Embedded Linux(R): Hardware, Software, and Interfacing (Sams White Books) (Paperback)

by Craig Hollabaugh (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Embedded Linux will help the user: select an Embedded Linux platform based on hardware requirements; build and boot a custom Linux kernel for the platform; remote debug programs running on the platform using GNU tools; connect data acquisition and control electronics/peripherals using the platform's serial, parallel, USB, I/O port and I2C interfaces; interface the peripherals to the kernel and applications using modules; collect, control, store and present data via open source protocols and applications; and analyze Embedded Linux vendor product offerings.

From the Back Cover

Embedded Linux covers the development and implementation of interfacing applications on an embedded Linux platform. It includes a comprehensive discussion of platform selection, crosscompilation, kernel compilation, root filesystem creation, booting, remote debugging, real-world interfacing, application control, data collection, archiving, and presentation.

This book includes serial, parallel, memory I/O, USB, and interrupt-driven hardware designs using x86-, StrongARM®-, and PowerPC®-based target boards. In addition, you will find simple device driver module code that connects external devices to the kernel, and network integration code that connects embedded Linux field devices to a centralized control center. Examples teach hardware developers how to store and activate field bits and deliver process information using open source software. If you are a hardware developer, software developer, system integrator, or product manager who's begun exploring embedded Linux for interfacing applications, this book is for you.

• Select an embedded Linux platform (x86, StrongARM®, and PowerPC® architectures are covered)
• Create a cross-compiling and debugging development environment
• Build a custom Linux kernel for each architecture
• Create a minimum root filesystem
• Boot the custom Linux kernel on three target boards with x86, SA-1110, and MPC860 microprocessors
• Remote debug programs running on a target board across an ethernet network using GNU tools
• Connect data acquisition and control electronics/peripherals using the microprocessor's serial, parallel, memory I/O, and USB interfaces
• Measure average interrupt latencies for the x86, SA-1110, and MPC860 microprocessors and design an interrupt-driven process timer with 1mS accuracy
• Interface the peripherals to the kernel and applications using device driver modules
• Collect, control, store, and present data via open source protocols and applications
• Analyze embedded Linux vendor product offerings

0672322269B03282002

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Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional (March 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0672322269
• ISBN-13: 978-0672322266
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #459,755 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Slightly Out of Date but still well worth the purchase, April 19, 2004

By	Brian R. Findlay "brfindla" (Merrimack, NH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As of 4/2004, the book relies on a free distribution of Hard Hat linux that is no longer available on Montavista's site (as they charge $25K for a single seat, I guess they felt they were giving too much away ;-) HOWEVER: Hollanaugh has copies of them with all of his scripts on his site, so look for them there. His scripts are also now modified to point to the new locations. Though even this distribution is somewhat out of date, this book does a pretty reasonable job of getting you through it all. I found finding free (useful, current) distributions of embedded linux very hard to find but eventually did.. Check out www.denx.de and store.yahoo.com/snapgear/snemlidi.html for current multiplatform distributions. The denx distribution ELDK appears to have morphed from the original Hard Hat distibution as many of the utilities still exist, I used this and was able to "generally" follow along. It's a more recent distribution and supports more platforms (at least for the PPC). I would definately repurchase this book again..
His site is:
http://www.embeddedlinuxinterfacing.com/overview.shtml

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Device drivers for embedded linux, May 1, 2003

By	"ravishankar_r" (Santa Clara, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Part I ('Getting Started') is a head start for newbie, but the emphasis is more on setting up a development and
debugging environment for an embedded linux project and not on the process of porting linux for an embedded system.
None of the issues related to the porting of kernel loader or porting of the actual kernel for any of the reference target
boards are addressed.Not enough information for a newbie trying to port linux for a custom board.
After getting past these issues (with help from resources on web) and having a working kernel on the board, Part II ('Interfacing')
of the book is quite useful.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good introduction to linux embedded systems, April 3, 2002

By	Carles Perello (Barcelona, Catalunya Spain) - See all my reviews

The overall impression is good. Focusing an embedded project following a potential practical case is a good idea.

Its also a good idea to bring three diferent platforms as a case study, making it clear that linux gives enough abstraction level.

I didn't rate it 5 because it relays on hardhat (tm) already built development tools, which is far from being the standrad way to build those tools. Is not that dificult to explain how to make them from source.