Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

From Embedded Xinu
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Link to mipsel-qemu)
(71 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
== About Embedded XINU ==
+
'''Embedded Xinu''' is an ongoing research and implementation project in the area of Operating Systems and Embedded Systems.  Its original goal was to re-implement and port the [[Xinu|Xinu Operating System]] to several embedded MIPS platforms, such as the Linksys [[WRT54GL]] router.  Since then, Embedded Xinu has been ported to other platforms, such as the [[mipsel-qemu|QEMU MIPSel virtual environment]] and the [[Raspberry Pi]]; see the [[list of supported platforms]].  Although Embedded Xinu is still being developed and ported to new platforms, a laboratory environment and curriculum materials are already in use for courses in Operating Systems, Hardware Systems, Embedded Systems, Networking, and Compilers at Marquette University and other colleges/universities.
  
Embedded XINU is an ongoing research and implementation project in the area of Operating Systems and Embedded Systems.  Its goal is to port the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XINU XINU Operating System] to the MIPS platform by specifically targeting LinkSys WRT54GL routers.  While this project is still in progress, our prototype laboratory environment is already being used as the platform for courses
+
The Embedded Xinu project was conceived and is supervised by [http://www.mscs.mu.edu/~brylow/ Dr. Dennis Brylow] and is being conducted by both graduate and undergraduate students in the [[Systems Laboratory]] in the [http://www.mscs.mu.edu/ Math, Statistics, & Computer Science] department of [http://www.mu.edu/ Marquette University] in Milwaukee, WisconsinThe first major phase of work on Embedded Xinu began in the Summer of 2006.
in Operating Systems, Hardware Systems, Embedded Systems, and CompilersWe're also working on support for Networking and Internetworking classes.
 
  
The Embedded XINU project was conceived and is supervised by [http://www.mscs.mu.edu/~brylow/ Dr. Dennis Brylow] and is being conducted by both graduate and undergraduate students in the [http://www.mscs.mu.edu/ Math, Statistics, & Computer Science] department of [http://www.mu.edu/ Marquette University] in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The first major phase of work on Embedded XINU began in the Summer of 2006.
+
Our project partners include [http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~bina/ Dr. Bina Ramamurthy] at University of Buffalo (with whom we shared an [http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09529/nsf09529.html NSF CCLI] grant), [http://cs.olemiss.edu/~ruth/wiki/doku.php Dr. Paul Ruth] at University of Mississippi, and [http://www.cs.purdue.edu/people/comer Dr. Doug Comer] (father of Xinu) at Purdue University.
  
== Guides to Replicate Our Work ==
+
== Teaching With Embedded Xinu ==
  
In this section we are developing instructions so that other groups can benefit from the work we are doing. These guides can be followed more or less in order to create a relatively inexpensive platform for a custom operating system.  As our work develops further, there will be more XINU-specific information.
+
* For curriculum guidance on adopting or adapting Embedded Xinu for undergraduate coursework, see [[Teaching With Xinu]].
 +
* Workshops have been held regarding teaching with Embedded Xinu.  For example, the [http://www.cs.olemiss.edu/acmse2010/pdf/xinu.pdf Teaching With Embedded Xinu Workshop] at [http://www.cs.olemiss.edu/acmse2010/Home.htm ACMSE 2010] in Oxford, Mississippi (Ole Miss campus) shared ready-made curriculum resources that have been used successfully to teach hardware systems, operating systems, realtime/embedded systems, networking, and compilers with the Embedded Xinu platform at several colleges/universities.
  
# [[HOWTO:Install OpenWRT|Install OpenWRT]]
+
== Building an Embedded Xinu Laboratory ==
# [[HOWTO:Modify the Linksys hardware|Modify the Linksys hardware]]
+
 
 +
In this section we are developing instructions so that other groups can benefit from the work we are doing.  These guides can be followed more or less in order to create a relatively inexpensive platform for a custom operating system.  As our work develops further, there will be more Xinu-specific information.
 +
 
 +
# Obtain a [[List of supported platforms|supported platform]].
 +
# [[HOWTO:Modify the Linksys hardware|Modify the Linksys hardware]] or [[HOWTO:Modify the ASUS hardware|Modify the ASUS hardware]]
 
# [[HOWTO:Connect to a modified router|Connect to a modified router]]
 
# [[HOWTO:Connect to a modified router|Connect to a modified router]]
# [[HOWTO:Run your own code|Run your own code]]
+
# [[HOWTO:Build Xinu|Build Xinu]]
# [[HOWTO:Build Backend Pool|Build a pool of backends]]
+
# [[HOWTO:Deploy Xinu|Deploy Xinu]]
 +
# (Optional) [[HOWTO:Build Backend Pool|Build a pool of backends]]
 +
# (Recommended) [[HOWTO:Backup your router|Backup your router's factory configuration]]
  
== Internal Documentation ==
+
== Other Embedded Xinu Information ==
After this point is our "scratchpad" of information collected mostly during Summer 2006 as research and experimentation was done.  It is possible that there is more detailed information here on a few topics, but it is less organized and not as ready for public consumption.
 
  
=== Project Outline ===
+
* MIPS [[processor]]
* Goals
+
* Main [[memory]]
# '''Infect''' WRT54GL Routers with a XINU kernel
+
* [[Exception and Interrupt Handling]]
# '''Develop''' XINU to a point where it can '''control''' the router's basic functions
+
* [[UART driver]]
# '''Use''' this platform for a course in '''embedded systems''' and/or '''networking'''
+
* [[TTY driver]]
* Hardware (Mod that LinkSys!)
+
* [[Switch driver]]
** [[Why we add serial ports|'''Why''' we add serial ports]]
+
* [[Networking]]
** '''How''' we add serial ports
+
* [[Flash memory]]
*** [[Pictures]] of building
+
* [[Flashing firmware]]
*** [[Wiring|Wiring Diagrams]]
+
* [[EJTAG|Enhanced Joint Test Action Group]] debugger
*** [[Chips|Chip Diagrams]]
+
* [[Standard library]]
* Software
+
* [[XinuPhone]] Internet telephony
** [[How to connect]] to a modified router
+
* [[Router Recovery]] aka "Debricking"
** Our Project's [[Directory Structure]]
+
* [[Development]]
** And then there was light: the [[Common Firmware Environment]]
+
* [[Contributors]]
*** Interacting with the [[CFE Command Line Interface]]
 
*** Fun freebies in the [[CFE API]]
 
*** How code can [[Interface with CFE]]
 
** [[OpenWRT]] (When all else fails, steal it from Linux!)
 
*** Important [[OpenWRT places of interest]]
 
** [[XINU]] (an O/S of our own)
 
  
=== More Research ===
+
----
* TODO: (concrete tasks)
 
** XINU Tasks
 
*** Complete wired NIC driver.
 
*** Start on wireless NIC driver and "RoboSwitch".
 
*** Integrate XINU TCP/IP stack.
 
* TOTHINK: (abstract goals and wishlists)
 
** Learn more about the [[memory structure]] and underlying hardware.
 
** How should the loader discover hardware parameters if CFE does not implement device enumeration?
 
** How do we safely access flash memory without bricking the router?
 
  
== Useful Links ==
+
<small><small><small>The Xinu Lab is brought to you in part by [[XMMS|M&M's]].</small></small></small>
* http://www.openwrt.org
+
<!--
* http://linux.junsun.net/porting-howto/ - Linux MIPS Porting Guide
+
-->__NOTOC__<!-- Disable "Contents" box from showing --><!--
* http://www.version6.net/gallery/WRT54GL - WRT54GL Internals Pics Gallery
+
-->__NOEDITSECTION__<!-- Disable [edit] from appearing --><!--
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRT54G - WRT54G Wiki
+
-->
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIPS_architecture - MIPS Architecture
 
* http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/enterprise/RHEL-4-Manual/gnu-linker/ - How To Write Linker Scripts
 
* http://www.embedded.com/shared/printableArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=0LLEHS3YT5KWUQSNDBCSKHSCJUMEIJVN?articleID=9900048 - Linux Porting Guide
 
* http://courses.cs.vt.edu/~cs2504/spring2006/MIPSDocs/MD00090-2B-MIPS32PRA-AFP-02.50.pdf - MIPS32 Architecture For Programmers
 

Revision as of 02:55, 12 September 2013

Embedded Xinu is an ongoing research and implementation project in the area of Operating Systems and Embedded Systems. Its original goal was to re-implement and port the Xinu Operating System to several embedded MIPS platforms, such as the Linksys WRT54GL router. Since then, Embedded Xinu has been ported to other platforms, such as the QEMU MIPSel virtual environment and the Raspberry Pi; see the list of supported platforms. Although Embedded Xinu is still being developed and ported to new platforms, a laboratory environment and curriculum materials are already in use for courses in Operating Systems, Hardware Systems, Embedded Systems, Networking, and Compilers at Marquette University and other colleges/universities.

The Embedded Xinu project was conceived and is supervised by Dr. Dennis Brylow and is being conducted by both graduate and undergraduate students in the Systems Laboratory in the Math, Statistics, & Computer Science department of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The first major phase of work on Embedded Xinu began in the Summer of 2006.

Our project partners include Dr. Bina Ramamurthy at University of Buffalo (with whom we shared an NSF CCLI grant), Dr. Paul Ruth at University of Mississippi, and Dr. Doug Comer (father of Xinu) at Purdue University.

Teaching With Embedded Xinu

  • For curriculum guidance on adopting or adapting Embedded Xinu for undergraduate coursework, see Teaching With Xinu.
  • Workshops have been held regarding teaching with Embedded Xinu. For example, the Teaching With Embedded Xinu Workshop at ACMSE 2010 in Oxford, Mississippi (Ole Miss campus) shared ready-made curriculum resources that have been used successfully to teach hardware systems, operating systems, realtime/embedded systems, networking, and compilers with the Embedded Xinu platform at several colleges/universities.

Building an Embedded Xinu Laboratory

In this section we are developing instructions so that other groups can benefit from the work we are doing. These guides can be followed more or less in order to create a relatively inexpensive platform for a custom operating system. As our work develops further, there will be more Xinu-specific information.

  1. Obtain a supported platform.
  2. Modify the Linksys hardware or Modify the ASUS hardware
  3. Connect to a modified router
  4. Build Xinu
  5. Deploy Xinu
  6. (Optional) Build a pool of backends
  7. (Recommended) Backup your router's factory configuration

Other Embedded Xinu Information


The Xinu Lab is brought to you in part by M&M's.