Embedded Linux Primer: A Practical Real-World Approach (Prentice Hall Open Source Software Development Series)

by Christopher Hallinan

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Product Description

Comprehensive Real-World Guidance for Every Embedded Developer and Engineer

This book brings together indispensable knowledge for building efficient, high-value, Linux-based embedded products: information that has never been assembled in one place before. Drawing on years of experience as an embedded Linux consultant and field application engineer, Christopher Hallinan offers solutions for the specific technical issues you’re most likely to face, demonstrates how to build an effective embedded Linux environment, and shows how to use it as productively as possible.

Hallinan begins by touring a typical Linux-based embedded system, introducing key concepts and components, and calling attention to differences between Linux and traditional embedded environments. Writing from the embedded developer’s viewpoint, he thoroughly addresses issues ranging from kernel building and initialization to bootloaders, device drivers to file systems.

Hallinan thoroughly covers the increasingly popular BusyBox utilities; presents a step-by-step walkthrough of porting Linux to custom boards; and introduces real-time configuration via CONFIG_RT--one of today’s most exciting developments in embedded Linux. You’ll find especially detailed coverage of using development tools to analyze and debug embedded systems--including the art of kernel debugging.

Compare leading embedded Linux processors
Understand the details of the Linux kernel initialization process
Learn about the special role of bootloaders in embedded Linux systems, with specific emphasis on U-Boot
Use embedded Linux file systems, including JFFS2--with detailed guidelines for building Flash-resident file system images
Understand the Memory Technology Devices subsystem for flash (and other) memory devices
Master gdb, KGDB, and hardware JTAG debugging
Learn many tips and techniques for debugging within the Linux kernel
Maximize your productivity in cross-development environments
Prepare your entire development environment, including TFTP, DHCP, and NFS target servers
Configure, build, and initialize BusyBox to support your unique requirements

About the Author

Christopher Hallinan, field applications engineer at MontaVista software, has worked for more than 20 years in assignments ranging from engineering and engineering management to marketing and business development. He spent four years as an independent development consultant in the embedded Linux marketplace. His work has appeared in magazines, including Telecommunications Magazine, Fiber Optics Magazine, and Aviation Digest.

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 5 out of 5 stars

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 stars

A great book on the subject, 2008-08-26
I confirm all that has been said.

It is the first source I have found that explains building the linux kernel in a way that makes it easy to understand. While you might be able to find this information on the net, this makes it easy to get an overall view of what is going on.

It is easy to read, and has great references. Well worth the price.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 stars

Really heapful, 2008-05-30
For those engineers who start their first embedded Linux project, this book is a must have. The book is not for those who want to understand how kernel runs but it gives you the most important concept and work flow to bring up the OS on your development board. The author also provides a useful further reading list in case you want to dig more. A very practical and clearly written book and I would recommend it to those who have solid experience in embedded development but just start to explore in Linux.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 stars

Very good book to study embedded Linux, 2008-03-09
This book, the CALAO SYSTEM USB-A9260 card, an eeePC and a cross over cable is all that you need to study embedded system everywhere (even along the Seine river in Paris - yes I did it !).
The chapters about the U-BOOT bootloader, the BUSYBOX embeded Linux and an extra piece of information on the JFFS2 file system are welcome. If the cross-development environment chapter had been about BUILDROOT, this book would have been THE BOOK for the present embedded Linux based systems designers.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 stars

Embedded Linux Review, 2008-03-02
This book is very well organized, and provides a good level of detail of the topic. I do recommend it.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent survey, 2007-09-28
I am an experienced embedded developer that just inherited an embedded Linux-based project already in progress. As there happens to be no one else at my company with any embedded Linux experience, I automatically became the de-facto Linux expert and I needed to come up to speed on a lot of topics very quickly. I found this book to be an excellent survey of the must-know topics for the embedded Linux developer. It also contains many references to the most definitive sources of information on the various topics. Highly recommended for coming up to speed on embedded Linux.

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