Video

Helio View Linaro linux Desktop.

Introduction

This reference design is Helio View to demonstrate the LXDE X11 interface running on the Macnica Helio View LCD module utilizing the Altera SoC.This project allows you to boot linux with the run X windows.

Development environment

• Linux Host OS
  • Ubuntu12.04
• Toolchain
  • Toolchain used a version gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-4.7-2013.04-20130415 of linaro.
• Custom Linux Kernel
  • This demo uses the thing which put an MAI_LCD driver to v3.10-LTSI of rocketboards.org kernel.
• Rootfs
  • Rootfs used a version trusty 14.04 of linaro.
• FPGA design
  • Using the BSP of HelioView.
  • DirectFB Graphics on Helio View LCD

Run the demo using the provided SD Card Image

Requirements

1. Helio View + Helio board
2. SD Card adapter
3. 4GB microSD Card
4. mini USB 2.0 B Male to A Female Adapter Converter OTG Cable
5. USB hub
6. USB keyboard and mouse

Prepare the SD Card Image

1. Download file that has been split (6 files:001-006)

helio_lxde_20140711.img.001 helio_lxde_20140711.img.002 helio_lxde_20140711.img.003

helio_lxde_20140711.img.004 helio_lxde_20140711.img.005 helio_lxde_20140711.img.006

2.Combine the six files by using a script file : marge.sh

$ . marge.sh

3. Extract the Linux SD card image

$ tar jxf helio_lxde_201400711.img.tar.bz2

4. Determine the device associated with the SD card on the host by running the following command before and after inserting the card in the reader:

$ cat /proc/partitions

5. Use the dd utility to write the SD image to the SD card:

$ sudo dd if=helio_lxde_201400711.img of=/dev/sdx bs=1M

x of /dev/sdx is Specify the device name of the SD card.

6. Use sync utility to flush the changes to the SD card:

$ sudo sync

Boot the system

1. Install the SD card in the Helio
2. Use a hub to connect a keyboard and mouse to the USB 2.0 OTG connector. You can purchase an adapter like this mini USB 2.0 B Male to A Female Adapter Converter OTG Cable
3. Connect the USB cable to your PC and UART connector
4. Use minicom or teraterm with the following settings (57,600 8 N 1 )
5. Power on the Helio
6. Wait about 30-60 seconds for it to boot to a command prompt
7. Type startx and then press enter at the prompt.

Build the Linux kernel

1. Build toolchain - only if you wish to build the kernel source and the device tree. Not necessary if you are using the provided uImage and dtb files.

$ wget https://launchpad.net/linaro-toolchain-binaries/trunk/2013.04/+download/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-4.7-2013.04-20130415_linux.tar.bz2
$ tar jxf gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-4.7-2013.04-20130415_linux.tar.bz2
$ export CROSS_COMPILE=~/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-4.7-2013.04-20130415_linux/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-

2. Custom Linux kernel – This demo used version 3.10-LTSI of the rocketboards.org kernel with modifications for the framebuffer

• MAI_LCD controller and Touchpanel for version 3.10-LTSI Patch file: mai_lcdc_tp.patch
• Version 3.10-LTSI config file: config_mai_tp
  

$ git clone http://git.rocketboards.org/linux-socfpga.git
$ cd linux-socfpga
$ git checkout -b <test_branch_name> altera/socfpga-3.10-ltsi

• Note: replace <test_branch_name>with the name of the branch you want to use locally.

$ patch –p1 < mai_lcdc_tp.patch
$ cp config_mai_tp .config
$ make ARCH=arm LOADADDR=0x8000 uImage
$ make ARCH=arm dtbs 

3. Copy DeviveTree File and kernel Image(uImage) on the SD card

Determine the device associated with the SD card on the host by running the following command before and after inserting the card in the reader:

$ cat /proc/partitions
$ sudo cp arch/arm/boot/uImage /dev/sdx1/.
$ sudo cp arch/arm/boot/dts/socfpga_cyclone5.dtb /dev/sdx1/socfpga.dtb

Get the Linaro Ubuntu Nano image

1. Latest images are here: http://releases.linaro.org/14.04/ubuntu/saucy-images/nano
2. Untar the tar.gz file. A binary folder will contain the contents of the roofs.
3. Copy linaro rootfs on the SD card

Determine the device associated with the SD card on the host by running the following command before and after inserting the card in the reader:

$ cat /proc/partitions
$ sudo tar zxf  linaro-saucy-nano-20140410-652.tar.gz -C /dev/sdx2/
$ cd /dev/sdx2/binary
$ sudo mv * ../.
$ cd ../
$ sudo rm –rf bunary
$ sudo sync

Supplementary information about network environment.

If you connect to the Internet, the following settings are required if your network environment is fixed IP.

This is not required if the DHCP.

$ ifconfig eth0 xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx up
$ route add default gw zzz.zzz.zzz.zzz
$ cat "nameserver zzz.zzz.zzz.zzz" > /etc/resolv.conf

IP address and that is allocated to xxx. The zzz is the gateway address.

Install the following apt Packages

# Basics

apt-get install ssh
apt-get install vim
apt-get install less
apt-get install psmisc
apt-get install lynx
apt-get install gcc g++

# X and applications

apt-get install xserver-xorg
apt-get install xterm
apt-get install firefox mplayer
apt-get install lxde xinit
apt-get install x11-apps
apt-get install xinput-calibrator
apt-get install mesa-utils
apt-get install prboom