Porting uCLinux to MSP430

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Elderflower14

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Hello,

I am looking to port uCLinux to MSP430 16bit processor. I am a beginner who has started my first job and this is the first task I have been given. Any pointers will be useful at this time. Many thanks in advance.
 

Thanks ckshivaram. I will read through. But I have another question related to this. My problem is I need to port uCLinux on 16bit MSP430 and install BlueZ on it. Will the above two links help me?
 

Thanks Alexan_e . CkShivaram as Alex pointed out I want to know how to port micro linux to msp430 mcu?
 

alexan_e said:
He is asking how to port the uCLinux OS to the MSP430 mcu, not how to program his mcu in a linux environment

Alex
Click to expand...

BUT, that is the first step you would need anyway. You need to be able to compile C/ASM code to the target CPU. You should just try some
kind of embedded self running code (no OS) just to get the hang of how to do it - compiling,downloading to target, running it etc etc....
Anyway, I don't know MSP430.....but surely the same sort of steps as target ARM for example.
Then you need the kernel code and compile it to the target cpu.
but it isn't going to be a piece of cake, even if somebody else has already done it, and wrote a guide.
good luck.
 

Elderflower14 said:
Thanks Alexan_e . CkShivaram as Alex pointed out I want to know how to port micro linux to msp430 mcu?
Click to expand...

A very difficult task indeed, the MSP430 is MMU-less, 16-bit and a relatively speaking small amount of RAM and flash. Last time I checked uCLinux required a minimum of 1MB of both RAM and flash, this fact would require the MSP430 have access to both externally.

You would probably be much better off considering a Open Source RTOS, like:

The FreeRTOS Project

BigDog
 

Guys, I need help desperately. I found uCLinux could be ported to 16 bit processors and I also read that uCLinux can use the flash memory. Is there any pointers anywhere i can use
 

Elderflower14 said:
I found uCLinux could be ported to 16 bit processors and I also read that uCLinux can use the flash memory. Is there any pointers anywhere i can use
Click to expand...

Yes, uCLinux can be booted off of a flash device, however this still leaves the issue of RAM.

You'll need 1 to 2MB of RAM that will be required, probably closer to 2MB at minimum if you want install BlueZ.

BigDog
 

Hi BigDog,

Thanks for the response. As per your suggestion I had decided to use FreeRTOS. I downloaded FreeRTOS for MSP430 CCS4 and followed the instructions as per the official site. But while building the project, I get the below error

error: option --include_path is missing its parameter 'dir'
gmake: *** [Demo_Source/ParTest.obj] Error 1

I am unsure as to what to do next. Could you please guide me.

Thanks.
 

I'd have to see the source files or the project as a whole would be better. What compiler are you using? IAR or Code Composer?

I you want to zip up your project and upload the file, I'll take a look at it.

BigDog
 

I am using Code Compose Studio and it is the demo file for MSP430F5438 from the FreeRTOS official site (https://www.freertos.org/tutorial/index.html]FreeRTOS-A Free professional grade RTOS supporting 27 architectures, including ARM7, ARM9, Cortex-M3, RX600, MSP430, MSP430X, MicroBlaze, AVR, x86, PIC32, PIC24, dsPIC, H8S, HCS12 and 8051[/url]). It is a standard port and I can't understand what is causing this problem.

---------- Post added at 11:26 ---------- Previous post was at 11:23 ----------

I am running this from a Windows system. Is that OK?
 


Yes, Windows should be fine. Did you check and see if Code Compose Studio was the recommended compiler>

BigDog
 

Yes I checked and this has been one of the approved compilers. They do have a separate port for CCS. Do I need to install Windows Simulator?
 

No you shouldn't have to, I'll check it out tomorrow. I have several MSP430 boards here.

BigDog
 

Hi BigDog- I got it working, it was silly error. Thanks for all the efforts.
 

uCLinux on MSP430, as some others have noted is a 'next-to-impossible' feat, unless you are talking of the openMSP430 on a FPGA and somehow figure out how to access enough RAM. Also if you miraculously manage to port it, say just the kernel, the moment you post some apps, even barebox, you'd hit upon the RAM limit again.
 

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