Phytec phyCORE-LPC3250 Programming manual

A product of a PHYTEC Technology Holding Company
QuickStart Instructions
L-715e_0
April 10, 2009
Document No:
Edition:
phyCORE-LPC3250 Rapid Development Kit for
Linux

In this QuickStart are descriptions for copyrighted products that are not explicitly indicated as such. The
absence of the trademark (™) and copyright (©) symbols does not imply that a product is not protected.
Additionally, registered patents and trademarks are similarly not expressly indicated in this manual.
The information in this document has been carefully checked and is believed to be entirely reliable.
However, PHYTEC America LLC assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies. PHYTEC America LLC
neither gives any guarantee nor accepts any liability whatsoever for consequential damages resulting from
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information contained herein without prior notification and accepts no responsibility for any damages which
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liability for doing so.
© Copyright 2009 PHYTEC America LLC, Bainbridge Island, WA.
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storage or processing in computer systems, in whole or in part - are reserved. No reproduction may occur
without the express written consent from PHYTEC America LLC.
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Address: PHYTEC Technologie Holding AG
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PHYTEC America LLC
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Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
USA
Ordering Information: [phone]
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Website: http://www.phytec.de http://www.phytec.com
phyCORE-ARM9/LPC3250 Rapid Development Kit for Linux
© PHYTEC America LLC 2009
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Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Rapid Development Kit Documentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Professional Support Packages Available. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.3 Overview of this QuickStart Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.4 Conventions used in this QuickStart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.5 Kit Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.6 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.7 The PHYTEC Kit CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2 Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1 Rapid Development Kit Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.2 Booting the Pre-built Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3 Getting More Involved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.1 Installing the Linux Target Image Builder (LTIB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2 Building U-Boot, the Linux Kernel, and Root File System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.3 Setting up TFTP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.4 Setting up NFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.5 Overview of the Boot Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.6 Placing U-Boot into NAND Flash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.7 Configuring U-Boot to Boot Linux over TFTP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.8 Placing the Kernel into NAND Flash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.9 Placing the Root File System into NAND Flash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.10 Placing the Root File System on an SD/MMC Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3.11 Building Custom Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3.11.1 Building Openssh and the Apache Web Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3.11.2 Testing Openssh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3.11.3 Testing the Apache Web Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3.11.4 Adding your Own Packages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Appendix A: Helpful Hints and Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
A.1 Where to Find More Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
A.2 NAND Flash Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
A.3 Using DHCP Instead of a Static IP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
A.4 Enabling Ethernet in the Provided Images. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Chapter 1: Introduction
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1 Introduction
This QuickStart provides you with the tools and know-how to get the Linux operating system
running on the phyCORE-LPC3250 System on Module. This QuickStart shows you how to do
everything from installing the appropriate tools and source, to building custom kernels, to
deploying the OS, to exercising the software and hardware.
Please refer to the phyCORE-LPC3250 Hardware Manual for specific information on board-level
features such as jumper configuration, memory mapping and pin layout for the phyCORE-
LPC3250 System on Module and Carrier Board.
1.1 Rapid Development Kit Documentation
This rapid development kit (RDK) includes the following electronic documentation on the enclosed
phyCORE-LPC3250 Rapid Development Kit CD:
• The PHYTEC phyCORE®-LPC3250 Hardware Manual
• Controller User’s Manuals and Datasheets
• This QuickStart Instruction guide
1.2 Professional Support Packages Available
PHYTEC backs up our Rapid Development Kits with a Start-Up Guarantee. We invite you to make
use of our free Technical Support concerning installation and setup of QuickStart demos until any
kit start-up problem you might encounter is resolved. For more in-depth questions, we offer
technical support packages for purchase. Please contact our sales team at [email protected] to
discuss the appropriate support option if professional support beyond installation and setup is
required.
1.3 Overview of this QuickStart Instruction
This QuickStart instruction gives a general Rapid Development Kit description, as well as all of the
necessary instructions required to deploy embedded Linux on the phyCORE-LPC3250 in both a
standalone configuration, and a networked development configuration. This QuickStart takes you
from deploying pre-built images provided in the kit on an SD Card, to building a custom image and
deploying everything over the network suitable for the often changing development environment.
The structure of this QuickStart is as follows:
Chapter 1 - Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of this QuickStart instruction, system
requirements, and kit contents.
Chapter 2 - Getting Started: This chapter guides you through installing the PHYTEC Spectrum CD
software and documentation, preparing the phyCORE-LPC3250 hardware and interfacing a host
PC, and booting the pre-built images included on the SD Card that comes with the kit.
Chapter 3 - Getting More Involved: This chapter provides more in-depth instructions on installing
the Linux build tools, building custom images, deploying images via NAND Flash, SD/MMC Card,
TFTP, and NFS.
Appendix A: This chapter provides some additional information that you may find useful while
working with Linux on the phyCORE-LPC3250 SOM. This chapter includes links to the NXP Linux
BSP page, links to learning more about the Linux Target Image Builder, NAND Flash layout, using
DHCP, and enabling Ethernet in the pre-built images.

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1.4 Conventions used in this QuickStart
The following is a list of the typographical conventions used in this book.
Pay special attention to the notes set apart from the text with the following icons:
1.5 Kit Contents
The following PHYTEC hardware components are included in the phyCORE-LPC3250 Linux
Rapid Development Kit (part number KPCM-040-Linux) and are necessary for completing the
instructions in this QuickStart:
• The phyCORE-LPC3250 SOM (PCM-040)
• The phyCORE-LPC3250 Carrier Board (PCM-967)
• Bare PCB Expansion Board (PCM-988) (optional)
• AC adapter supplying 5V/3.2A, center positive
• Ethernet patch cable
Bold Commands or other text that should be typed literally by the user
Bold Italic File and directory names
Italic Field and window names or titles, menu items, and other terms that corre-
spond to items on the PC desktop
Underline Blue Hyperlinks to documents, webpage URLs, or FTPs
<bracket red> Replace these entries with the text applicable to your system. For
instance this may be a directory name, or IP address. The entire entry,
including brackets should be replaced by the applicable text.
FixedWidth Source code listings and examples
Completion of an important part of this QuickStart.
Useful supplementary information and tips about the topic.
Estimated completion time for the following chapter.
This warning will help you avoid potential problems.
Helpful information for troubleshooting and resolving potential problems.

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• Serial cable (RS-232)
• SOM extraction tool
• Hard copy schematics (optional)
• SD Card with pre-built U-Boot, Linux, and Root File System images
• PHYTEC Kit CD
As an addition the KLCD-011 QVGA (320x240) TFT LCD can be purchased as an add-on for this
kit should you require graphics.
1.6 System Requirements
The following system requirements are necessary to complete this QuickStart without errors and
problems. Deviations from these requirements may suffice, or may have other work-arounds.
• A network enabled Linux host system running OpenSUSE 11.1 or later1
• SD card reader operational under Linux2
• Active internet connection
1.7 The PHYTEC Kit CD
The PHYTEC Kit CD contains documentation, datasheets, and demo files for various OSes and
develoment environments. For Linux, all demo images are provided on the kit SD card. The latest
demo images can be obtained from http://www.phytec.com/products/linux/bsp-LPC3250.html The
remaining components for the Linux kit are all provided from http://www.bitshrine.org and are
installed as part of this QuickStart Instruction.
If you are interested in evaluating the WinCE BSP, or the Keil or IAR BSPs you can install the
PHYTEC Kit CD on a Windows system by running the setup.exe. Please refer to the respective
QuickStart for each BSP by visiting http://www.phytec.com/products/sbc/ARM-XScale/phyCORE-
ARM9-LPC3250.html or by navigating to the QuickStarts folder on the CD under
\PHYTEC\phyCORE-LPC3250\Documentation\QuickStarts.
1. Although other Linux distributions will likely work, this QuickStart is based on working with the openSUSE dis-
tribution. The Fedora Core 9 distribution has also been tested to work with some of this QuickStart.
2. If you do not have SD card access under Linux then mounting the root file system on an SD card will not be
possible. Some parts of this QuickStart require copying files from Linux onto an SD card. Most of these oper-
ations use a FAT32 partition. This can be handled with a Windows machine if SD card access under Linux is
unavailable.

Chapter 2: Getting Started
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2 Getting Started
2.1 Rapid Development Kit Setup
To prepare for the subsequent sections of this QuickStart document, complete the following steps:
1. Insert the SD card that came in the kit in to the SD/MMC card slot connector X15 on the
phyCORE-LPC3250 Carrier Board.
2. If you ordered the KLCD-011 add-on, plug this into the LCD connector X26 at this time.
3. Plug the phyCORE-LPC3250 SOM into connector X1 on the Carrier Board if it is not
already plugged into the board.
4. Connect the kit supplied serial cable from a free serial port on your Linux host to the
bottom DB9 connector P1A on the Carrier Board. This is the UART5 communications
channel with the LPC3250 at RS-232 levels.
5. Connect the kit supplied Ethernet cable from the Ethernet connector X7 on the Carrier
Board to your network hub, router, or switch. If you do not have an Ethernet connection
available you can postpone this step until Chapter 3.7. You will be able to boot the Linux
kernel without the need for Ethernet connectivity in this chapter of the QuickStart.
6. Start your favorite terminal software (such as minicom or komport) on your Linux host and
configure it for 115200 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit (8n1) with no handshake.
7. Plug the kit supplied 5V power adapter into the power input connector X10 on the Carrier
Board. You will see something similar to the following in the terminal output window:
PhytecLPC3250board
Builddate:Dec4200809:45:09
phy3250>
8. This is the output of the Stage 1 Loader. Test that your terminal session is working
correctly by typing info at the Stage 1 Loader prompt and hitting Enter. You will see a
bunch of system information dumped to the terminal window if everything is working
correctly. If you are unable to type anything at the Stage 1 Loader prompt, check that you
have setup the terminal software correctly per step 6 and that handshaking has been
disabled.
In this chapter you will set up the phyCORE-LPC3250 Rapid
Development Kit to connect to your host Linux PC. Afterwards you will
boot the pre-built images that come shipped on the SD card by
flashing them to the SOM. At the end of this chapter you will have a
fully functioning Linux system on the phyCORE-LPC3250 SOM.
15 min
You are now ready to begin booting the pre-built images that come with your SD card.

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2.2 Booting the Pre-built Images
The following pre-built images are included on the SD card contained in the kit.
1. ubt-qs.bin -- Das U-Boot 1.3.3-1, universal bootloader
2. uimg-qs -- Linux kernel with LCD support
3. rootfs -- Linux root file system in jffs2 format suitable for placement in NAND Flash
(openssh and Apache Web Server installed).
In this part of the QuickStart U-Boot, the Linux kernel image, and the root file system images will all
be written to the on-board NAND Flash.
1. Return to the Stage 1 Loader prompt in your terminal output window and type ls to get a
list of files on the SD card. You should see the files listed above.
2. Execute the following command to load the U-Boot binary image from the SD card into
SDRAM at 0x83fc0000:
phy3250>loadblkubt‐qs.binraw0x83fc0000
3. Execute the following command to save the U-Boot image to NAND Flash:
phy3250>nsave
4. Execute the following command to configure the auto boot settings to automatically fetch
the U-Boot binary from flash into SDRAM at 0x83fc0000 and then execute it:
phy3250>abootflashraw0x83fc0000
5. Execute the following command to change the Stage 1 Loader prompt to “phy3250-linux>”
and the boot delay to 2 seconds:
phy3250>promptphy3250‐linux>2
6. Execute the following command to load the Linux kernel image into SDRAM at
0x80100000:
phy3250‐linux>loadblkuimg‐qsraw0x80100000
7. Now type boot at the Stage 1 Loader prompt. You will see something similar to the
following output:
U‐Boot1.3.3(Feb102009‐15:44:53)
DRAM:64MB
NAND:64MiB
***Warning‐badCRCorNAND,usingdefaultenvironment
In:serial
Out:serial
Err:serial
uboot>
8. The bad CRC warning is normal. This is indicative that the current environment variables
that U-Boot attempted to read from NAND Flash were bad, or non-existent. Since the

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board is new the environment variables haven’t been written to NAND yet, and are non-
existent. This CRC warning will come up until a saveenv command is executed in U-Boot.
This will be done shortly.
9. The next step is to use U-Boot to write the Linux kernel to flash. Execute the flash_kernel
command to write the kernel to flash:
uboot>runflash_kernel
10. Reboot the board by pressing the reset button S1 on the Carrier Board. Press any key in
your terminal window to stop the auto boot process, arriving at a Stage 1 Loader prompt.
11. Load the Linux file system image into SDRAM and boot U-Boot again:
phy3250‐linux>loadblkrootfsraw0x80100000
phy3250‐linux>boot
12. U-Boot will come up again and stop at the prompt. Execute the flash_rootfs command to
write the root file system image to flash:
uboot>runflash_rootfs
13. Configure the boot command to tell U-Boot to boot the Linux kernel image from NAND
Flash:
uboot>setenvbootcmd${boot_nand}
14. Now save the environment variables to NAND Flash. This will get ride of that CRC error
that comes up every time U-Boot boots and tries to read the non-existent environment
variables in NAND Flash.
uboot>saveenv
15. Reboot the board again by pressing the system reset button S1 on the Carrier Board. If
everything was done correctly the board should boot completely into Linux, arriving at a
root prompt. Note that the first time the board is booted it will takes a little while for the
SSH server to generate new keys. Subsequent boots should be faster.
Make sure you wait for the autoboot message to come up in the terminal window before hitting
any key to stop the boot process. This is especially important when the boot jumper (JP21) is
installed and the board attempts to boot over UART5 after reset. Pressing a key during the
UART5 boot will fool the boot loader into thinking a UART boot is occurring, causing an invalid
boot process, and the board will reset.
Note that the loading process will take several seconds. No status messages are printed to the
screen during this time.
You have successfully booted the pre-built images included on the SD card.

Chapter 3: Getting More Involved
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3 Getting More Involved
3.1 Installing the Linux Target Image Builder (LTIB)
The Linux Target Image Builder (LTIB) is a tool that integrates the build and configuration of the
mutliple software packages and components required for a typical embedded Linux distribution.
LTIB greatly reduces the complexity of gathering, configuring, and building all of these required
components.
For the phyCORE-LPC3250 Linux package, the primary components are:
• Das U-Boot -- the universal bootloader
• Linux kernel -- the compressed kernel image
• Linux file system -- the filesytem containing modules, executables, configuration files,
etc...
• arm-(vfp)-linux-gnu toolchain -- cross-toolchain built to support the ARM926EJ-S
processor (with VFP)
LTIB is reponsible for building U-Boot, the Linux kernel, and the root file system. The ARM cross-
toolchain is not built by LTIB and must be supplied as a seperate, pre-built component. This
toolchain is supplied with the phyCORE-LPC3250 Linux package.
Installing LTIB is a very easy process. To get started you must download the netinstall script from
http://www.bitshrine.org. This can be done using the wget command. Open a new shell window
and execute the following sequence of commands in your base home directory:
1. Change to your base home directory by typing cd ~ at the shell prompt.
2. Create a subdirectory for LPC3250 related development and change into the new
directory:
~>mkdirlpc3250
~>cdlpc3250
3. Download the netinstall script:
~/lpc3250>wgethttp://www.bitshrine.org/netinstall
In this chapter you will install the tools required to build an embedded
Linux system for the phyCORE-LPC3250 SOM. You will then be
guided through building the boot loader, Linux image, and root file
system. Later on in the chapter you will learn how to deploy the
images to the SOM using a variety of methods. This chapter will also
guide you through configuring your host Linux PC for rapid
development via TFTP and NFS. When you are finished with this
chapter you will know how to build Linux images from scratch, add a
variety of useful software components, and deploy the images using a
variety of methods.
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