Building Embedded Linux Systems [Paperback]

Karim Yaghmour (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 059600222X | ISBN-13: 978-0596002220 | Publication Date: April 22, 2003 | Edition: 1

Linux® is being adopted by an increasing number of embedded systems developers, who have been won over by its sophisticated scheduling and networking, its cost-free license, its open development model, and the support offered by rich and powerful programming tools. While there is a great deal of hype surrounding the use of Linux in embedded systems, there is not a lot of practical information. Building Embedded Linux Systems is the first in-depth, hard-core guide to putting together an embedded system based on the Linux kernel. This indispensable book features arcane and previously undocumented procedures for:

• Building your own GNU development toolchain
• Using an efficient embedded development framework
• Selecting, configuring, building, and installing a target-specific kernel
• Creating a complete target root filesystem
• Setting up, manipulating, and using solid-state storage devices
• Installing and configuring a bootloader for the target
• Cross-compiling a slew of utilities and packages
• Debugging your embedded system using a plethora of tools and techniques

Details are provided for various target architectures and hardware configurations, including a thorough review of Linux's support for embedded hardware. All explanations rely on the use of open source and free software packages. By presenting how to build the operating system components from pristine sources and how to find more documentation or help, this book greatly simplifies the task of keeping complete control over one's embedded operating system, whether it be for technical or sound financial reasons.

Author Karim Yaghmour, a well-known designer and speaker who is responsible for the Linux Trace Toolkit, starts by discussing the strengths and weaknesses of Linux as an embedded operating system. Licensing issues are included, followed by a discussion of the basics of building embedded Linux systems. The configuration, setup, and use of over forty different open source and free software packages commonly used in embedded Linux systems are also covered. uClibc, BusyBox, U-Boot, OpenSSH, thttpd, tftp, strace, and gdb are among the packages discussed.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The lessons learnt using this book alongside systems such as the IPAQ will certainly pay off." - Martin Howse, LinuxUser & Developer, issue 31 "This book should be essential reading for embedded system designers at all levels of experience who intend to use Linux in current or future projects. The only other thing you need is an internet connection to download the source code of components that are used." Industrial Networking & Open Control, June 2003

About the Author

Karim Yaghmour is the founder and president of Opersys Inc. (http://www.opersys.com), a company providing expertise and courses on the use of open source and free software in embedded systems. Being himself an active member of the open source and free software community, Karim has firmly established Opersys's services around the core values of knowledge sharing and technical quality promoted by this community. As part of his community involvement, Karim is the maintainer of the Linux Trace Toolkit and the author of a series of white-papers that led to the implementation of the Adeos nanokernel, which allows multiple operating systems to exist side-by-side. Karim's quest for understanding how things work started at a very young age when he took it upon himself to break open all the radios and cassette players he could lay his hands on in order to "fix" them. Very early, he developed a keen interest in operating system internals and embedded systems. He now holds a B.Eng. and an M.A.Sc. from the cole Polytechnique de Montral. While everyone was hacking away at Linux, Karim even took a detour to write his own distributed micro-kernel in order to get to the bottom of operating system design and implementation. When not working on software, Karim indulges in his passion for history, philosophy, sociology, and humanities in general. He's especially addicted to essays and novels by Umberto Eco and Gerald Messadi.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1 edition (April 22, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059600222X
• ISBN-13: 978-0596002220
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #910,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very valuable resource, June 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Building Embedded Linux Systems (Paperback)

Entering the world of embedded Linux development was a daunting task not too long ago, since information was spread thinnly across the web, and books were not readily available. Several books have appeared recently, and a couple are ok, but this book is the most thorough available to date. It covers all important aspects of the development process, from concepts to debugging, with toolchain building, the kernel, bootloaders, networking and root file systems in between. I would highly recommend this book. It has been extremely helpful to me.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Building Embedded LINUX Systems (review), May 2, 2004

By 

Warrick Lacey (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building Embedded Linux Systems (Paperback)

I am (and have been since October) in the midst of new hardware bring up. I am not a LINUX novice but performing a kernel bring up -- well let's just say I assembled a number of books in preparation of the project.

Forturnately for me, this book was one I selected.

I found the text to be be thorough (w/plenty of references to other texts, also by O'Reilly) starting with the general and moving on to specifics.

I like the order of the presentations. Often times I find the next chapter the next task confronting me.

Good Job Mr. Yaghmour!!!

You saved me a lot of pain.

Well worth the money.
Warrick Lacey

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Practical book, September 9, 2003

By 

Arun Kalluri (Hillsboro, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building Embedded Linux Systems (Paperback)

This book is a good starting point for people to understand the work of embedded linux engineers in the real world. It is also a great book for experienced people in the industry as they can collect various pieces of missing information. I just wish I had this book two years back when I learnt all this stuff the hardway through pieces of information on web. Technology changes fast, but the stuff mentioned in the book is still up to date in the industry.