BSDCan2007 - Confirmed Schedule

BSDCan 2007
The Technical BSD Conference

Speakers
Rafal Jaworowski
Schedule
Day 4
Room SITE H0104
Start time 16:30
Duration 01:00
Info
ID 31
Event type Lecture
Track Embedded
Language English
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Embedding FreeBSD/powerpc

Notes on the journey to the embedded world

This paper covers recent development work to port FreeBSD to embedded PowerPC machine, with a particular example of Freescale MPC8555 communications processor.

Current FreeBSD/powerpc supports only Apple's PowerMacs (now getting legacy). This paper covers recent development work to port FreeBSD to embedded PowerPC machine, with a particular example of Freescale MPC8555 communications processor.

Challenges of porting an operating system to another architecture and platform are briefly explained. Highlights of current FreeBSD/powerpc state and its areas that are subject to change and adaptation are also presented.

The discussion covers key areas of the bring up: bootloader, locore kernel initialization, on-chip peripheral devices. Special attention is given to the virtual memory concepts, how the e500 core facilities were modelled, and their software counterparts designed and implemented in order to fit the established conventions and APIs.

A number of hints are given on the methodology used; a summary of problems identified along the way is presented, as well as details on on the prospective PowerPC variations to be supported in the future. Currently ongoing effort to integrate the port with the FreeBSD/powerpc source tree is also explained.