Difference between revisions of "Embedded Linux Distributions"

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Here is some information about embedded Linux distributions, and kernel configuration and build systems:
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== Introduction ==
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Besides the Linux kernel, one of the advantage of embedded Linux is the ability to leverage hundreds if not thousands of existing free and open source packages to easily and quickly add new features to devices. These packages range from graphical libraries, multimedia libraries, network libraries, cryptographic libraries, network servers, infrastructure software and more. However, integrating all these components together requires a relatively deep knowledge of the components. Hence, embedded-specific distributions and build systems have been created to ease this process.
  
 
== Vendor distros ==
 
== Vendor distros ==
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* The [http://blackfin.uclinux.org/gf/project/uclinux-dist Blackfin uClinux Distribution] by [http://www.analog.com/blackfin Analog Devices] - a fork of the uClinux distribution for Blackfin processors
 
* Embedded Alley - see http://www.embeddedalley.com/
 
* Embedded Alley - see http://www.embeddedalley.com/
 
* [http://www.kaeilos.com KaeilOS embedded linux]
 
* [http://www.kaeilos.com KaeilOS embedded linux]
 
* Lineo Solutions [http://www.lineo.co.jp/eng/products-services/products/ulinux.html uLinux]
 
* Lineo Solutions [http://www.lineo.co.jp/eng/products-services/products/ulinux.html uLinux]
 
* [[MontaVista]] Linux - see http://www.mvista.com/products_services.php
 
* [[MontaVista]] Linux - see http://www.mvista.com/products_services.php
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* [http://www.pengutronix.de Pengutronix] OSELAS.BSP() - see http://www.pengutronix.de/oselas/bsp/index_en.html
 
* [[RidgeRun]] Linux - see http://www.ridgerun.com/sdk.shtml
 
* [[RidgeRun]] Linux - see http://www.ridgerun.com/sdk.shtml
 
* [[TimeSys]] LinuxLink - see http://www.timesys.com/products/index.htm
 
* [[TimeSys]] LinuxLink - see http://www.timesys.com/products/index.htm
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* Wind River - see http://www.windriver.com/products/linux/
 
* Wind River - see http://www.windriver.com/products/linux/
 
* [http://www.littlebluelinux.com/ Little Blue Linux] - MPC Data
 
* [http://www.littlebluelinux.com/ Little Blue Linux] - MPC Data
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* [http://www.digi.com/products/embeddedsolutions/softwareservices/digiembeddedlinux.jsp Digi Embedded Linux] for Digi's ARM based modules
  
 
== Platforms ==
 
== Platforms ==
* [[Android]]
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* [[Android Portal|Android]]
* Moblin
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* Maemo (deprecated - see Meego)
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* [[Meego]]
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* Moblin (deprecated - see Meego)
 
* OpenMoko
 
* OpenMoko
* Maemo
 
 
* Access Linux Platform
 
* Access Linux Platform
 
* LIMO
 
* LIMO
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** Emdebian has made some significant progress the last few years, and has now reached an usable state. [http://www.emdebian.org/emdebian/flavours.html Two versions of Emdebian] are available : Emdebian Grip and Emdebian Crush.
 
** Emdebian has made some significant progress the last few years, and has now reached an usable state. [http://www.emdebian.org/emdebian/flavours.html Two versions of Emdebian] are available : Emdebian Grip and Emdebian Crush.
 
** Neil Williams gave a talk ''Emdebian 1.0 release, small and super small Debian'' at the FOSDEM 2009. A [http://free-electrons.com/pub/video/2009/fosdem/fosdem2009-williams-emdebian-1.0-release.ogv video] is available.
 
** Neil Williams gave a talk ''Emdebian 1.0 release, small and super small Debian'' at the FOSDEM 2009. A [http://free-electrons.com/pub/video/2009/fosdem/fosdem2009-williams-emdebian-1.0-release.ogv video] is available.
* Embedded Gentoo - http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/embedded/index.xml
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* Embedded Gentoo - http://embedded.gentoo.org/
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* [[GeeXboX]] - http://www.geexbox.org/
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** GeeXboX is an embedded multimedia distribution that turns your device into a full-featured MediaCenter.
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* Aboriginal Linux - http://landley.net/aboriginal/
  
 
=== Special purpose embedded Linux distributions ===
 
=== Special purpose embedded Linux distributions ===
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* Eagle Linux - http://www.safedesksolutions.com/eaglelinux/
 
* Eagle Linux - http://www.safedesksolutions.com/eaglelinux/
 
** An embedded Linux distribution aimed at helping users learn Linux by creating bootable Linux images "virtually from scratch". Eagle Linux 2.3 is currently distributed as a concise, 26-page PDF documenting the creation of a minimalist, network-ready Linux image for bootable CDs, floppies, or flash drives. See description at: http://ct.enews.deviceforge.com/rd/cts?d=207-106-2-28-5560-8662-0-0-0-1
 
** An embedded Linux distribution aimed at helping users learn Linux by creating bootable Linux images "virtually from scratch". Eagle Linux 2.3 is currently distributed as a concise, 26-page PDF documenting the creation of a minimalist, network-ready Linux image for bootable CDs, floppies, or flash drives. See description at: http://ct.enews.deviceforge.com/rd/cts?d=207-106-2-28-5560-8662-0-0-0-1
* [http://www.uclinux.org/ uClinux] A distribution targeting at systems without Memory Management Unit. See also [[UClinux Shared Library]].
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* [http://www.uclinux.org/ uClinux] A distribution targeting (but not only) systems without Memory Management Unit. See also [[UClinux Shared Library]].
  
 
== Configuration and Build systems ==
 
== Configuration and Build systems ==
* [[Open Embedded]] - System for building full embedded images from scratch
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See [[Build Systems]]
* [http://www.buildroot.net buildroot]
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** Buildroot is a set of Makefiles and patches that makes it easy generate a cross-compilation toolchain and root filesystem for your target Linux system using the uClibc C library.
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See also [[Toolchains]]
* [http://www.pengutronix.de/software/ptxdist/index_en.html PTXdist]
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** Kconfig based build system developed by [http://www.pengutronix.de/index_en.html Pengutronix]  
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== Obsolete things ==
** GPL licensed
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** [http://free-electrons.com/pub/video/2009/fosdem/fosdem2009-schwebel-ptxdist.ogv Video] of a talk given by PTXdist developer Peter Schwebel at [http://www.fosdem.org FOSDEM 2009]
 
* [http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/ Linux From Scratch]
 
 
* [[Qplus Target Builder]] - Target image builder from ETRI
 
* [[Qplus Target Builder]] - Target image builder from ETRI
* LTIB - Linux Target Image Builder (by Stuart Hughes of FreeScale) - see http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/ltib
 
** [http://www.bitshrine.org/celf_ltib_bof_v1.2.pdf Slides] and [http://free-electrons.com/pub/video/2008/ols/ols2008-stuart-hughes-ltib.ogg video] of a talk on LTIB at the Ottawa Linux Symposium 2008
 
 
* [http://www.mvista.com/download/fetchdoc.php?docid=342 Building Embedded Userlands] - Presentation by Ned Miljevic & Klaas van Gend at the ELC 2008 which compares different configuration and build systems. [http://free-electrons.com/pub/video/2008/elce/elce2008-miljevic-van-gend-embedded-userlands.ogv Video] of the conference available.
 
  
 
== Further reading ==
 
== Further reading ==
  
 
* [[Embedded OS]] mentions a variety of embedded operating systems, including embedded Linux.
 
* [[Embedded OS]] mentions a variety of embedded operating systems, including embedded Linux.
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* [http://lwn.net/Articles/384713/ Tools and distributions for embedded Linux development] - LWN.net 2010/04/27 by Tom Parkin
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** This is an excellent roundup of current (as of 2010) tools and distributions available for embedded Linux development (that's redundant).
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[[Category:Linux]]
 
[[Category:Linux]]

Revision as of 00:09, 15 March 2012

Introduction

Besides the Linux kernel, one of the advantage of embedded Linux is the ability to leverage hundreds if not thousands of existing free and open source packages to easily and quickly add new features to devices. These packages range from graphical libraries, multimedia libraries, network libraries, cryptographic libraries, network servers, infrastructure software and more. However, integrating all these components together requires a relatively deep knowledge of the components. Hence, embedded-specific distributions and build systems have been created to ease this process.

Vendor distros

Platforms

  • Android
  • Maemo (deprecated - see Meego)
  • Meego
  • Moblin (deprecated - see Meego)
  • OpenMoko
  • Access Linux Platform
  • LIMO

Other distros

Special purpose embedded Linux distributions

Configuration and Build systems

See Build Systems

See also Toolchains

Obsolete things

Further reading