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Hackaday · FPGACurated

Linux on a DE0-Nano FPGA

Summary

Hackaday follows a detailed guide that brings together uClinux, a soft-core processor and custom LED hardware on the DE0-Nano. The DE0-Nano cost about 80 to 100 US dollars at the time. The guide used Fedora 14 as the build system.

Ideas

  • An FPGA implements the required processor as configurable logic.
  • A cross toolchain produces the kernel and userland for the target.
  • uClinux works without a classic memory management unit.
  • Custom FPGA pins become controllable through Linux drivers.

Insights

  • Hardware and operating system can be designed together as one system.
  • A missing MMU changes security and process assumptions considerably.
  • A visible LED example checks the whole chain from driver to pin.

Facts

  • The board had no Ethernet.

Recommendations

  • Version the FPGA bitstream and kernel configuration together.
  • Plan an independent serial console for boot errors.

References

Read the original article

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