4. Porting Linux to Custom Hardware#

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This Academy module focuses on porting Linux to a custom platform. This content extends what was done in the Develop Linux on TI EVM module.

These components are needed in order to port Linux to a custom platform:

  • working hardware

  • U-Boot

  • Kernel

  • device tree binary (DTB)

  • Root File System

The TI Processor SDK Linux package provides U-Boot and Linux running on TI EVMs. The provided U-Boot and Linux kernel are called the Base Port. The following sections illustrate how to port U-Boot and Linux to a custom platform by modifing the Base Port to match the custom board’s peripheral set and kernel requirements.

U-Boot should be ported first, since U-Boot must run successfully on working hardware in order for the Linux kernel to boot. Once the U-Boot minimum configuration and custom features have been brought up, then the Linux kernel porting can begin.