Course Outline
Embedded Linux Fundamentals and Platform Overview
- Introduction to Embedded Linux
- Differences from desktop Linux
- Typical use cases and constraints
- i.MX6 platform architecture overview
- SoC blocks and boot process (ROM, SPL, U-Boot, kernel)
- The concept of Device Tree and its application on i.MX6
- Hardware or emulator setup: board layout, interfaces, JTAG/serial, and SD/eMMC boot
Build Environment and Yocto Project Basics
- Introduction to the Yocto Project
- Poky and BitBake
- Layers
- Metadata (recipes, bbfiles)
- Setting up the host build environment
- Prerequisites
- Toolchains
- Repository synchronization
- Exploring the Yocto directory structure
- meta
- poky
- meta-classes
Customizing Images and Adding Packages
- Understanding layers
- BSP layer
- Board-specific components
- Application layer
- Adding packages to the image
- Writing simple recipes
- Including them in the image
- Image customization
- rootfs size
- Services
- Kernel modules
Kernel, Device Tree, and Board Support on i.MX6
- Kernel build workflow
- Configuration
- Cross-compilation
- Modules
- Device Tree details
- Formatting
- Nodes
- Overlays
- Enabling peripherals on i.MX6
- i.MX6 BSP specifics
- Bootloader (U-Boot)
- Board-specific patches
- Memory layout
Troubleshooting and Optimization
- Common build and boot failures and debugging methods
- Serial console
- U-Boot debugging
- Kernel oops
- rootfs issues
- Optimization tips
- Image size
- Boot time
- Power management basics (Overview only)
Conclusion
- Summary and conclusion
- Key takeaways
- Next steps for participants (driver development, advanced BSP work)
- Feedback and Q&A
Requirements
Participants are expected to possess the following:
- Strong proficiency in Embedded C or C++ programming (mandatory)
- Fundamental familiarity with microcontroller and embedded system concepts, such as:
- UART, I2C, SPI, and GPIO
- Conceptual understanding of cross-compilation and toolchains
- Basic Linux usage experience (preferred but not mandatory), such as executing standard terminal commands like cd, ls, cp, mkdir, and chmod
Note: Extensive Linux knowledge is not required, as the course begins with the fundamentals of Embedded Linux.
Target Audience
- Embedded engineers proficient in Embedded C++ who are new to Linux on embedded platforms
- Engineers preparing to work on Linux-based systems using i.MX6 or i.MX9 hardware
- Team members looking to build custom Linux images, configure kernels, manage BSPs, and deploy solutions on embedded boards
Testimonials (2)
I understood the process of the operating system and how do we link all factors together information of network as well so now I have an obvious and full picture about what is going on these computers how they communicate with each others ultimately gained knowledge about the most important operating system which is Linux and how do we implement our own embedded Linux
Rawda Alnaqbi - beamtrail
Course - Introduction to Embedded Linux (Hands-on training)
Practical excersises
