4. Porting Linux to Custom Hardware

This Academy module focuses on Porting Linux to a custom platform. This content extends what was done in the Developing Linux module.

To boot Linux, these components are needed: working hardware, U-Boot, Kernel, DTB, and Root File System. Before Linux can boot, U-Boot must run successfully on working hardware to get to the Linux kernel. It is responsible for loading the kernel and DTB and passes kernel parameters which typically indicate which interface contains the root file system.

The TI Processor SDK Linux package provides U-Boot and Linux (Base Port) running on TI EVMs. This can be used as the starting point for custom boards. The following sections illustrate how to modify the Base Port based on the custom board peripheral set and kernel requirements to port U-Boot and Linux to a custom platform.