Embedded Linux covers the development and implementation of interfacing applications on an embedded Linux platform. It includes a comprehensive discussion of platform selection, cross-compilation, kernel compilation, root filesystem creation, booting, remote debugging, real-world interfacing, application control, data collection, archiving and presentation.

This book includes serial, parallel, memory I/O, USB, and interrupt-driven hardware designs using x86-, StrongARM- and PowerPC-based target boards. In addition, you will find simple device driver module code that connects external devices to the kernel, and network integration code that connects embedded Linux field devices to a centralized control center.

Examples teach hardware developers how to store and activate field bits and deliver process information using open-source software. If you are a hardware developer, software developer, system integrator, or product manager who has begun exploring embedded Linux for interfacing applications, this book is for you.

Author Dr. Craig Hollabaugh teaches you to ...

• Select an embedded Linux platform (x86, StrongARM and PowerPC architectures are covered)
• Create a cross-compiling and debugging development environment
• Build a custom Linux kernel for each architecture
• Create a minimum root filesystem
• Boot the custom Linux kernel on three target boards with x86, SA-1110 and MPC860 microprocessors
• Remotely debug programs running on a target board across an ethernet network using GNU tools
• Connect data acquisition and control electronics/peripherals using the microprocessors' serial, parallel, memory I/O, and USB interfaces
• Measure average interrupt latencies for the x86, SA-1110 and MPC860 microprocessors and design an interrupt-driven process timer with 1ms accuracy
• Create an interface from the peripherals to the kernel and applications using device driver modules
• Collect, control, store and present data via open-source protocols and applications
• Analyze embedded Linux vendor product offerings

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I - Getting Started

Chapter 1 - Introducing Embedded Linux

Why Linux, Why Now?
What Is an Embedded System?
What Does Real-Time Mean?
Implications of Open Source
Summary
Additional Reading

Chapter 2 - System Architecture

Introducing Project Trailblazer
The Silverjack Resort Layout
Project Trailblazer Requirements

Safety Requirements

Operations Requirements

Supplier Requirements

The Project Trailblazer System Architecture
Summary

Chapter 3 - Selecting a Platform and Installing Tool Sets

Sources of Information
The Project Trailblazer Strategic Direction
Building tbdev1, the Embedded Linux Development Workstation

Getting Started

Installing the Linux Operating System

Installing the Native GNU Tool Chain and Other Applications

Building the GNU Tool Chain for Cross-Compiling

Summary
Additional Reading

Chapter 4 - Booting Linux

The Target PBRs
The Linux Boot Process
The Linux root Filesystem

Required Files for init

Required Files for bash

The root Filesystem Binary Files: Compile or Download?

Creating the root Filesystem

Deciding Which Package to Use

The Process for Building the root Filesystem

Running buildrootfilesystem

Installing the TFTP Server
Installing minicom
Booting the Embedded Planet RPX-CLLF

Embedded Planet RPX-CLLF Target PBR Review

Booting the Brightstar Engineering MediaEngine

Brightstar Engineering MediaEngine Target PBR Review

Booting the Tri-M MZ104 and the COTS PC with a Flash IDE Drive

Flash IDE Technology

Preparing the Tri-M MZ104 and the COTS PC

Booting the Tri-M MZ104 Target

Tri-M MZ104 Target Platform Boot Requirements Review

Boot Comparison
Summary
Additional Reading

Chapter 5 - Debugging

Introducing gdb
Local Debugging
Remote Debugging
Network-Mounting the root Filesystem

Configuring the NFS Server

Configuring the Target Kernels

Summary
Additional Reading

Part II Interfacing

Chapter 6 - Asynchronous Serial Communication Interfacing

The Project Trailblazer Asynchronous Serial Hardware Development Environment

Target EIA/TIA-232-E Compliance

Linux Serial Communications

Setting the Serial Port Control Signals with setSerialSignal

Reading the Serial Port Control Signals with getSerialSignal

Providing Serial Communication for bash Scripts, Using querySerial

Summary
Additional Reading

Chapter 7 - Parallel Port Interfacing

Control Using the Parallel Port
Standard Parallel Port Control with Port I/O

Monitoring Lift Operation Using Port I/O

Snow-Making Control Using Port I/O

Standard Parallel Port Control Using ppdev
Developing a Custom Device Driver

Understanding helloworld_proc_module

Compiling, Inserting, and Testing helloworld_proc_module on the MediaEngine

Standard Parallel Port Control Using the Custom Device Driver liftmon_snowcon

Enhancements to helloworld_proc_module to Create liftmon_snowcon

Compiling, Inserting, and Testing liftmon_snowcon on the MZ104

Summary
Additional Reading

Chapter 8 - USB Interfacing

Learning About USB
Project Trailblazer USB Hardware

USB Audio: Yamaha YST-MS35D USB Speakers

USB Image Capture: Kensington VideoCAM Super-VGA PC Camera

USB Mass Storage: SanDisk USB SmartMedia Card Reader

Summary
Additional Reading

Chapter 9 - Memory I/O Interfacing

The Hardware Design Process
Developing Lift-Monitoring and Snow-Making Control for the MediaEngine

Designing the External Interface Hardware for the MediaEngine

Finding Space in the Memory Map for the MediaEngine

Finding the Register Base Address for the MediaEngine

Configuring the Memory Controller for the MediaEngine

Assigning the Output Module Enable Signal for the MediaEngine

Configuring the I/ O Port Controller for the MediaEngine

Writing the helloworldbit Testing Device Driver for the MediaEngine

Writing the liftmon_snowcon Device Driver for the MediaEngine

Developing Lift-Monitoring and Snow-Making Control for the RPX-CLLF

Designing the External Interface Hardware for the RPX-CLLF

Finding Space in the Memory Map for the RPX-CLLF

Finding the Register Base Address for the RPX-CLLF

Configuring the Memory Controller for the RPX-CLLF

Assigning the Output Module Enable Signal for the RPX-CLLF

Configuring the I/O Port Controller for the RPX-CLLF

Writing the helloworldbit Testing Device Driver for the RPX-CLLF

Writing the liftmon_snowcon Device Driver for the RPX-CLLF

Summary
Additional Reading

Chapter 10 - Synchronous Serial Communication Interfacing

Temperature Sensing and Display
SPI Communication and the LM70

Connecting the LM70 to the x86 Parallel Printer Port

Connecting the LM70 to the MediaEngine

I2C Communication with the Philips Semiconductor SAA1064

Connecting the SAA1064 to the x86 Parallel Printer Port

Connecting the SAA1064 to the RPX-CLLF

Summary
Additional Reading

Chapter 11 - Using Interrupts For Timing

Linux Timing Sources
Measuring Interrupt Latency

Measuring Interrupt Latency on the MZ104

Measuring Interrupt Latency on the MediaEngine

Measuring Interrupt Latency on the RPX-CLLF

Interrupt Latency Test Summary

Implementing the Race Timer

Race Timer Interrupt Processing Using Tasklets

Race Timer Status Display Using System Timers

Summary
Additional Reading

Chapter 12 - System Integration

Integration Overview
Installing the System Integration Applications
Creating and Testing the Project Trailblazer Database
Developing the Target and CGI Integration Scripts

Collecting and Distributing Temperature Data

Collecting and Distributing Image Data

Collecting Guest Pass Identification and Allowing Lift Access

Summary
Additional Reading

Chapter 13 - Final Thoughts

GUI Development
Real-time Capabilities
The Embedded Linux Vendor Offerings
Project Trailblazer Hardware
Summary
Additional Reading

Index

Paperback; 432 pages.