Embedded Linux: Building a System from the Ground Up Training Course

Buildroot is an open-source initiative featuring scripts designed to create a cross-compilation toolchain, a tailored root filesystem image, and a Linux kernel suitable for embedded devices. In this hands-on session, attendees will acquire the skills to:

• Select software components for inclusion in the root filesystem.
• Integrate new packages and modify existing ones.
• Extend support for additional embedded boards.

Participants will generate bootable filesystem images throughout the course. For remote learning, the QEMU emulator is utilized, whereas in-person classes allow the use of either QEMU or real embedded boards selected by the instructor.

Other projects with comparable objectives include the Yocto Project and OpenWRT. Please refer to these presentations to help determine the most suitable option for your requirements.

Course Objectives

This course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the core principles of embedded GNU/Linux, illustrating how its various components interconnect. It covers the essential elements required to construct an embedded GNU/Linux environment, including sourcing, configuring, building, and installing these components. Participants will also learn where to seek assistance and gain clarity on software licensing. Through practical, hands-on exercises, you will acquire the necessary experience to independently develop your own embedded GNU/Linux systems upon successful completion.

Description

This five-day training programme combines instructor-led teaching with practical exercises to effectively demonstrate embedded GNU/Linux concepts. It is designed to rapidly accelerate your proficiency. The course explores the philosophy, fundamental concepts, and essential commands for utilising GNU/Linux effectively, blending theoretical knowledge with practical, job-oriented training.

Instead of reinventing the wheel, learn from an experienced trainer and take away a working knowledge of GNU/Linux, empowering you to utilise it effectively in your own embedded development projects.

Who should attend?

This course is ideal for managers, project managers, software engineers, hardware engineers, developers, systems engineers, testers, administrators, technicians, and other professionals interested in the technology who wish to quickly grasp how Embedded GNU/Linux operates. It is suitable for those who currently use or are considering using GNU/Linux, or those who want to evaluate whether it is a viable, potentially more cost-effective alternative to their current operating system. It is also perfect for those who have attempted to use Embedded GNU/Linux but are unsure if they have followed best practices.

Delivery Options

All training materials are provided in English. However, the presentation can be delivered in either English or German, depending on your preference, and is available worldwide.

• On-site - Instructor-led
• Online - Instructor-led
• Blended (On-site/Online) - Instructor-led

This two-day course comprises approximately 60% practical labs, concentrating on Embedded Linux kernel internals, architecture, development, and exploring methods to create and integrate various types of device drivers.

Who should attend?

Engineers interested in Linux kernel development on embedded systems and platforms.

This two-day course covers the fundamental principles of building Embedded Linux systems. Approximately 60% of the course time is dedicated to practical, hands-on implementation for real-world applications, utilizing the same standards and tools employed in the industry.

An embedded system refers to a computer system designed for a specific function within a larger mechanical or electrical apparatus, typically operating under real-time computing constraints.

Description

This intensive 5-day training programme blends hands-on exercises with expert instruction to illustrate the core concepts of GNU/Linux kernel internals and device driver development. The course is structured to rapidly accelerate your competency. Through a mix of theoretical foundations and practical application, we cover the essential processes, concepts, and commands required to write effective GNU/Linux device drivers.

There is no need to start from scratch. Benefit from the guidance of an experienced trainer to gain practical knowledge and the ability to effectively apply it within your own embedded development projects.

Who should attend?

This course is ideal for individuals interested in or responsible for developing or evaluating GNU/Linux device drivers, including software engineers, field engineers, project managers, and hardware engineers.

The LEDE Project (Linux Embedded Development Environment) is a Linux-based operating system derived from OpenWrt. It serves as a comprehensive alternative to the proprietary firmware typically supplied by manufacturers for a broad spectrum of wireless routers and non-network devices.

In this instructor-led live training, participants will gain the skills needed to configure a LEDE-based wireless router.

Target Audience

• Network administrators and technicians

Course Format

• A blend of lectures, discussions, practical exercises, and extensive hands-on practice

This instructor-led, live training in Malaysia (online or onsite) is aimed at engineers who wish to implement NetApp ONTAP.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Set up and administer ONTAP 9.3 Cluster (3 days).
• Safeguard data through Data Protection technologies (2 days).

In this instructor-led live training in Malaysia, participants will learn how to establish a build system for embedded Linux based on the Yocto Project.

Upon completing this training, participants will be able to:

• Grasp the fundamental concepts of a Yocto Project build system, including recipes, metadata, and layers.
• Construct a Linux image and execute it via emulation.
• Streamline the process of building embedded Linux systems to save time and effort.

Description

This four-day training blends theoretical knowledge with practical exercises to introduce participants to the Yocto Project.
It addresses common queries such as:

• Is it truly necessary to maintain a separate toolchain, library, or package version for every GNU/Linux project, along with a distinct workflow?
• Can you guarantee that the development environment remains consistent across all developers and suppliers, enabling identical builds to be produced consistently over the next decade and beyond?
• Can the YP assist in identifying the software licenses governing the packages you utilize?

Practical sessions are conducted on target hardware (e.g., Beagle Bone Black Rev. C - http://beagleboard.org/BLACK). Upon completion of the training, you will receive a Docker image containing Ubuntu 14.x with all necessary dependencies pre-installed, along with course examples, allowing you to practice the material in your own lab environments. Please note that this course is not an introduction to Embedded GNU/Linux. Participants should already possess a solid understanding of Embedded GNU/Linux, including how to configure and build the GNU/Linux kernel and its drivers.

Who should attend?

This workshop is ideal for those who already use GNU/Linux in their projects and have heard of the Yocto Project but hesitated to explore it further or found it challenging to implement. If you are unsure how your daily workflow aligns with the YP and generally find the YP complex, wondering why additional complexity is needed when things worked before, this training will help you decide whether the YP is right for you. The workshop is designed for software engineers, development engineers, system engineers, testers, administrators, and other stakeholders interested in the YP, provided they have a strong foundation in Embedded GNU/Linux.