Intermec ck1 Reference Guide
Appendix A —
µClinux System
CK1 SDK Programmer’s Reference Manual
291
The advantages that the general purpose Linux offers can also be found
from the CK1 embedded
from the CK1 embedded
µClinux. The open nature of Linux provides for
quick modifications against the physical requirements, while still providing
a reliable and standardized base system for the developers. The Linux
community also provides a variety of freely available open source
applications, which can also be used with the CK1 embedded
a reliable and standardized base system for the developers. The Linux
community also provides a variety of freely available open source
applications, which can also be used with the CK1 embedded
µClinux
versions.
This appendix mainly focuses on the CK1
µClinux boot sequence, kernel
architecture, power management, support libraries, device configuration,
GUI system, and the development tools. This focus is done by pointing
out options that the developer can make. It also states some similarities
and differences against the general purpose Linux and briefly introduces
the architectural concept of the Esfia embedded
GUI system, and the development tools. This focus is done by pointing
out options that the developer can make. It also states some similarities
and differences against the general purpose Linux and briefly introduces
the architectural concept of the Esfia embedded
µClinux kernel from the
developers’ point of view.
Linux Kernel
The heart of the operating system is the kernel. By itself the kernel is
useless and it only participates as one layer in the overall computer system
between the physical hardware and the application programs. Within the
kernel, Linux runs subsystems to keep track of the different files providing
an execution environment for the different applications that run on the
system and assigns memory and other resources for a variety of processes
that take care of the networking functionality handling the inter-process
communication and making it possible for the low-level elements to
interact with the hardware.
useless and it only participates as one layer in the overall computer system
between the physical hardware and the application programs. Within the
kernel, Linux runs subsystems to keep track of the different files providing
an execution environment for the different applications that run on the
system and assigns memory and other resources for a variety of processes
that take care of the networking functionality handling the inter-process
communication and making it possible for the low-level elements to
interact with the hardware.
Booting Sequence
The boot process details are architecture-specific, so this is only an example
of a typical boot sequence of an x86 based computer with a separate boot
loader. Roughly the boot process of the Linux operating system can be
divided into the three following stages:
of a typical boot sequence of an x86 based computer with a separate boot
loader. Roughly the boot process of the Linux operating system can be
divided into the three following stages:
1
The hardware is initialized and made ready for the operating system.
2
The kernel is loaded to the RAM by the boot loader from a specific
storage.
storage.
3
The kernel continues to initialize the hardware and starts to run the
different applications.
different applications.