Embedded Linux Training Courses

Course Description:
This course demonstrates how to port an embedded Linux system from version 2.4 of the kernel to 2.6. It describes the differences between the two versions and the new features. Using a practical example it covers changes to kernel configuration and compilation, device drivers, the driver model, the Native POSIX Threads Library, POSIX timers, message queues and shared memory. Throughout, the emphasis is on embedded and real-time applications.

Overview:
A two day course offering a practical approach to porting applications to Linux 2.6.

Who Should Attend:
It is suitable for developers who are currently working on a Linux 2.4 project and are considering moving to Linux 2.6.

Pre-Requisites:
• Good ‘C’ programming skills
• Familiar with Linux 2.4 configuration and application programming
• Some knowledge of Linux device drivers.

Duration:
Two days.

Course Materials:
Student workbook.

Related Courses:
• EL-503 Developing for Embedded Linux
• EL-504 Developing Linux Device Drivers
• RTOS-201 Fundamentals of Real-Time Operating Systems

Course Workshop:
Using an ARM9 (Digi ConnectCore Wi-9C) development board as an example, students will go through the steps of porting from Linux 2.4 to 2.6 and enhancing the system to make full use of the new features in 2.6.

Course Outline:

Introduction to Linux 2.6
- new kernel features, real time
enhancements, driver model, i/o scheduler
- additional POSIX application interfaces
- implications for the tool chain

Moving to a 2.6 kernel
- Configuring and compiling 2.6
- Changes to modules
- Building out-of-tree modules

The Linux driver model
- What it is and how to use it
- Device classes and attributes
- User’s view of the device model: sysfs

The Linux event model
- How events propagate via hotplug
- Customising event notifications
- The hotplug event handler
- Creating device nodes using udev
- Udev vs devfs

Debugging kernel and modules in 2.6

Kernel threads in 2.6

Changes to interrrupts handlers
and locking code
- Deferred processing using work queues

Changes to the block driver interface
- I/O schedulers

Posix threads
- Native Posix Threads Library vs LinuxThreads
- Thread Local Storage
- Named semaphores

New Posix interfaces
- Posix timers: timer resolution; the high resolution timers patch
- Posix message queues
- Posix shared memory

System profiling using Oprofile

Realtime and 2.6
- Kernel preemption
- Lock-breaking
- Developments expected in the near
future: IRQ threads, PMutexes