Digi Embedded Linux 4.2 Release Notes (PN 93500029) Build 4.2.b11 (RevA) (c) 2008, Digi International http://www.digiembedded.com/ October, 2008 Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This document provides information about Digi Embedded Linux (Digi EL), the embedded Linux environment from Digi International, Inc. The live DVD includes Welcome web page that describes installing Digi EL environment. Contents ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This document contains these sections: 1. Supported Platforms 2. Features 3. Digi ESP(TM) 4. Live DVD 5. Known Issues and Limitations 6. Where to start 7. Support Contact Information 1. Supported Platforms ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digi Embedded Linux 4.2 supports these hardware platforms: * ConnectCore 9C (PN CC-9C-LX) * ConnectCore 9P 9215 (PN CC-9P-9215-LX) * ConnectCore 9P 9360 (PN CC-9P-LX) * ConnectCore Wi-9C (PN CC-W9C-LX) * Digi Connect ME 9210 (PN DC-ME-9210-LX) 2. Features ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1 Installer Easy installation process that supports several installation options for your convenience: * Run from LiveDVD: Do not install any software and run Digi Embedded Linux completely from this bootable DVD. * Full installation: Install the complete Digi Embedded Linux development environment including a Kubuntu Linux distribution. * Minimal installation: Install the complete Digi Embedded Linux development environment on a pre-existing Linux distribution. 2.2 Toolchain and software packages Complete GNU development environment for ARM platforms: * Project oriented and componentized build environment * Linux Kernel 2.6.26 * U-Boot-1.1.4 * uClibc v0.9.28 * Busybox v1.11.3 * GNU Cross-development toolchain, for ARM architecture o gcc 4.0.3 o gdb 6.4 o gdbserver for application debugging o binutils 2.16.1 Available services, applications and daemons: * Boa web server (v0.94.14rc21) * Dropbear ssh server and client (v0.51) * pppd and chat (v2.4.4) * Very Secure FTP server vsftpd (v2.0.5) * mii-tool (v1.9.1.1) * mtd utils, flash tools for NAND and NOR flashes (v1.0.0) * Open SSL (v0.9.7e) * pci utils (v2.1.11) * usbutils (v0.72) * wireless tools (v29) * wpa_supplicant (0.5.7) * Qtopia-core-open source (v4.2.2) graphic framework, with touch support included * Bridge-utils (v1.2) * Cherokee web server (v0.6.1) * Net-SNMP (v5.4.1) * OpenNTPD (v3.9p1) * Python (v2.5.1) * Sqlite (v3.5.7) * Strace (v4.5.16) * Stunnel (v4.20) Multiple examples and reference applications * C and C++ examples. * Application for using the processor's GPIOs. * Watchdog example application. * RTC example application. * Multithreading example application (pthreads). * Qtopia graphic application (tetrix game example). * ADC example application. 2.3 Supported drivers * Ethernet * Wireless (only on the ConnectCore Wi-9C). * Serial (UART mode) * SPI (master mode) * I2C * USB host (if present in the module) * MTD driver for on module flash (NAND and NOR support, module dependent) * Video interface (if the interface is available in the processor), supporting following displays: o CRT VGA, ADV7125 (640x480) o TFT LQ57Q3DC2 (320x240) o TFT LQ64V3DG01 (640x480) * Touch driver (over SPI for the ADS7843) * Internal processor GPIOs * RTC * Watchdog * I2C-GPIO driver for the base board IO expansion * I2C-EEPROM driver (for the on module EEPROM, on the ConnectCore 9P) 2.4 Additional features: * Application to update the flash partitions from a running Linux image * Application to read/write system configuration parameters, on the NVRAM memory 2.5 Enhanced U-Boot-1.1.4 bootloader, supporting following features: * Boot from flash, Ethernet and USB, with customized boot commands (dboot) * New command for Flash partitioning (flpart) * Enhanced storage of NVRAM parameters, supporting redundant information in flash * Splash screen support * Configuration extensions for better/easier bootloader customization 2.6 Detailed Software/Hardware documentation * Users Guide (for command line and for Digi ESP users) * Building Your First Application Guide * U-Boot reference manual * Cheat sheets to easily learn how to carry out common development tasks * Hardware documentation 3. Digi ESP --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.1 What is it? Digi ESP is a development suite based on Eclipse 3.1.2 and CDT 3.0.2 open source projects. * Shortens the learning curve. * Aids on developing and navigating through source code. * Eases the debugging experience. * Integrates typical cross-development operations. * Accelerates time-to-market. 3.2 Highlights * Multiple development layouts, to optimize the different development phases. The perspectives provide additional views, menus and toolbars to help completing different tasks. o Digi EL development perspective for code development, configuration and build. o Debug perspective for source code debugging. - Source code view. - Debug view (displays threads, thread status and stack frames). - GDB console. - Extended debug views (variables, breakpoints, processor registers). - Disassembly view. - Remote console view (application standard I/O over Ethernet). - Memory view. o Target Monitor perspective (for target operations). - Remote explorer view (explore the target file system, transfer files between target and host, and view files in the source view editor). - Serial and telnet console views. - Register inspector view (monitor and edit internal SOC registers). * Project oriented workbench. o Different projects can be displayed. o Projects are modular (can have one or more elements of the target's system). * Easy to use Project Wizards that simplify the project creation process. o System software (kernel, bootloader, root file system and kernel modules). o C and C++ applications (through managed make projects), avoiding the use of complex Makefiles. o C and C++ static/dynamic libraries (through managed make projects). * Graphic Project Configuration assistants, which facilitate the customization of the project modules. o Kernel o Root file system o Boot loader * Extensive help and cheat sheets. o Digi ESP embedded help in HTML format. o Cheat sheets, describing through interactive tutorials how to perform common development operations. * Additional tools. o Update flash to easily program, through a graphic tool, the target flash memory with the results of the build process. o Target remote reset. o Target Administrator, to easily configure the embedded target device used during the development session. o Remote target inspector, to monitor different target parameters like running processes (the environment lets you send them signals), available memory, system interrupts, etc. 4. Live DVD ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The bootable stand-alone Live DVD is a new way to quickly evaluate Digi Embedded Linux without the need to install any software or Linux distribution in your machine. Boot your computer with the Live DVD and you will be able to experiment, explore and develop within minutes after booting! * Kubuntu based distribution. * RAM based file system. * Support for external storage media and network file systems. * Includes all the software tools required for cross-development. Additionally, the Live DVD lets you install a complete Kubuntu Linux distribution in your host computer allowing you to create an efficient and reliable development system for working with Digi embedded platforms. 5. Known Issues and Limitations ------------------------------------------------------------------------- * libstdc++5 is required to cross-compile qtopia applications with the new tools included (qmake, moc, rcc, uic). Name of the packages including that version of the library: deb: libstdc++5 rpm: compat-libstdc++ * OpenNTPD package is mainly a Network Time Protocol client. Using it as NTP server is not reliable. It can take a lot of time for the server to provide correct time values. * Some USB memory sticks do not support booting from U-boot. This will be addressed in a future version of U-boot. * The wireless stack doesn't support roaming (moving to different AP of the same SSID depending on the signal strength) * Manual changes to /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf are deleted after executing wpa_cli save_config. * The project wizard script "mkproject.sh" does not support project folder names with spaces. * "vi" command inside Digi ESP Serial/Telnet console doesn't work correctly. * Digi ESP Man Page view needs libstdc++5 and Mozilla, instead of Firefox, to work correctly. Go to http://www.eclipse.org/swt/faq.php#browserlinux to see how to overcome this problem. * If you have installed Firefox, instead of Mozilla, the Digi ESP embedded web browser could not work correctly. Go to http://www.eclipse.org/swt/faq.php#browserlinux to see how to overcome this problem. 6. Where to start ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow the instruction on Building Your First Application. This guide introduces you to quickly creating and running an application in the target platform using the Digi ESP environment. Building your first application is accessible from an icon in the desktop after installing the Digi Embedded Linux software. Users interested on the command line interface can start with the Users Guide for Command Line Tools. This guide is accessible from the Docs direct access on your desktop after installing Digi Embedded Linux software. 7. Support Contact Information ------------------------------------------------------------------------- For support questions about using Digi Embedded Linux with Digi development kits, please contact: Digi Technical Support Web based Support: http://www.digi.com/support/eservice/login.jsp Support Web site: http://www.digi.com/support/index.jsp Support forum: http://www.digi.com/support/forum/ Have fun!