Software & Tools

Embedded Linux for ARC® Processors

Open Source Embedded Linux Distributions for ARC Processors

Linux is an open source operating system that has been ported to most major processor architectures, including ARC processors. Linux is supported by a large development community of engineers contributing back into the open source project. Embedded Linux allows developers to innovate and to offer cost-effective solutions for embedded systems. It is easy to deploy for a wide variety of applications that require a full-featured operating systems environment.

Because of the importance of open source software in embedded systems development, ARC invests in open source projects, such as Embedded Linux and GNU tools, on ARC processors. ARC ensures there is up-to-date open source Linux support for its ARC 600 and ARC 700 processors by continuously updating and optimizing Embedded Linux distributions for ARC processors.

ARC Linux

ARC Linux offers all of the benefits of open source software, including, zero licensing fees, complete source code and a large install base. ARC Linux allows ARC software developers to leverage a large amount of Linux-compatible application software to quickly build complex systems using open source components.

ARC Linux distributions include embedded Linux distributions of the Linux 2.4 and Linux 2.6 kernels that run on ARC 750D processor configurations that include the memory management unit (MMU). ARC also provides distributions of µClinux that run on ARC 600 processors and configurations of ARC 700 that do not use the MMU.

ARC Linux distributions are integrated, built and tested with ARC GNU tools. ARC GNU Tools are provided in source packages than can be built to run on Linux, Solaris and Windows host platforms (running on Windows requires using a Cygwin environment). ARC GNU Tools are available for software developers using ARC configurable processor IP cores, ARC Multimedia Subsystems and for ARC-based® processors sold by ARC licensees.

Highlights

Robust operating system environment including a reliable multi-tasking capability
Licensed based on an open source model (GPL licensing) with no royalties
Allows developers to leverage a wide range of Linux compatible applications
Tested and verified on ARCangel™ 4 FPGA system using Linux Test Project (LTP) test suite
Used in ARC Video demonstrator

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ARC Linux 2.6

The Linux 2.6 kernel is the most recent major revision of the Linux kernel. It has many features that offer increased security and speed over versions of the 2.4 kernel. Linux 2.6 includes a preemptible kernel option, an improved scheduler, new synchronization primitives, I/O subsystem improvements and is merged with µClinux for non-MMU devices.

ARC Linux 2.6 is available for download from ARC’s Open Source Download page.

Highlights

Developed from standard Linux 2.6 kernel
- - Native POSIX Thread Library (NPTL)
- - Kernel preemption support
- - Dynamic module support
- - Kernel parameters support
- - O(1) scheduler
- - Dynamic kernel module support
- - Complete networking support including NFS
- - Boot-time kernel module support
Supports ARC 750D based processors that include MMU
- - Automatic detection of instruction cache and data cache configuration
- - Fast context switching using ARC700 MMU's multiple address spaces
- - Provides Ethernet, IDE and UART drivers for ARCangel 4 development system
- - Support for ARC SIMD, DMA and extensions
Ptrace support for GDB debugging
Compatible with ARC GCC 3.4.6 and 4.2 tools

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ARC Linux 2.4

The Linux 2.4 kernel was used for the original embedded Linux port to the ARC architecture. It is currently the most widely adopted version of Linux used on ARC processors and is also used in the ARC Video demo system that demonstrates the ARC Video media subsystem and video codecs running on a ARCangel 4 development system running Linux 2.4.

ARC Linux 2.4 is available for download from ARC’s Open Source Download page.

Highlights

Developed from standard Linux 2.4 kernel
Supports ARC 750D processors configured with MMU
Support for boot-time kernel parameters
Target uImage supported for booting through u-boot
Compatible with ARC GCC 3.4.6 and 4.2 tools
Multiple interrupt level support
ptrace support for GDB
Provides Ethernet, IDE, LCD, AC97 and UART drivers for ARCangel 4 development system
Support for ARC Video SIMD, DMA and extensions
Fast context switching using ARC700 MMU's multiple address spaces
Lazy TLB flushing for improved multi tasking performance

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ARC µClinux 2.4

µClinux was a fork of the Linux kernel for microcontrollers without a memory management unit (MMU). However, in version 2.6 of the Linux kernel the major parts of µClinux have been integrated with the main line kernel. µClinux is typically targeted at deeply embedded systems with very little memory or permanent storage. ARC maintains µClinux distributions that run on ARC 600 processors and ARC 700 processor that do not include an MMU.

Highlights

Developed from standard µClinux 2.4 kernel
ARC 600 processors and ARC 700 processor that do not include an MMU
ZFLAT(compressed flat file) support
Compatible with ARC GCC 3.4.6 tools
Provides Ethernet, IDE and UART drivers for ARCangel 4 development system

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Available Embedded Linux for ARC Processors

Embedded Linux distributions for ARC processors can be downloaded from the following locations:

ARC maintains and supports the latest ARC Linux distributions for ARC processor core and subsystems. ARC customers who have joined the ARC Open Source Software Progam can download distributions from the open source section of ARC Customer Support and Technical Reference Site:

More information on ARC Open Source Program

ARC's partner Codito also maintains independent versions of embedded Linux for ARC processors including previous versions of the ARC Linux and µClinux. These distributions can be accessed at:

http://www.arc-linux.org

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