Day 1 — Embedded Linux Overview¶
Goal¶
Understand the overall architecture of an embedded Linux system.
Key Concepts¶
Typical embedded Linux system components:
- Bootloader
- Linux Kernel
- Root Filesystem
- User Applications
Boot flow:
Power On
│
▼
Boot ROM
│
▼
Bootloader (U-Boot)
│
▼
Linux Kernel
│
▼
Root Filesystem
│
▼
User Applications
Comparison with MCU Firmware¶
| MCU System | Embedded Linux |
|---|---|
| Reset Vector | Boot ROM |
| Bootloader (optional) | U-Boot |
| Firmware | Linux Kernel |
| Application | User space program |
Environment¶
Development board:
- Raspberry Pi 5
- Raspberry Pi OS Lite
- SSH access enabled
Purpose:
Use this board as the primary platform for Embedded Linux experiments.
Commands Tested¶
Inspect Linux root filesystem:
Check the first process:
Notes¶
- Linux is a complete operating system, not just firmware.
- Hardware drivers are located in the Linux kernel.
- Applications run in user space instead of directly on hardware.
Next Step¶
Study the Linux boot process in detail.