Configure a Hardware Platform for Linux - 2021.1 English

PetaLinux Tools Documentation Reference Guide (UG1144)

Document ID
UG1144
Release Date
2021-06-16
Version
2021.1 English

You can create your own hardware platform with Vivado® tools. Regardless of how the hardware platform is created and configured, there are a small number of hardware IP and software platform configuration changes required to make the hardware platform Linux ready. These are described below:

Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC and Versal ACAP

The following is a list of hardware requirements for a Zynq® UltraScale+™ MPSoC and a Versal™ ACAP hardware project to boot Linux:

  • External memory of, at least, 64 MB (required).
  • UART for serial console (required).
  • Non-volatile memory, for example, QSPI flash and SD/MMC. This memory is optional but only JTAG boot can work.
  • Ethernet (optional, essential for network access).
Important: If soft IP with interrupt or external PHY device with interrupt is used, ensure the interrupt signal is connected.

Zynq-7000 Devices

The following is a list of hardware requirements for a Zynq-7000hardware project to boot Linux:

  • One Triple Timer Counter (TTC) (required).
    Important: If multiple TTCs are enabled, the Zynq-7000 Linux kernel uses the first TTC block from the device tree. Please make sure the TTC is not used by others.
  • External memory controller with at least 32 MB of memory (required).
  • UART for serial console (required).
  • Non-volatile memory, for example, QSPI flash and SD/MMC. This memory is optional but only JTAG boot can work.
  • Ethernet (optional, essential for network access).
Important: If soft IP is used, ensure the interrupt signal is connected. If soft IP with interrupt or external PHY device with interrupt is used, ensure the interrupt signal is connected.

MicroBlaze processors (AXI)

The following is a list of requirements for a MicroBlaze™ ™ hardware project to boot Linux:

  • IP core check list:
    • External memory controller with at least 32 MB of memory (required)
    • Dual channel timer with interrupt connected (required)
    • UART with interrupt connected for serial console (required)
    • Non-volatile memory such as Linear Flash or SPI Flash (required)
    • Ethernet with interrupt connected (optional, but required for network access)
  • MicroBlaze processor configuration:
    • MicroBlaze processors with MMU support by selecting either Linux with MMU or low-end Linux with MMU configuration template in the MicroBlaze configuration wizard.
      Note: Do not disable any instruction set related options that are enabled by the template, unless you understand the implications of such a change.
    • MicroBlaze processor initial boot loader fs-boot needs minimum 4 KB of block RAM for parallel flash and 8 KB for SPI flash when the system boots from non-volatile memory.
Note: PetaLinux will only support 32-bit MicroBlaze processors.