* My observations as to the current state of the MPC8260
version of Linux:
{
If anyone has additional wisdom on this topic, please send it to
the mailing list <linuxppc-embedded at lists.linuxppc.org> or
Jon Diekema <diekema_jon at si.com>
}
- MontaVista Software, http://www.mvista.com/, and at least one other
company contracted with Dan Malek <dan at netx4.com> to perform the
MPC8260 Linux port. Dan Malek was heavily involved with the MPC8xx
Linux port, so he was a natural choice to do the MPC8260 port.
- The Linux kernel is covered by the GPL, GNU Public License, version
2. See the COPYING from the Linux kernel distribution.
From the GPL version 2:
"2. You may modify your copy or copies of the Program or any portion
of it, thus forming a work based on the Program, and copy and
distribute such modifications or work under the terms of Section 1
above, provided that you also meet all of these conditions:
...
b) You must cause any work that you distribute or publish, that in
whole or in part contains or is derived from the Program or any
part thereof, to be licensed as a whole at no charge to all third
parties under the terms of this License."
Therefore, MontaVista software is compelled to release their MPC8260
changes back to the Open Source community, however the timing
isn't defined. I would expect MontaVista to release these changes
either before or shortly after their MPC8260 work is released.
- Paul Staudacher <paul_staudacher at mvista.com>, Sales,
indicated that MontaVista will be releasing the MPC8260 Linux changes,
but it is not currently scheduled.
- Jim Lewis <jlewis at mvista.com>, Sr. Field Applications Engineer,
told me
that a production MPC8260 Linux release for the EST SBC8260 board,
http://www.estc.com/products/SBC/SBC8260_8240.html, is targeted for
May/June 2000 timeframe.
I asked Jim Lewis what features of the SBC8260 will be supported.
Here is his response:
From Jim Lewis <jlewis at mvista.com>:
Right now, we have data cache turned off because Cache Snooping is
not working. We are using 10 Mbit ethernet on an SCC rather than
100MBit on an FCC. The first release will have those two things fixed
at a minimum. So here is a minimum list of features:
NFS or Initial Ram Disk Root FS
Async serial using SMC's
Ethernet on SCC
10/100 Ethernet on FCC
Proper cache operation
x86 Linux hosted C/C++ Cross Dev environment
Remote GDB KErnel debug over serial
Remote GDB application debug over Serial/Ethernet
- MontaVista makes its money through annual support contracts
per contribution engineer. A contributing engineer is defined to
be anyone making a software contribution to the project. The
support costs aren't inexpensive, however you usually get what
you pay for. For the details on the MontaVista pricing, you
should contact Paul Staudacher <paul_staudacher at mvista.com>.
- The PPC Linux development is being done with the BitKeeper tools,
http://www.bitkeeper.com/. In order to get the BitKeeper tools,
you need to fill out an NDA. The BitKeeper developers are scrambling
to make the tools work for the PPC Linux developement people.
I have filled out a NDA, and both FAXed and US mailed the NDA to
BitKeeper.
I am waiting for a download login and password, but haven't received
it yet. I called BitKeeper and they returned my call on the same day
:).
They explained they were dragging their feet on adding more people to
the Beta program because of an antipicated file format change that
was going to happen in the next week. This change would force
everyone
to use a new release of the BitKeeper software.
BitKeeper wanted me to avoid the hassle of performing the upgrade.
It has been week since the telephone conversation with BitKeeper,
and I am still waiting to get the software. I suspect they are
under the gun in getting the bugs worked out.
- The PPC Linux development bits are available with rsync,
http://rsync.samba.org/rsync/, from daily snapshots of the
BitKeeper repository.
rsync -avz --delete hq.fsmlabs.com::linuxppc_2_3 linuxppc_2_3
rsync -avz --delete hq.fsmlabs.com::linuxppc_2_2 linuxppc_2_2
By looking at what files are changing, you get a sense of what the
developers are working on. I would rather have access to the
BitKeeper tools first hand, so I could see who is doing what.
- The PPC Linux develeopment BitKeeper repository is being hosted
by Finite State Machine Labs, FSMLabs, http://hq.fsmlabs.com/.
FSMLabs is a service of VJY Associates, LLC.
Who is FSMLabs?
From http://hq.fsmlabs.com/:
"Created by the developers of RealTime Linux (RTLinux[tm]) and one of
the main developers of PowerPC Linux, FSMLabs provides operating
systems
support to commercial vendors of products based on Linux. Providing
core
kernel expertise and development, we consult on general systems issues
with a focus on real-time and embedded systems used in industry and
research. In addition, we have cooperative arrangements with companies
that provide direct customer support, systems integration and
application development."
FSMLabs are people behind RTLinux.
Cort Dougan is involved with FSMLabs, and Cort has his name on
the http://www.ppc.kernel.org/ web site.
- Hints on how to use BitKeeper, BK:
http://lists.linuxppc.org/listarcs/linuxppc-dev/200002/msg00193.html
http://lists.linuxppc.org/listarcs/linuxppc-dev/200002/msg00220.html
http://lists.linuxppc.org/listarcs/linuxppc-dev/200002/msg00221.html
------------------\\----------------------\\----------------------------
Jon Diekema | | Smiths Industries
(616) 241-8310 | | 3290 Patterson Avenue, SE
diekema_jon at si.com \\ \\ Grand Rapids, MI 49512-1991
** Sent via the linuxppc-embedded mail list. See http://lists.linuxppc.org/
