The purpose of this page is to document the open source Linux project from Xilinx. Xilinx provides a Git tree which includes the Linux kernel to run on the Xilinx boards. This is a development project.
This pages describes Linux for the PowerPC and Microblaze processors from Xilinx. The goal of the Xilinx GIT server Linux repository is to provide a single set of device drivers that work across all Xilinx processors.
FAQ
See this page for a list of frequently asked questions, open-source-linux-faq.
When You Don't Have GIT
Some people don't have GIT installed as it's primarily a Linux kernel hacker tool. If you don't, you can get a snapshot of the kernel using the snapshot feature at http://git.xilinx.com. There are specific instructions on the web page about how to use the snapshot feature.
PowerPC Supported Platforms
- The ML405 Xilinx board is supported for the Virtex 4 FX FPGA architecture which contains a PowerPC 405 processor.
- The ML507 Xilinx board is supported for the Virtex 5 FXT FPGA architecture which contains a PowerPC 440 processor.
- Other platforms may work with the Git tree, such as the ML300, but are not directly supported.
About The Drivers
The drivers page, OSL Drivers, has more specific information about each driver.
Linux PowerPC Architectures
Arch/ppc is still in the Git tree, but users are advised to move to the arch/powerpc architecture. Arch/ppc is no longer updated and is stable at the git tag, last-arch-ppc.
If you still need to use arch/ppc, you can clone the Git tree, then reset to the last-arch-ppc tag, but you need to realize arch/ppc could have problems that no one wants to work on in the Linux kernel.
git reset —hard last-arch-ppc
The Xilinx Git Trees
- For non-Xilinx employees, the public Git tree is located at git://git.xilinx.com.
- For Xilinx employees, the development Git tree is located at git://git-dev.xilinx.com.
- The http sites, http://git.xilinx.com and http://git-dev.xilinx.com, can be used to browse the code.
- The main branch of the public repository is the master branch. This is considered the most stable and tested code from Xilinx. A development branch is also provided that has other code as explained on this page, OSL Development Branch.
Reference Systems And Other Files To Download
These files are now located on the top level page, Xilinx Open Source Wiki.
Kernel Documentation
- The first place to look is always in the Documentation directory of the kernel tree. The documentation is sort of random but can be very helpful.
- More kernel documentation can be generated using an automated doc system built into the kernel.
- The following command will cause some html docs to be generated in the Documentation/DocBook directory of the kernel tree.
- make ARCH=powerpc htmldocs
Recommended Books
- Embedded Linux Primer from Prentice Hall, by Hallinan
- Building Embedded Linux Systems from OReilly, by Yaghmour (I think this might be available for download as open source?)
