Embedded Linux education kit, from ARM’s University Programme
The courseware is highly modular and includes lecture slides with notes, as well as lab manuals with solutions. As with previous Education Kits from the Programme, the courseware covers fundamental theoretical concepts coupled with a hands-on approach that includes real Linux implementations on an ARM Cortex-A9 based i.MX 6Solo SoC (NXP), which is available on the low cost UDOO NEO board (pictured).
ARM’s contention is that Linux is so pervasive in embedded computing, that a knowledge of how it is structured, and how it functions, is an essential part of any training programme. Embedded systems increasingly rely on processors capable of running full operating system stacks. The Linux operating system is increasingly popular in embedded computers given its open-source nature, large user community base and software ecosystem, customizability and extendibility. Knowledge of the Linux architecture coupled with the practical skills involved in configuring and building a full Linux operating system stack are crucial in modern computing. This is, ARM continues, why it developed the Embedded Linux Education Kit: to train students and aspiring engineers in Linux development, a skill crucially needed in today’s job market.
Partnerships with both academia and industry contribute. From academia, Professor Massimo Violante of Politecnico di Torino, Italy, led the academic development of the courseware. Massimo has been teaching embedded systems design for many years and also has a wealth of real-world collaboration experience with the embedded systems industry.
Professor Massimo Violante, Politecnico di Torino, Italy comments,”The aim of this Education Kit is to give students both theoretical knowledge of what embedded Linux is, and practical skills to help them put that theory into practice. For this purpose, besides formal lectures, the courseware includes labs using hardware and software tools which give representative examples of current industrial practices. As embedded Linux is already widespread in a number of applications from automotive to networking and entertainment, and becoming even more pervasive with the diffusion of IoT devices, the Embedded Linux Education Kit will endow students with important industry-relevant skills.”
On the industry side, ARM has worked with AIDILAB srl (Siena, Italy) and SECO USA Inc, (Burlington, Massachusetts) who collaborated under the auspices of the UDOO project to produce the ARM Cortex-A9 based UDOO NEO single board computer (fro $49.90), which is used as the target hardware in the Kit. the target of our Embedded Linux Education Kit labs.
To offer complete solutions, including convenient access to hardware platforms, ARM has partnered with distributor Mouser to distribute the UDOO NEO boards to academic institutions worldwide.
The Embedded Linux Education Kit teaching materials are available free of charge to qualified academics from universities worldwide. In addition to providing technical support for courseware development, the UDOO project is also supporting this Embedded Linux Education Kit with seed hardware, to be donated to selected academic adopters from universities worldwide. Donation requests should be made to the ARM University Program.
Next page; summary of course content
Embedded Linux Education Kit
Linux is an increasingly popular operating system in embedded computers given its open source nature, large user community base and software eco-system, customizability and extendibility. As such, knowledge of the Linux architecture and practical skills involved in configuring and building a full Linux operating system stack are crucial in modern computing.
The aim of this Embedded Linux Education Kit is to train students and future engineers on Linux development, a skill crucially needed in a vast range of applications these days. The kit includes full courseware on how to develop embedded Linux products, including Linux kernel configuration and custom peripheral driver development, using low cost yet powerful ARM-based single board computers. The courseware is highly modular and includes a rich set of lecture slides with notes and lab manuals with solutions.
Subject to a qualification process and hardware platform availability, the kits are donated free-of-charge to Faculty/Educators worldwide to use in their courses.
Course aim:
The course aims to produce students who are capable of developing an embedded Linux system on low cost yet powerful ARM based platforms, including customer peripheral development for various applications using standard software tools.
Learning outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding of:
Embedded Linux Operating System architecture
Linux-based embedded system component stack
Linux kernel modules
System configuration and boot process
Communication between kernel space and user space
System debugging and profiling
Intellectual
Ability to choose between different software tools for the development of an embedded Linux system
Ability to evaluate implementation results (e.g. speed, cost, power) and correlate them with the corresponding system
Practical
Ability to use industry standard tools to configure and build an embedded Linux system stack
Ability to develop kernel modules for customer peripherals
Ability to debug and profile embedded Linux systems using industry standard software tools
Pre-requisites:
Basics of operating systems, basics of software programing in C
Content
The course consists of a number of modules sufficient to run a typical term course (8 to 10 weeks). It starts with an overview of Linux embedded systems, introducing the basic components such as kernel, bootloader, root file system and device tree. It then introduces kernel modules and how to develop them using automatic building tools. Finally, it presents methods for system debugging and profiling, and demonstrates full applications.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Linux and Embedded Systems
Linux-based Embedded System Component Stack
Anatomy of a Linux-based System
Configuration & Build Process
Linux Kernel Modules
Communication Between Kernel and User Space
Application Demo: Building a Ranging Sensor Kernel Module
System Debugging & Profiling
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