Linux is often used as an embedded operating system, and yet many still regard it as something of a black art.

This course sheds light and brings clarity by showing exactly how to deploy Linux on a typical embedded target board through a combination of theory and practice. 

Starting with a board without an operating system, delegates will go through a simulated product cycle during which they will build and boot a Linux kernel, build a root file system, write a device driver and a multi-threaded application. Finally, they will review the performance of the resulting system and consider what changes could be made to improve its real-time performance.

Overview:

A five day course showing how to implement Linux on a typical development board (ARM Cortex-A8).

Course objectives:

• Describe the four essential components of an embedded project: toolchain, kernel, bootloader and root file system
• Demonstrate how to control hardware from a device driver (in outline, see EL-504: Developing Linux Device Drivers for a more in-depth treatment)
• Provide an overview of application development, profiling and debugging
• Show how to configure flash memory for robust code and data storage and a look at new developments in that space.
• Look at user space development, process handling and the IPC facilities provided by the Linux Kernel

Delegates will learn:

• How to configure and build a customised Linux kernel
• How to construct a compact root file system from scratch
• How to develop and debug code for the target board, using the Eclipse IDE
• How to write single and multi-threaded programs using POSIX functions
• How to use Linux for product development and the benefits it brings
• Gain an in-depth understanding of modern Linux for embedded and what that means for them

Who should attend?

Software engineers who are developing applications for embedded or real-time Linux. Engineers wishing to assess the suitability of Linux for their next application.

Pre-requisites:

• Good ‘C’ programming skills
• General knowledge of an RTOS or embedded operating systems
• Experience of using Linux or a version of Unix or attendance on course EL-205 : Linux Core Skills

Duration:

Five days

Course materials:

Student Workbook

Course workshop:

The target platform will be the BeagleBone Black which uses an ARM Cortex-A8 and will help delegates understand the issues encountered when writing for embedded platforms.

The course presents embedded and real-time concepts applied to Linux using this target. The host development system is a standard PC running Linux. We use the target as an example of a modern embedded system which can control and interact with many available interfaces including USB.

Lab sessions follow a logical sequence, and result in a Linux-powered web-controlled rocket launcher.