Creating a new ARM/AVR platform

[James]

Jacob Mansfield <cyberjacob <at> gmail.com> writes:


> So where would one start with getting Linux running on a 
custom AVR-based system?

AVR is a fablulus product line from Atmel. Atmel has been doing
minimal embedded linux systems on arm, for some time. Do you
have an Atmel sales engineer to answer your questions?

It might be better for you lead hardware designer, along with
your resident software guy, to talk to a firm such as 
Avnet, Arrow, North American, or any number of "rep" firms
about your product ideas and goals, before selecting a particular
ARM platform.

For example, if you have a VHDL designer, such as the fabulous
"Russell King" mentioned in this list, then he will know all
about choices.

If all you have is a software weenie, then talk to a rep firm
and tell them you was a 100% open source ARM development board
where you can "get wet" with embedded linux quickly.

Embedded linux and server linux and workstation based linux
are all colliding. The point made earlier about ensuring
you have source code to all of the device (hardware) 
on the platform of your choice, is not a trivial process.
Many vendors will keep those key hardware sources from you
and provide an object (executable) that you can link to
with an API of whatever features they deem you should get
access to or that you have paid to access.

These vendors are "crafty" at locking your company into a solution
that keeps them in your company's critical path; much like
Oracle does to companies that do not build their own 
"backend". CAVEAT EMPTOR!

There are no free lunches, yet. This is not a trivial undertaking
you are asking about. You really need to have tons of cash,
deep expertise (which can be obtained with money), or
just use an existing port/platform that meets your needs
or interests. Most embedded designers, know little about
how to build a linux based product or server. Most linux
folks know little about what is necessary to get linux running
on a processor, other than a will defined arch, like
x86, mips, sparc.....

Freescale, TI, Samsung, Atmel, and most processor vendors
(as there are thousands) have an ARM offerings.

So why Atmel?

What country and city is your design center in?
How big is your company (millions of dollars/yr)?

These answers will greatly affect who you need to talk
to, to get anything done. GE, for example is struggling
mightly with moving a myriad of embedded product lines
to ARM and embedded linux; so tons of cash is not even
the quintessential ingredient, imho. ISO-9000 and
"six-sigma"[2] and such rubbish prevents many companies
from innovating in the embedded linux space.

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Sigma

You may also want to look at Ubuntu on a router, as 
learning platform.  There are many. I just ran across 
one for the WRT-routers (sorry recompiling right now).
Ubuntu can run on lots of different ARM hardware.


hth,
James