Introduction to Linux

Introduction to Linux provides engineers with a fast, cost-effective way to acquire the skills necessary to develop real-time applications with embedded Linux.

After this course, participants will be able to perform the following:

• Describe the role of Linux in embedded and real-time systems
• Take a requirement specification to a working application
• Design, develop, debug, build, and test real-time applications with Linux
• Use the Linux memory model effectively
• Design an application to make optimal use of inter-process communication, synchronization, timers, and file systems
• Describe features and protocol support for networking in Linux
• Deploy and manage an embedded Linux system

• Wind River® Workbench 3.0 for Linux

• Developers who work with Linux; Wind River Workbench; Wind River General Purpose Platform, Linux Edition; or Wind River Platform for Network Equipment, Linux Edition
• New project members on teams already using Linux
• Managers who want to get a quick understanding of Linux
• Senior engineers who want to evaluate Linux and/or Wind River Linux technology

Day 1

Linux in Embedded Systems

• Linux introduction
• Leveraging open source
• The GPL and your IP

Developing Embedded Linux Applications

• Top considerations before starting Linux projects (Linux distributions; Linux development environment and tools)
• Root file system (introduction of Linux file systems)

The Role of the Root File System, File System Hierarchy, Busybox, Building/Acquiring a RootFS

• Linux kernel (Linux architecture; understanding the kernel version; kernel configuration tools; configuring the kernel)
• Booting your target (host preparation; Linux boot sequence; the role of the boot loader)

Day 2

Understanding Linux Memory Model

• Memory management in Linux (virtual memory model; how Linux uses the memory management unit (MMU))
• Kernel space review (kernel and scheduling policies; kernel modules; overview of device drivers; exception handling; interrupt handling; deferred functions—softirq, tasklet, bottom half)
• User space (Linux processes and threads)

Day 3

Understanding Linux Memory Model (cont’d)

• User space (daemons and servers; static libraries; shared libraries; dynamic linking library)
• Kernel to user space interface (I/O system; network interfaces; /proc and /sys file systems)

Using Linux in Your Application

• Inter-process communication (IPC) and synchronization (shared memory; semaphores; message queues; pipes; UNIX-domain sockets; signals)
• Linux timers (absolute time; user space timers and alarms; kernel space timers)

Day 4

Using Linux in Your Application (cont’d)

• File systems (file system buffers; journaling file systems; diskoriented file systems; flash file systems; network-based file systems)
• 2.4 vs. 2.6 kernel features

Networking in Linux

• Linux network stack and data flow
• Linux protocol support
• Getting connected options (web servers; web browsers; etc.)

Fielding and Managing an Embedded Linux System

• System initialization and maintenance
• Configuration and network setup
• Configuration and network setup
• Securing your target

Prerequisite Course

• None

Prerequisite Skills

• Basic understanding of operating systems and debugging techniques
• Functional knowledge of Linux
• One year of C or C++ programming experience on Linux/UNIX

• This four-day expert-led course consists of lectures and lab sessions.
• Attendees use Wind River Linux 3.0 and Wind River Workbench 3.0 for Linux to gain experience with the topics presented.
• Participants examine and exercise simulated network topologies in hands-on labs.
• Participants receive individual guidance from an expert engineer who has extensive experience with Wind River technologies.

• Workbench for Wind River Linux
• Wind River Linux and Workbench Essentials
• Wind River Linux Application Development
• Linux Device Drivers
• RTOS to Linux Migration Essentials