Embedded Linux?

Hi list,

I'm a newbie, true to its every sense, and hence this question.

I have come across the term "Embedded Linux" a lot of times. Is
embedded linux a different branch of kernel all together? Or is it
that the vanila stock kernel (downloaded from kernel.org) becomes
"Embedded Linux" when compiled for an embedded processor like ARM /
PPC etc?

Thanks,

Dan

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Re: Embedded Linux?

On Thu, 2006-06-22 at 12:07 +0530, Daniel Rodrick wrote:
[...]
> I'm a newbie, true to its every sense, and hence this question.
>
> I have come across the term "Embedded Linux" a lot of times. Is
> embedded linux a different branch of kernel all together? Or is it

Not really.

> that the vanila stock kernel (downloaded from kernel.org) becomes
> "Embedded Linux" when compiled for an embedded processor like ARM /
> PPC etc?

Yes. But nowadays there also "embedded" boards with Intel-compatible
CPUs (e.g. Celerons, VIA-C[23], etc. on PC104 boards, SoC, etc).
And not all PPCs can be considered "embedded" - think of IBM high-end
PPC machines.

Bernd
--
Firmix Software GmbH http://www.firmix.at/
mobil: +43 664 4416156 fax: +43 1 7890849-55
Embedded Linux Development and Services


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Re: Embedded Linux?

On Thu, 2006-06-22 at 12:07 +0530, Daniel Rodrick wrote:
> Hi list,
>
> I'm a newbie, true to its every sense, and hence this question.
>
> I have come across the term "Embedded Linux" a lot of times. Is
> embedded linux a different branch of kernel all together? Or is it
> that the vanila stock kernel (downloaded from kernel.org) becomes
> "Embedded Linux" when compiled for an embedded processor like ARM /
> PPC etc?

it's usually the same kernel (but with a stripped down .config); the
main difference tends to be in the userspace that is used... busybox and
ulibc and other 'smaller than normal linux' components tend to be used..


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Re: Embedded Linux?

On 22/06/06, Daniel Rodrick wrote:
> Hi list,
>
> I'm a newbie, true to its every sense, and hence this question.
>
> I have come across the term "Embedded Linux" a lot of times. Is
> embedded linux a different branch of kernel all together? Or is it

Some embedded uses of Linux use the vanilla kernel, some use highly
modified kernels custom, some use vendor kernels. What makes a Linux
kernel embedded is simply that it is used as such.

> that the vanila stock kernel (downloaded from kernel.org) becomes
> "Embedded Linux" when compiled for an embedded processor like ARM /
> PPC etc?

Embedded boards can be found with almost any CPU available under the
sun. You can get embedded boards with arm/ppc/pentium/opteron/c3/sparc
and many more. The type of CPU does not determine if something is
embedded or not. Also, many CPU's that are often used for embedded
projects are also used elsewhere.

Simply put; if you use Linux (in whatever form with whatever hardware)
in an embedded application/project, then it becomes "Embedded Linux" -
simple as that.


--
Jesper Juhl
Don't top-post http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/T/top-post.html
Plain text mails only, please http://www.expita.com/nomime.html

--
Kernelnewbies: Help each other learn about the Linux kernel.
Archive: http://mail.nl.linux.org/kernelnewbies/
FAQ: http://kernelnewbies.org/faq/

Re: Embedded Linux?

On 22/06/06, Daniel Rodrick wrote:
> Hi list,
>
> I'm a newbie, true to its every sense, and hence this question.
>
> I have come across the term "Embedded Linux" a lot of times. Is
> embedded linux a different branch of kernel all together? Or is it

Some embedded uses of Linux use the vanilla kernel, some use highly
modified kernels custom, some use vendor kernels. What makes a Linux
kernel embedded is simply that it is used as such.

> that the vanila stock kernel (downloaded from kernel.org) becomes
> "Embedded Linux" when compiled for an embedded processor like ARM /
> PPC etc?

Embedded boards can be found with almost any CPU available under the
sun. You can get embedded boards with arm/ppc/pentium/opteron/c3/sparc
and many more. The type of CPU does not determine if something is
embedded or not. Also, many CPU's that are often used for embedded
projects are also used elsewhere.

Simply put; if you use Linux (in whatever form with whatever hardware)
in an embedded application/project, then it becomes "Embedded Linux" -
simple as that.


--
Jesper Juhl
Don't top-post http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/T/top-post.html
Plain text mails only, please http://www.expita.com/nomime.html
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