ARM running Linux talking easily with a Xilinx FPGA

Unless your embedded application happens to be a router, there’s some application-dependent electronics you need to talk with. If some SoC device covers your needs, that’s always nice, but what about that specific piece of electronics? And what if your application includes a part that needs to be run on an FPGA? Making a processor [...]

The FPGA+ARM Armadeus APF51 board: Setup notes

Scope I got myself an Armadeus APF51 board for some work combining a fullblown ARM processor running embedded Linux with a recent Xilinx FPGA. I wrote down some setup notes for possibly future need while setting it up for work, and they are below. There is not really something undocumented here, but it’s more convenient [...]

Capture data at 250 MBytes/sec with Linux on Microblaze

The problem The Xilinx Microblaze soft processor, which is implemented on the FPGA’s logic fabric, is indeed a stable and fully capable processor, but its rather low clock frequency — 70-100 MHz on a Spartan-6 — makes it a problematic candidate for data capture and frame grabbing. When running Linux on Microblaze, the current kernel [...]

Download a Linux distribution for Xilinx’ Microblaze

If you want to get to it, just go to the Xillybus mini-distro for Microblaze’s page. This distribution is a software kit, which allows you to run a functional Linux system on the SP605 or ML605 hardware evaluation kit (for Spartan-6 and Virtex-6, respectively). All components necessary to build it will be available for download [...]

Gnome: Using your own alert sound

As usual with those fancy Gnome themes (as came with Fedora 12 in my case), the basic assumption is that you’re a not-so-clever user, so not too many choices should be left for you. So pick one of those premade alert sounds. Picking your own sound file? Noooo. That’s way too much freedom for a [...]

Random notes about git

Merely for myself, so I’ll remember how to do it. If I’m doing stupid things, please comment below. Rule #1 If you’re about to do anything with git being unsure about the consequences, always protect yourself with $ git branch bettersafe $ git commit -a $ git checkout whatever Assuming that you want to mess [...]

Linux on Microblaze HOWTO (part IV)

This is part IV of my HOWTO on running Linux on Microblaze. The outline is as follows: Part I: Introduction and setting up the Microblaze processor Part II: Compiling the kernel Part III: Preparing for boot and booting Part IV: Compiling user space applications (this page) Compiling user space applications We shall now look at [...]

Running a VoIP phone adapter through a Linux machine

The setting I got an AudioCodes MP202B as a phone line adapter from my Israeli ISP, Netvision. The normal way to connect it is putting it between the computer and the ADSL modem, so it does the “dialing” (sending username and password). This was a no-no for me, because I have a little home network [...]

Fedora 15 (x86_64) LiveUSB notes to self

Making a custom ISO image. It turns out it’s no so difficult to make a custom LiveCD / LiveDVD / LiveUSB, even if that includes making small hacks in the target system’s outline. Just follow this guide. Creating the liveUSB Create a liveUSB from a liveDVD image with liveusb-creator. Download the ISO image, don’t let [...]

A udev rule for my USB stick (disk-on-key)

Introduction I use USB flash sticks for backing up my system periodically by creating an image of the filesystem, and raw-writing it directly to e.g. /dev/sdd1. It’s just a matter of time before I wipe my hard disk by selecting the wrong /dev/something. Or just some other USB stick that happened to be plugged in. [...]