Latest revision as of 09:50, 26 September 2025

Getting Started

Building Yocto Image System Requirements

• CPU Cores: Quad-core processor (or higher recommended)
• Memory: 8GB RAM (more is recommended for better performance)
• Disk Space: 400GB (more is recommended and SSD is suggested for better performance)

Conventions

${PREBUILT_IMAGE} : compressed prebuilt image (*.img.gz)

${CONTAINER_NAME} : container name (e.g. imx8LBVD0027)

${BSP_TARBALL} : BSP tarball (*.tgz)

${BSP_HOME} : home directory of the BSP

${BDIR} : build directory (e.g. build_xwayland)

${MX8PROC} : i.MX8 Processor

mx8mq for iMX8M Dual Core

mx8mm for iMX8MM

mx8mp for iMX8MP

mx8qm for iMX8QM

mx8qxp for iMX8QXP

mx8ulp for iMX8ULP

 

${IMX8PROC} : i.MX8 Processor

imx8mq / imx8mm / imx8qm /imx8qxp /imx8mp /imx8ulp

${BOARD} : available target boards list below

rom5720

rom5721

rom7720

rom5620

rom3620

rom5722

rsb3720

rom2620

rsb3730

${BOARD_REV} : board revision

a1

${MC} : machine code combined with ${IMX8PROC}${BOARD}${BOARD_REV}

for example,

imx8mqrom5720a1 for ROM-5720 A1

imx8qmrom7720a1 for ROM-7720 A1

imx8qxprom5620a1 for ROM-5620 A1

imx8qxprom3620a1 for ROM-3620 A1

imx8mmrom5721a1 for ROM-5721 A1

imx8mprom5722a2 for ROM-5722 A1

imx8mprsb3720a1 for RSB-3720 A1

imx8mprsb3720a2 for RSB-3720 A2  <--(used this version) 

imx8ulprom2620a1 for ROM-2620 A1

imx8mmrsb3730a2 for RSB-3730 A2

You can also use the command below to check supported machines on BSP

$ source setup-environment

${MEM_SIZE} : memory size

 1G/2G/4G/6G

${UC} : u-boot config

 1G/2G/4G/6G/FSPI_1G/FSPI_2G/FSPI_4G/FSPI_6G...

${SD_DEVICE} : device name of SD card in Linux (e.g. /dev/sdf)

${SDCARD_IMAGE} : sdcard image built by bitbake (*.wic.zst)

${WORKSPACE} : host workspace folders

${UBOOT} :u-boot version(e.g. v2024.04_6.6.23_2.0.0)

${KERNEL} : linux kernel version(e.g. 6.6.23_2.0.0)

${TOOLCHAIN} : toolchain installed directory(e.g. opt/fsl-imx-wayland/6.1-mickledore/environment)

debug console / serial console

serial terminal program (e.g. minicom, putty, teraterm ...) that serial port is configured to 115200 8N1

terminal console

terminal program (e.g. gnome-terminal, xfce4-terminal ...)

Docker install and setting

If you don't have docker in your system, then you can follow the below  steps to install docker and run it first.

To install Docker Engine on your platform

Please refer to Docker Installation Guide for details

To pull ubuntu 20.04 image from Docker Hub 

$ docker pull advrisc/u20.04-imx8lbv1

To create container

$ docker run --privileged -it --name ${CONTAINER_NAME} -v ${WORKSPACE}:/home/adv/adv-release-bsp -v /dev:/dev advrisc/u20.04-imx8lbv1 /bin/bash

Get BSP

You have two methods to put BSP into container created above

Download_BSP_From_GitHub

The following example shows how to download the Advantech Yocto BSP from GitHub.

For this example, a directory called adv-release-bsp is created for the project.

Refer to IoTGateway/BSP/Linux/iMX8/OS_Support_List , Official version "imx8LBVD0XXX" is taken as an example :

$ git config --global user.name "Your Name"
$ git config --global user.email you@example.com
$ sudo chown adv:adv adv-release-bsp
$ cd adv-release-bsp
$ repo init -u git://github.com/ADVANTECH-Corp/adv-arm-yocto-bsp.git -b imx-linux-scarthgap -m adv-6.6.23-2.0.0.xml
$ repo sync

If you suffer "server certificate verification failed", you can use the following command to disable SSL verification in git repositories with self-signed certificates.

$ export GIT_SSL_NO_VERIFY=1

or

$ git config --global http.sslverify false

If you get "The unauthenticated git protocol on port 9418 is no longer supported.", you can try it.

$ git config --global url."https://".insteadOf git://

Copy BSP tarball to Container

If you have BSP tarball (eg. imx8LBVD0027_2023-10-25.tgz), then you have to copy it into container.

Follow the steps below:

1.Exit container and back to local machine

$ exit

2.Copy BSP tarball to ${WORKSPACE} , and change owner

$ cp imx8LBVD0027_2023-10-25.tgz ${WORKSPACE}
$ sudo chown adv:adv ${WORKSPACE}/imx8LBVD0027_2023-10-25.tgz

3.Back to container

$ docker start ${CONTAINER_NAME}
$ docker attach ${CONTAINER_NAME}

4.Unpack BSP tarball

$ tar zxvf imx8LBVD0027_2023-10-25.tgz

Downloads tarball

Not necessarily step

During building  Yocto image , it will generate downloads folder which includes all packages we need , but it usually can't fetch normally, so we keep this downloads folder. Then we can reduce some fetch failed issue.

You can get Downloads tarball (downloads_imx9_6.6.36_2.1.0.tar) from following URL:

[downloads_imx9_6.6.36_2.1.0.tar]

If you get downloads tarball, you can copy to your ${WORKSPACE}

Follow the steps below:

1.Exit container and back to local machine

$ exit

2.Copy Downloads tarball to ${WORKSPACE} , and change owner

$ cp downloads_imx9_6.6.36_2.1.0.tar ${WORKSPACE}
$ sudo chown adv:adv ${WORKSPACE}/downloads_imx9_6.6.36_2.1.0.tar 

3.Back to container

$ docker start ${CONTAINER_NAME}
$ docker attach ${CONTAINER_NAME}

4.Unpack Downloads tarball

$ tar zxvf downloads_imx9_6.6.36_2.1.0.tar

5.make link to downloads folder

$ cd adv-release-bsp
$ ln -s ${WORKSPACE}/downloads_imx9_6.6.36_2.1.0.tar downloads

Introducing BSP

The BSP is based on Yocto Project with Freescale enhanced features for i.MX8, plus specific target board features from Advantech Inc..

The Advantech Yocto Project BSP Release directory contains a "sources" directory, which contains the recipes used to build,

one or more build directories, and a set of scripts used to set up the environment.

The recipes used to build the project come from both the community and Advantech. The Yocto Project layers are downloaded

to the sources directory. This sets up the recipes that are used to build the project.

Naming Rule

The tarball/prebuilt image name is consist of the model name followed by "LB" or "LI" plus version number and released date.

For example, BSP file name: imx8LBVD0027_2023-10-25.tgz

which , "LB" is acronym of Linux BSP,

           "VD0010" stands for Version D.0027

For example, Yocto image name: '3720A2AIM36LIVD0027_iMX8MP_6G_2023-10-25.img.gz'

which "3720A2" stands for RSB-3720 A2

          "LI" is acronym for prebuilt Linux Image

          "6G" is DDR size

BSP Content

Build Instructions

To create one new build environment

Perform the following commands in terminal console

$ cd ${BSP_HOME}

$ MACHINE=${MC} DISTRO=fsl-imx-xwayland source imx-setup-release.sh -b ${BDIR}

We can specify u-boot default config like below

$ MACHINE=${MC} UBOOT_CONFIG=${UC} DISTRO=fsl-imx-xwayland source imx-setup-release.sh -b ${BDIR}

Example if your board is 3720A2 6G version

MACHINE=imx8mprsb3720a2 UBOOT_CONFIG=6G DISTRO=fsl-imx-xwayland source imx-setup-release.sh -b build_x11

Example if your board is 3720A2 4G version

MACHINE=imx8mprsb3720a2 UBOOT_CONFIG=4G DISTRO=fsl-imx-xwayland source imx-setup-release.sh -b build_x11

Example if your board is 3720A2 2G version

MACHINE=imx8mprsb3720a2 UBOOT_CONFIG=2G DISTRO=fsl-imx-xwayland source imx-setup-release.sh -b build_x11

You need to read and accept the EULA.

To continue an exist build environment

Perform the following commands in terminal console

$ cd ${BSP_HOME}

$ source setup-environment ${BDIR}

To build sdcard image

To create/continue a build environment

Perform the following command in terminal console

$ bitbake imx-image-full

The two files, imx-image-full-${MC}.wic.zst and ...wic.bmap, will be located in directory, ./tmp/deploy/images/${MC}, while building process finished successfully.

To build toolchain installer

                       SDK inculde QT 

                       $ bitbake imx-image-full -c populate_sdk 

To create/continue a build environment

Perform the following command in terminal console

$ bitbake meta-toolchain

The below installer will be located in the directory "./tmp/deploy/sdk".

fsl-imx-wayland-glibc-x86_64-meta-toolchain-armv8a-imx8mp-lpddr4-evk-toolchain-${KERNEL}-scarthgap.sh

 

To build bootloader

To create/continue a build environment

Perform the following command in terminal console

$ bitbake imx-boot

To build linux kernel

To create/continue a build environment

If you operate on docker images, please install tmux application before running this command

$ sudo apt-get install tmux

Type following command to enter tmux

$ tmux

Perform the following command in terminal console to show up menuconfig

$ bitbake linux-imx -c menuconfig

After edit menuconfig, type following command to exit tmux windows

$ exit

to build kernel image

$ bitbake linux-imx

The two files, Image & Image-${IMX8PROC}-${BOARD}-${BOARD_REV}.dtb, will be located in the directory, ./tmp/deploy/images/${MC}.

Compile error exception handling

Case 1. Vulkan-Loader

Change directory to 'vulkan' meta-layer folder

$ cd ${BSP_HOME}/sources/meta-freescale/recipes-downgrade/vulkan/

Modify 'vulkan-loader' bb file to change 'SRC_URL' branch name from master to main

$ vim vulkan-loader_1.2.182.0.bb

Case 2. nnshark

Creating boot-up on-board flash from prebuilt image

To create one boot-up SD card

Perform the following command in terminal console

# gunzip -c ${PREBUILT_IMAGE} | dd of=${SD_DEVICE} bs=1M

# sync

Creating boot-up on-board flash from built sdcard image

To create one boot-up SD card

Perform the following commands in terminal console

$ pushd ${BSP_HOME}/${BDIR}/tmp/deploy/images/${MC}

$ zstd -cd ${SDCARD_IMAGE} | sudo dd of=${SD_DEVICE} bs=1M

( or using bmaptool to take less time elapsed)

$ sudo bmaptool copy --bmap ${SDCARD_IMAGE/zst/bmap} ${SDCARD_IMAGE} ${SD_DEVICE}

$ sync

$ popd

Debug console information

If you want to see debug message from device, you need to prepare for hardware device and software tool.

Preparing for hardware device

• The following URL provides information about the debug port slot and the debug port line for each device

Debug Port Information

Preparing for software tool

• You need to prepare the debug console tool. For example: "minicom" tool or "putty" tool.
• Baud rate: 115200

One step build image

Our machine must be pre-installed docker

Download the following script can quickly build our image.

$ wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ADVANTECH-Corp/RISC_tools_scripts/mickledore/imx8/adv_imx8_build.sh
$ sudo chmod a+x adv_imx8_build.sh

Build image

$ sudo ./adv_imx8_build.sh ${BOARD}
$ sudo ./adv_imx8_build.sh rom5720

Our image will be in workspace folder.

workspace/${BDIR}/tmp/deploy/images/${MC}

Then refer to Creating_boot-up_on-board_flash_from_built_sdcard_image to build SD card.

Customization

Setting up SDK

Please follow the section,To build toolchain installer, to build one toolchain installer

Perform the following command in terminal console

$ cd ${BSP_HOME}/${BDIR}/tmp/deploy/sdk

$ sudo ./fsl-imx-xwayland-glibc-x86_64-meta-toolchain-armv8a-imx8mprsb3720a2-toolchain-6.6-scarthgap.sh

Enter new installed directory or just press Enter to use default directory.

While Proceed[y/n]? shows up, please enter the correct one.

Waiting for the SDK installed (while the following messages show up completely)

Download SDK Link (Just Only reference), [downloads_SDK]

Setting up cross compiling environment

SDK has been set up (ref.Setting up SDK)

Perform the following command in terminal console

$ source ${TOOLCHAIN}/environment-setup-aarch64-poky-linux

Build U-Boot in standalone environment

Config u-boot

make ${IMX8PROC}_${BOARD}${BOARD_REV}_${MEM_SIZE}_defconfig

eg.

make imx8mp_rsb3720a2_6G_defconfig

Build u-boot

make -j4

Build imx-boot image by using imx-mkimage for imx8

Get imx-boot tarball from our server Here we take rom5721 as an example:

tar zxvf 3720A2AIM36LIVD0027_iMX8MP_6G_imx-boot.tgz
cd 3720A2AIM36LIVD0027_iMX8MP_6G_imx-boot/ 

In this folder , we have two script as below: Copy necessary files to imx-mkimage folder

./cp_uboot.sh ${uboot path} ${IMX8PROC}

Make imx-boot image

./mk_imx-boot.sh ${IMX8PROC}

eg.

./cp_uboot.sh ../uboot-imx imx8mp
./mk_imx-boot.sh imx8mp

Build imx-boot image by using imx-mkimage for imx93

Get imx-boot tarball from our server Here we take rom2820 as an example:

tar zxvf 3720A2AIM36LIVD0027_iMX8MP_6G_imx-boot.tgz
cd 3720A2AIM36LIVD0027_iMX8MP_6G_imx-boot/ 

In this folder , we have two script as below: Copy necessary files to imx-mkimage folder

./cp_uboot.sh ${uboot path} ${IMX8PROC}

Make imx-boot image

./mk_imx-boot.sh ${IMX8PROC}

eg.

./cp_uboot.sh ../uboot-imx imx8mp
./mk_imx-boot.sh imx8mp

Replace imx-boot

Perform the following command to transfer to on-board flash

$ dd if=flash.bin of=/dev/mmcblk0 bs=1K seek=<offset> conv=fsync

Where offset is:

33 - for i.MAX 8QuadMax A0, i.Mx 8QuadXPlus A0, i.MX 8M Quad, and i.MX 8M Mini

32 - for iMX 8M PLUS, i.MAX 8QuadXPlus B0/C0, i.Mx 8QuadMax B0 and i.MX 8ulp

Building & updating kernel/modules/dtb manually

The cross compiling environment has been set up. (ref. Setting up cross compiling environment)

Copy BSP tarball to Container

Refer to Copy_BSP_tarball_to_Container , copy kernel tarball to ${WORKSPACE} and back to container

change owner & unpack tarball

$ sudo chown adv:adv imx8LBVD0027_2023-10-25_linux-imx.tgz
$ tar zxvf imx8LBVD0027_2023-10-25_linux-imx.tgz

Config kernel

Configure linux kernel

$ cd linux-imx
$ make distclean
$ make imx_v8_adv_defconfig
$ make menuconfig

Start building linux kernel

$ make -j4 Image

When you get error like below

run command then rebuild

$ unset LDFLAGS 

The kernel image file, Image, is located in the directory "./arch/arm64/boot/".

Start building kernel modules

$ make -j4 modules

Copy all modules to a temporary rootfs directory, "~/temp/rootfs"

$ make modules_install INSTALL_MOD_PATH=~/temp/rootfs

Building device tree blob

$ make -j4 freescale/${IMX8PROC}-${BOARD}-${BOARD_REV}.dtb
eg.
$ make -j4 freescale/imx8mp-rsb3720-a2.dtb

The device tree blob, ${IMX8PROC}-${BOARD}-${BOARD_REV}.dtb, is located in the directory "./arch/arm64/boot/dts/freescale/".

Replace kernel & dts

Replace kernel

copy Image to SDcard or emmc

Replace dtb file

copy dtb file to SDcard or emmc

Improve boot speed

• Bootloader

1.bootdelay time

We can cancel the bootdelay time by setting bootloader environment value.

setenv bootdelay 0
env save
reset

2.Disable console

Disable debug message output can also improve boot speed

Disable kernel message

setenv mmcargs setenv bootargs ${jh_clk} console=${console} modprobe.blacklist=${modprobe.blacklist} root=${mmcroot} video=HDMI-A-1:${videores} quiet
env save
reset

Or

Disable debug port

setenv console
env save
reset

• Rootfs

TBD

• Services

1. Using systemctl disable remove ,we can remove unnecessary services.

systemctl disable <services>

eg.

systemctl disable boottimes

System Recovery

This section provides detail procedures of restoring the eMMC image.

For more usage (https://github.com/NXPmicro/mfgtools/wiki)

Reflash EMMC from Boot SD CARD

Download mksd-linux.sh in https://github.com/ADVANTECH-Corp/RISC_tools_scripts/blob/mickledore/imx8/mksd-linux.sh

Download "Product_AIM_Release_version"_flash_tool.tgz

Unzip the "Product_AIM_Release_version"_flash_tool.tgz

Copy the mksd-linux.sh to mk_inand folder.

Run mksd-linux.sh

Package List

How to get the MAC, Serial Number, and Manufacture Date in the QSPI flash

MAC 0:

READ_DATA=`dd if=/dev/mtdblock0 bs=1 skip=$((0xd0000)) count=6 2> /dev/null | hexdump -e '16/1 "%02x " "\n"' | sed 's/ /:/g' | cut -c 1-17`
echo $READ_DATA

MAC 1:

READ_DATA=`dd if=/dev/mtdblock0 bs=1 skip=$((0xd0400)) count=6 2> /dev/null | hexdump -e '16/1 "%02x " "\n"' | sed 's/ /:/g' | cut -c 1-17`
echo $READ_DATA

Serial Number:

READ_DATA=`dd if=/dev/mtdblock0 bs=1 skip=$((0xd0006)) count=10 2> /dev/null | cut -c 1-10`
echo $READ_DATA

Manufacture Date:

READ_DATA=`dd if=/dev/mtdblock0 bs=1 skip=$((0xd0010)) count=14 2> /dev/null | cut -c 1-14`
READ_DATA=`echo $READ_DATA | cut -c 1-4`-`echo $READ_DATA | cut -c 5-6`-`echo $READ_DATA | cut -c 7-8`_`echo $READ_DATA | cut -c 9-10`-`echo $READ_DATA | cut -c 11-12`-`echo $READ_DATA | cut -c 13-14`
echo $READ_DATA