Compiling Linux Kernel 4.9.124

This article illustrates how to generate a bootable Linux Kernel image for RoadRunner D2, Acqua A5, Aria G25, Arietta G25 and FOX G20 boards

Notes, info, changelog, sources and links related to this version

This procedure has been tested on Linux Ubuntu version 18.04
The latest Linux Kernel version we tried writing this article is 4.9.124
It is advisable to have a Debug Port Interface or similar during the kernel bootstrap
Before following this step by step procedure install these packages

Step-by-step Kernel cross-compilation procedure:

Open a terminal on your Linux PC and download the Linux Kernel sources:

wget https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/linux-4.9.124.tar.xz

Extract the Kernel sources from the compressed file by typing:

tar xvfJ linux-4.9.124.tar.xz

Move inside the just created new folder:

cd linux-4.9.124

At this point I suggest to create a your own personal branch of Linux Kernel sources with git to keep a trace of any changes from the Kernel mainline using these commands.

git init; git add .; git commit -m "Linux vanilla"; git branch acme; git checkout acme

Download the Acme Systems patch for this Kernel version. It add just the Acme boards defconfig, device trees and small fewbug fixes:

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AcmeSystems/acmepatches/master/linux-4.9.patch

and apply it by typing:

patch -p1 < linux-4.9.patch

Then select from the following list the right Linux configuration for your board by typing one of these commands:

make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabihf- acme-roadrunner_defconfig
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabihf- acme-acqua_defconfig
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabi- acme-arietta_defconfig
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabi- acme-xterm-01_defconfig
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabi- acme-aria_defconfig
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabi- acme-foxg20_defconfig

Customize the default Linux Kernel configuration:

If you need to customize the Kernel configuration or you just want to take a look around the Kernel setup type:

make ARCH=arm menuconfig

and navigate inside the Kernel configuration using the arrow keys and following the help provided by the menuconfig interface.

Create a defconfig of your own Kernel configuration

make ARCH=arm savedefconfig

The file defconfig contains your configuration. You could rename and copy it in arch/arm/configs/

cp defconfig arch/arm/configs/myboard_defconfig

Generate the Device Tree Blob file (.dtb)

Now compile the device tree file requested by your board by selecting the right command from the following list:

make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabihf- acme-roadrunner-bertad2.dtb
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabihf- acme-acqua.dtb
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabi- acme-arietta.dtb
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabi- acme-xterm-01.dtb
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabi- acme-aria.dtb
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabi- acme-foxg20.dtb

Compile the Kernel image

Compile the Linux Kernel sources and generate the binary compressed image file to save in the first partition of microSD card.

Roadrunner, Acqua

make -j8 ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabihf- zImage
...
Image arch/arm/boot/zImage is ready

Aria, Arietta, Fox Board G25

make -j8 ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabi- zImage
...
Image arch/arm/boot/zImage is ready

Compile the Kernel modules

The image generated contains the Linux Kernel and all the built-in device drivers (option [*] in menuconfig) compiled with it.

Al the drivers compiled as external modules (option [M] in menuconfig) need to be compiled and saved in the rootfs /lib directory on the second partition of the microSD. We didn't use any [M] flag in our defconfig so this procedure is not requested but. in case you add something. these are the commands to use to compile them:

Roadrunner, Acqua

make modules -j8 ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabihf-
make modules_install INSTALL_MOD_PATH=./modules ARCH=arm

Aria, Arietta, Fox Board G25

make modules -j8 ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabi-
make modules_install INSTALL_MOD_PATH=./modules ARCH=arm

Copy the boot files into the first microSD partition

Insert a microSD formatted microSD with the boot loader and the rootfs contents already created in your Linux PC and copy on it the files directly:

Write the Linux Kernel image, the Device tree blog files in the first microSD partition and uncompress the modules in /modules/lib directory inside the second microSD partition:

RoadRunner on Berta D2 board

cp arch/arm/boot/dts/acme-roadrunner-bertad2.dtb /media/$USER/BOOT/acme-roadrunner.dtb
cp arch/arm/boot/zImage /media/$USER/BOOT
sudo rsync -avc modules/lib/. /media/$USER/rootfs/lib/.

Acqua A5

cp arch/arm/boot/dts/acme-acqua.dtb /media/$USER/BOOT/at91-sama5d3_acqua.dtb
cp arch/arm/boot/zImage /media/$USER/BOOT
sudo rsync -avc modules/lib/. /media/$USER/rootfs/lib/.

Arietta G25

cp arch/arm/boot/dts/acme-arietta.dtb /media/$USER/BOOT/acme-arietta.dtb
cp arch/arm/boot/zImage /media/$USER/BOOT
sudo rsync -avc modules/lib/. /media/$USER/rootfs/lib/.

Arietta G25 on XTERM-01 board

cp arch/arm/boot/dts/acme-xterm-01.dtb /media/$USER/BOOT/acme-arietta.dtb
cp arch/arm/boot/zImage /media/$USER/BOOT
sudo rsync -avc modules/lib/. /media/$USER/rootfs/lib/.

Aria G25

cp arch/arm/boot/dts/acme-aria.dtb /media/$USER/BOOT/at91-ariag25.dtb
cp arch/arm/boot/zImage /media/$USER/BOOT
sudo rsync -avc modules/lib/. /media/$USER/rootfs/lib/.

FOX Board G20

cat arch/arm/boot/zImage arch/arm/boot/dts/acme-foxg20.dtb > /media/$USER/BOOT/uImage
sudo rsync -avc modules/lib/. /media/$USER/rootfs/lib/.

Remote writing via ssh

Use this method if you have a working board accessible via LAN, WiFi or USB

Write the Linux Kernel image, the Device tree blog files in the first microSD partition and uncompress the modules in /modules/lib directory inside the second microSD partition:

RoadRunner on Berta D2 board

scp arch/arm/boot/dts/acme-roadrunner-bertad2.dtb root@[ip_address]:/boot/acme-roadrunner.dtb   
scp arch/arm/boot/zImage root@[ip_address]:/boot
rsync -avc modules/lib/. root@[ip_address]:/lib/.

Acqua A5

scp arch/arm/boot/dts/acme-acqua.dtb root@[ip_address]:/boot/at91-sama5d3_acqua.dtb
scp arch/arm/boot/zImage root@[ip_address]:/boot
rsync -avc modules/lib/. root@[ip_address]:/lib/.

Arietta G25

scp arch/arm/boot/dts/acme-arietta.dtb root@192.168.10.10:/boot/acme-arietta.dtb
scp arch/arm/boot/zImage root@192.168.10.10:/boot
rsync -avc modules/lib/. root@192.168.10.10:/lib/.

Arietta G25 with XTERM-01

scp arch/arm/boot/dts/acme-xterm-01.dtb root@192.168.10.10:/boot/acme-arietta.dtb
scp arch/arm/boot/zImage root@192.168.10.10:/boot
rsync -avc modules/lib/. root@192.168.10.10:/lib/.

Aria G25

scp arch/arm/boot/dts/acme-aria.dtb root@[ip_address]:/boot/at91-ariag25.dtb
scp arch/arm/boot/zImage root@[ip_address]:/boot
rsync -avc modules/lib/. root@[ip_address]:/lib/.

FOX Board G20

cat arch/arm/boot/zImage arch/arm/boot/dts/acme-foxg20.dtb > uImage
scp uImage root@[ip_address]:/boot
rsync -avc modules/lib/. root@[ip_address]:/lib/.

If this command doesn't work verify if rsync in installed on your board. Use apt-get install rsync.

After the first boot

At the first access to the board command line update the module dependencies by typing this command:

depmod -a

Links

Sergio Tanzilli
Systems designer, webmaster of www.acmesystems.it and founder of Acme Systems srl

Personal email: tanzilli@acmesystems.it
Web pages: https://www.acmesystems.it --- https://www.acmestudio.it
Github repositories: https://github.com/tanzilli --- https://github.com/acmesystems
Telegram group dedicated to the Acme Systems boards: https://t.me/acmesystemssrl