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diff --git a/Documentation/arm/README b/Documentation/arm/README new file mode 100644 index 000000000..9d1e5b2c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/arm/README @@ -0,0 +1,204 @@ + ARM Linux 2.6 + ============= + + Please check <ftp://ftp.arm.linux.org.uk/pub/armlinux> for + updates. + +Compilation of kernel +--------------------- + + In order to compile ARM Linux, you will need a compiler capable of + generating ARM ELF code with GNU extensions. GCC 3.3 is known to be + a good compiler. Fortunately, you needn't guess. The kernel will report + an error if your compiler is a recognized offender. + + To build ARM Linux natively, you shouldn't have to alter the ARCH = line + in the top level Makefile. However, if you don't have the ARM Linux ELF + tools installed as default, then you should change the CROSS_COMPILE + line as detailed below. + + If you wish to cross-compile, then alter the following lines in the top + level make file: + + ARCH = <whatever> + with + ARCH = arm + + and + + CROSS_COMPILE= + to + CROSS_COMPILE=<your-path-to-your-compiler-without-gcc> + eg. + CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux- + + Do a 'make config', followed by 'make Image' to build the kernel + (arch/arm/boot/Image). A compressed image can be built by doing a + 'make zImage' instead of 'make Image'. + + +Bug reports etc +--------------- + + Please send patches to the patch system. For more information, see + http://www.arm.linux.org.uk/developer/patches/info.php Always include some + explanation as to what the patch does and why it is needed. + + Bug reports should be sent to linux-arm-kernel@lists.arm.linux.org.uk, + or submitted through the web form at + http://www.arm.linux.org.uk/developer/ + + When sending bug reports, please ensure that they contain all relevant + information, eg. the kernel messages that were printed before/during + the problem, what you were doing, etc. + + +Include files +------------- + + Several new include directories have been created under include/asm-arm, + which are there to reduce the clutter in the top-level directory. These + directories, and their purpose is listed below: + + arch-* machine/platform specific header files + hardware driver-internal ARM specific data structures/definitions + mach descriptions of generic ARM to specific machine interfaces + proc-* processor dependent header files (currently only two + categories) + + +Machine/Platform support +------------------------ + + The ARM tree contains support for a lot of different machine types. To + continue supporting these differences, it has become necessary to split + machine-specific parts by directory. For this, the machine category is + used to select which directories and files get included (we will use + $(MACHINE) to refer to the category) + + To this end, we now have arch/arm/mach-$(MACHINE) directories which are + designed to house the non-driver files for a particular machine (eg, PCI, + memory management, architecture definitions etc). For all future + machines, there should be a corresponding arch/arm/mach-$(MACHINE)/include/mach + directory. + + +Modules +------- + + Although modularisation is supported (and required for the FP emulator), + each module on an ARM2/ARM250/ARM3 machine when is loaded will take + memory up to the next 32k boundary due to the size of the pages. + Therefore, is modularisation on these machines really worth it? + + However, ARM6 and up machines allow modules to take multiples of 4k, and + as such Acorn RiscPCs and other architectures using these processors can + make good use of modularisation. + + +ADFS Image files +---------------- + + You can access image files on your ADFS partitions by mounting the ADFS + partition, and then using the loopback device driver. You must have + losetup installed. + + Please note that the PCEmulator DOS partitions have a partition table at + the start, and as such, you will have to give '-o offset' to losetup. + + +Request to developers +--------------------- + + When writing device drivers which include a separate assembler file, please + include it in with the C file, and not the arch/arm/lib directory. This + allows the driver to be compiled as a loadable module without requiring + half the code to be compiled into the kernel image. + + In general, try to avoid using assembler unless it is really necessary. It + makes drivers far less easy to port to other hardware. + + +ST506 hard drives +----------------- + + The ST506 hard drive controllers seem to be working fine (if a little + slowly). At the moment they will only work off the controllers on an + A4x0's motherboard, but for it to work off a Podule just requires + someone with a podule to add the addresses for the IRQ mask and the + HDC base to the source. + + As of 31/3/96 it works with two drives (you should get the ADFS + *configure harddrive set to 2). I've got an internal 20MB and a great + big external 5.25" FH 64MB drive (who could ever want more :-) ). + + I've just got 240K/s off it (a dd with bs=128k); thats about half of what + RiscOS gets; but it's a heck of a lot better than the 50K/s I was getting + last week :-) + + Known bug: Drive data errors can cause a hang; including cases where + the controller has fixed the error using ECC. (Possibly ONLY + in that case...hmm). + + +1772 Floppy +----------- + This also seems to work OK, but hasn't been stressed much lately. It + hasn't got any code for disc change detection in there at the moment which + could be a bit of a problem! Suggestions on the correct way to do this + are welcome. + + +CONFIG_MACH_ and CONFIG_ARCH_ +----------------------------- + A change was made in 2003 to the macro names for new machines. + Historically, CONFIG_ARCH_ was used for the bonafide architecture, + e.g. SA1100, as well as implementations of the architecture, + e.g. Assabet. It was decided to change the implementation macros + to read CONFIG_MACH_ for clarity. Moreover, a retroactive fixup has + not been made because it would complicate patching. + + Previous registrations may be found online. + + <http://www.arm.linux.org.uk/developer/machines/> + +Kernel entry (head.S) +-------------------------- + The initial entry into the kernel is via head.S, which uses machine + independent code. The machine is selected by the value of 'r1' on + entry, which must be kept unique. + + Due to the large number of machines which the ARM port of Linux provides + for, we have a method to manage this which ensures that we don't end up + duplicating large amounts of code. + + We group machine (or platform) support code into machine classes. A + class typically based around one or more system on a chip devices, and + acts as a natural container around the actual implementations. These + classes are given directories - arch/arm/mach-<class> and + arch/arm/mach-<class> - which contain the source files to/include/mach + support the machine class. This directories also contain any machine + specific supporting code. + + For example, the SA1100 class is based upon the SA1100 and SA1110 SoC + devices, and contains the code to support the way the on-board and off- + board devices are used, or the device is setup, and provides that + machine specific "personality." + + For platforms that support device tree (DT), the machine selection is + controlled at runtime by passing the device tree blob to the kernel. At + compile-time, support for the machine type must be selected. This allows for + a single multiplatform kernel build to be used for several machine types. + + For platforms that do not use device tree, this machine selection is + controlled by the machine type ID, which acts both as a run-time and a + compile-time code selection method. You can register a new machine via the + web site at: + + <http://www.arm.linux.org.uk/developer/machines/> + + Note: Please do not register a machine type for DT-only platforms. If your + platform is DT-only, you do not need a registered machine type. + +--- +Russell King (15/03/2004) |