SEMICON Solutions

ARM Architecture
Linux on ARM Processor

11/07/2016
Agenda

 ARM Introduction
 ARM Core Architecture
 Embedded Linux overview
 Linux OS Architecture
ARM Introduction
ARM based system
 ARM core deeply
embedded within a
SoC
 Design has both
external and internal
memories
 Includes an interrupt
controller
 Includes Primecell
peripherals
 Elements connected
using AMBA
Cached Processor Terminology

 MPU - Memory Protection Unit

 Enforces memory access permissions

 Holds cacheable and bufferable attributes for memory

regions
 MMU - Memory Management Unit
 Has all the features of an MPU

 Also provide Virtual to Physical address translation

 Cache
 Fast local memory

 Holds copies of recently accessed memory locations

ARM Architecture profiles
 Application profile (ARMv7-A)
 Memory management support (MMU)
 Highest performance at low power
 Influenced by multi-tasking OS system requirements
 TrustZone and Jazelle-RCT for a safe, extensible system
 e.g. Cortex-A8
 Real-time profile (ARMv7-R)
 Protected memory (MPU)
 Low latency and predictability ‘real-time’ needs
 Evolutionary path for traditional embedded business
 e.g. Cortex-R4
 Microcontroller profile (ARMv7-M, ARMv6-M)
 Lowest gate count entry point
 Deterministic and predictable behavior a key priority
 Deeply embedded use
 e.g. Cortex-M3
Embedded system using Linux
Personal Router
Smart TV
Laser cutting machine
Hardware platform

 Evaluation platform from the SoC Vendor.Usually

expensive, but many peripherals are built-in
 Component on Module, a small board with only
CPU/RAM/flash and a few other core components.
 Community development platform, ready-to-use
and low cost, have less peripherals than evaluation
platforms.
 Custom platform. Schematics for evaluation
boards common freely available, used to develop
custom platforms
Tiny210 Core module
Raspberry Pi
Linux OS Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
 Hardware layer
Hardware consists of all peripheral devices (RAM, CPU, HDD,
etc).
 Kernel

Core component of OS, interact directly with hardware, provides

low level services to upper layer components.
 Shell

An interface to kernel, hiding complexity of kernel’s functions from

user.
Takes commands from user and executes kernel’s functions.
 Utilities

Utility programs giving user most of the functionalities of an

operating system.
Global architecture
Q&A