Embedded Systems Design
ECE453 – UW Madison

Compiling the Linux Kernel

Overview

INSTALLING THE LINUX KERNEL

Installing the Linux kernel is done using Git.  The following command will download the Linux kernel that is supplied by Intel.

cd
git clone https://github.com/altera-opensource/linux-socfpga.git
cd linux-socfpga

# We will check out the most recent release of the kernel
# with changes specific to the SoC.
git checkout rel_socfpga-4.16_18.06.01_pr

When this completes, you should see a new directory that contains the source code for the Linux kernel.

linux_directory

 

Validate Build Environment

Before we compile the kernel, be sure that your Linux environment variables are set up correctly.  The target architecture should be set to arm and the CROSS_COMPILE needs to be set.

linux_validate

 

If you have not completed this step, please see the following post that instructs you on how to set up your build environment.

Configuring the Linux Kernel

Now that we have the Linux kernel downloaded, we need to configure the Linux kernel.  We start the process by telling the kernel that we are building for the SoC.

cd linx-socfpga
make socfpga_defconfig

linux_socfpga_defconfig

Now we will add some additional software support in the Linux Kernel

make menuconfig

From the window that is opened, select General setup.

linux_menuconfig_1

Arrow down until you have highlighted Automatically append version information to the version string.  Press the space bar to un-select this option.  This will allow us freedom to insert kernel modules that were not compiled for this specific kernel version.

Hit ESC.  Now go to Enable the block layer.  Press enter.  Then go to Support for large (2TB+) block devices and file.  Press Enter to select this.

linux_menuconfig_large_block_devices

Adding SPI Support

Hit ESC.  Now go to Device Drivers.

linux_menuconfig_device_drivers

Arrow down until you have selected SPI Support.  Then press enter.

linux_menuconfig_spi

 

Verify that User Mode SPI device driver support has been selected.

linux_menuconfig_spidev

Adding VGA Support

Press ESC until you are at the top most menu.  We will now turn on the device drivers for frame buffer based graphics.  This will allow you to use the VGA port on the DE1-SoC.

Device Drivers  --->
  Graphics support  --->
    Frame buffer Devices  --->
      <*> Support for frame buffer devices  --->
      <*> Altera VIP Frame Reader framebuffer support

 

linux_menuconfig_graphics_support

linux_menuconfig_frame_buffer_devices

 

Be sure that you have selected both options.  Each option MUST have a “*” next to it

linux_menuconfig_frame_buffer_devices_altera

Press ESC until you are at the top level again.

Adding Multimedia Support

Now we will turn on USB based camera support.

Device driver-->
  <*>Multimedia support-->
    [*]Cameras/video grabbers support
    [*]Media USB Adapters-->
      <*>USB Video Class(UVC)
        [*]UVC input event device support

 

linux_menuconfig_multimedia_support

linux_menuconfig_cameras_video_grabbers

Also, be sure to select Media USB Adapters.

linux_menuconfig_usb_adapters

After selecting Media USB Adapters, press ENTER and select USB Video Class.

linux_menuconfig_uvc

Now Press ESC until menuconfig asks you to save the configuration.  Confirm that you are going to save the configuration.

Compiling the Kernel

You can compile the kernel using the following command

make zImage -j4

The resulting kernel image can be found here : ~/linux-socfpga/arch/arm/boot/zImage

Copy the Kernel Image to the Bootable SD Card

The zImage can be copied to the 1st partition on the SD card.

cd ~/linux-socfpga
cp arch/arm/boot/zImage /media/ece453/SOC/zImage