedded systems
• Examples

Module 2: Linux-based Embedded System Component Stack

• Bootloader
• Kernel
• Root file system
• Device tree
• System programs
• Application

6 © 2017 Arm Limited

Course Structure
Module 3: Anatomy of a Linux-based system
• The Linux Kernel internals
• Device tree
• System programs and BusyBox

Module 4: Configuration & Build Process of an Embedded Linux System

• Buildroot
• Yocto

Module 5: Introduction to Linux Kernel Modules

• CPU – I/O interface
• I/O taxonomy
• Linux devices
• Virtual file system abstraction
• Linux Kernel modules
7 © 2017 Arm Limited
Course Structure

Module 6: Communication Between Kernel and User Space

• Module level communication point of view
• User level communication point of view

Module 7: Application Demo: Building a Ranging Sensor Kernel Module

• The sysfs file system
• Building Linux support for the HC-SR04 ultrasonic ranging sensor

Module 8: System Debugging & Profiling lab exercises

The majority of the theoretical lectures will be complemented with lab exercises.

8 © 2017 Arm Limited

Summary

Course structure
Introduction to embedded systems
Linux in embedded systems

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What Is an Embedded System?
It is a special-purpose computer designed for a specific application.
Example of application:
internal combustion engine (ICE) Example of embedded system:
electronic control unit for ICE

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Embedded System Components
Application
Two main components
• Application System Programs
• Platform
System Call Interface

Operating System
Basic Software
Application

Platform
Process Virtual File
• Software that implements the functionalities for Management System
which the embedded system is intended (e.g., to
control an ICE) Memory Network
Management Management
Platform
Device Drivers
• Combination of hardware and basic software
components that provides the services needed for
the application to run Bootloader
• Basic software includes system programs, operating
system, bootloader Hardware
11 © 2017 Arm Limited
Basic Software

Abstracts the hardware details by providing easy- System Programs

to-use functionalities, such as:
Access to the resources through user-friendly utilities known System Call Interface

Operating System
•

Basic Software
as system programs
Process Virtual File
• Example: ls to list the content of a directory Management System
Memory Network
• Efficient access to the resources provided by the hardware Management Management
through the operating system
• Example: CPU real-time scheduling, device driver
Device Drivers
management
Bootloader
• Initialization of hardware resources at power-up and
execution of the operating system through the bootloader

12 © 2017 Arm Limited

Operating Systems for Embedded Systems
Example 1: deterministic real-time system
There are many solutions available which
serve different purposes depending on the
requirements of the application.
• Example 1
• Needs: deterministic real-time operating system for
low-cost devices, with little memory footprint
• Possible solutions: ARM RTX, Micrium mC/OS,
Example 2: in-vehicle infotainment
FreeRTOS, and others
• Example 2
• Needs: multi-core and networking support, advanced
graphics, and complex device handling
• Possible solutions: Linux, Android, and Windows

http://linuxgizmos.com/linux-based-in-vehicle-infotainment-on-the-rise /
13 © 2017 Arm Limited
Summary

Course structure
Introduction to embedded systems
Linux in embedded systems

14 © 2017 Arm Limited

Why Linux-based Embedded Systems?
Open Source (under GNU General Public License v2.0 : GPLv2)
• The full source code is available for learning and adaptation

Engaged community maintaining and improving Linux regularly

• Companies
• Individuals
• Academics
• Hobbyists

Flexible and adaptable: supports many hardware/System-on-Chip (SoC) configurations

• Based on ARM, x86, PowerPC, SPARC, etc.

Proven in many different scenarios (see next slides)

Supported by a very large ecosystem of software
• Bootloader, system programs, networking services, advanced graphic services, etc.

Royalty-free
15 © 2017 Arm Limited
Linux Evolution
August 26, 1991: everything started with this post Today several kernel categories exist, including:
to comp.os.minix
• Prepatch or "RC" kernels, which are pre-releases
maintained and released by Linus Torvalds.
• Mainline kernel is maintained by Linus Torvalds, and is
where all new features are introduced. New mainline
kernels are released every 2-3 months.
• Long-term kernels are older releases subject to “long-term
maintenance”. Important bug fixes are applied to such
kernels.

https://www.kernel.org/category/releases.html

16 © 2017 Arm Limited

Linux-based Embedded System: Example 1

In-flight entertainment systems

“Linux is particularly suited for in-flight

entertainment because it's simple, not
weighed down by accompanying
programs, and easily adaptable to many
environments.”
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/The-Flying-Penguin-Linux-In-Flight-Entertainment-Systems-65541.html

http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/
The-Flying-Penguin-Linux-In-Flight-Entertainment-Systems-65541.html

17 © 2017 Arm Limited

Linux-based Embedded System: Example 2

Tim Horton’s Café and Bake Shop

The screen displays the messages

Linux produces during boot-up.
In particular, we can recognize a
kernel panic, as the kernel is not
able to find the root file system.

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Linux-based Embedded System: Example 3

A gas station pump

The screen displays the messages of

a Linux bootloader.
This gas station is powered by Linux
Ubuntu distribution with Kernel
2.6.35.

19 © 2017 Arm Limited