Read Petalinux: Let Linux easily "run" on Zynq

For zynq such a "arm+ Programmable logic" Heterogeneous processing system we are no strangers, and its innovation is also obvious to all of us. But for more applications to enjoy the dividends of this "innovation", making it truly "landed" requires a lot of systematic work to create a perfect ecosystem. From previous articles, we have seen Xilinx's efforts in this area, especially the iterative advanced hardware Development (VIVADO) and software development (Xilinx SDK) tools. In the embedded development, there is a very important link to pay attention to, this is the operating system.

For the increasingly intelligent and complex embedded systems, it is necessary to control the scheduling and controlling of hardware and software resources through an embedded operating system, and if more comprehensive functions are needed, developers should consider the more "large" and more complex OS of embedded Linux. In the face of zynq such a people want to "early taste" of the innovative hardware processing platform, if there is a convenient way to let embedded Linux "run" on it, of course, the benefits of developers.

Figure 1, embedded system architecture based on the ZYNQ platform

This kind of thing, Xilinx already thought and set out the layout, finally presents in front of the developer is the Petalinux. Petalinux is a toolset that includes Linux, U-boot source code, libraries, and Yocto Recipes, making it easy for customers to configure, build, and deploy Linux. The petalinux supports Zynq ultrascale+ MPSoC, Zynq-7000 all programmable SoCs, and Microblaze, which work with the Xilinx hardware design tool Vivado, greatly simplifying the development of Linux systems.

With the Petalinux tool, developers can customize U-boot, Linux kernels, or Linux applications, and developers can add new kernels, device drivers, applications, and libraries to the accompanying system-wide emulator (QEMU) or physical hardware via the network or JTAG. and start and test the software protocol stack to complete all operations from system boot to execution. The Petalinux tools available on the host side include:

• Command-line interface
• Applications, device drivers, library generators, and development templates
• Bootable System Image Generator
• Debug Agent
• GCC Tools
• Integrated QEMU full-system emulator
• Automation tools
• Support for Xilinx System debugger

  Figure 2,petalinux Tools

  It is worth mentioning that, in order to make the use of Petalinux this "simple" tool easier, avnet in the recent Minized Speedway training activities, set up a training module, starting from How to install Petalinux, Explain how to use Petalinux to create an embedded Linux on the minized board and apply the development. Key points of knowledge in the training include:

• Petalinux Overview
• Petalinux Design Process Introduction
• Yacto Project Overview
• Device Tree Basics
• Petalinux User Application Development
• Custom Petalinux

This time Petalinux tool training related experimental links, more prominent practical, students can learn how to use petalinux tools to import their own FPGA hardware design, integration of user applications, as well as configuration and customization of Linux. In the experiment, a specific internet of things application paradigm was also used to guide users through the application code provided by TE connectivity to obtain data from the HTU21D i²c sensor and to transfer periodically released sensor data to the cloud using the MQTT protocol. Through experiments, the development skills that learners can master include:

• Tool Installation: Installing virtual machines-virtualbox, Ubuntu, Vivado, SDK, and Petalinux
• Use Petalinux to create, configure, and create minimized Linux
• Use minized to connect to a LAN via Wi-Fi
• Create a Linux app for minized using the Xilinx SDK
• IoT application example: Integrating Mqtt into a Linux application

It can be said that Petalinux for the ZYNQ application development provides a powerful booster, "read" Understand TA, you can let zynq to deal with more application scenarios, but also more embedded Linux based on the user application on the zynq of the carefree run up!

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