Learn How SystemReady IR Works in Action

Learn How SystemReady IR Works in Action

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction to System Ready Program
2. Overview of the Arm EBR category
3. Specifications and Certifications
4. Introduction to the Compulab IoT Gate i.MX8 Board
5. Using the UEFI SCT for Certification
6. Booting Linux from the UEFI Shell
7. Booting Fedora 33 IoT ISO Image
8. Call to Action for the Community
9. Reproducing the Demonstrations on Your Platform
10. Conclusion

Introduction to System Ready Program

The System Ready program, implemented by Arm, is a certificate and specification program designed for embedded devices. The program focuses on ensuring that software works seamlessly on the Arm ecosystem. Within the program, the Arm EBR (Embedded Base Standard) category plays a crucial role, encompassing the smallest embedded devices in the Arm family. This article provides an overview of the System Ready program, details the specifications and certifications involved, and includes demonstrations using the Compulab IoT Gate i.MX8 board.

Overview of the Arm EBR Category

As Mentioned earlier, the Arm EBR category is dedicated to the smallest embedded devices within the Arm family. Despite their size, these devices still adhere to the vision of the System Ready program, which aims for software compatibility across the Arm ecosystem. To achieve this, the EBR category follows the EBVR (Embedded Base Boot Requirements) certification and leverages the ACS (Arm Certification Suite) test suite. This section explores the importance of the EBR category and its role in the broader system readiness.

Specifications and Certifications

In order to ensure software compatibility and reliability, the System Ready program includes several specifications and certifications. The most significant specification, particularly in terms of software, is the EBVR certification. This certification, co-developed by Grant Likely and the community, is crucial for achieving system readiness. Additionally, the Arm EBR category is actively developing the ACS test suite specifically for EBR devices. This section delves into the importance of these specifications and certifications and their impact on the system readiness of embedded devices.

Introduction to the Compulab IoT Gate i.MX8 Board

To provide practical demonstrations of system readiness, this article utilizes the Compulab IoT Gate i.MX8 board. This board is Based on the XP SoC i.MX8M Mini, which consists of four Cortex-A53 cores running in a 64-bit configuration. The board includes pre-flashed firmware in the eMMC boot partition, ensuring a seamless demonstration. It also incorporates the UEFI interface and a DTB embedded within U-Boot, enabling smooth booting with various applications. This section introduces the board used for the demonstrations and highlights its key features.

Using the UEFI SCT for Certification

The UEFI SCT (Self-Certification Test Suite) plays a crucial role in the System Ready program, particularly for certification purposes. This tool is utilized to run tests on the EBR devices, generating detailed logs of the test results. The SCT consists of two steps: the UEFI action that runs on U-Boot with the UEFI interface, and the log analysis carried out offline using a Python script created by Arm. This section explores the significance of the UEFI SCT in the certification process and provides insights into its implementation on the Compulab IoT Gate i.MX8 board.

Booting Linux from the UEFI Shell

One of the primary objectives of achieving system readiness is booting unmodified Linux distributions on Arm devices using the UEFI boot flow. In this section, we demonstrate how to boot Linux manually from the UEFI shell. By utilizing a customized USB key with the required files, users can initiate a boot path that bypasses the need for a bootloader. The demonstration incorporates the UEFI stub and UEFI config, allowing seamless booting into the Linux user space. This section provides step-by-step instructions for booting Linux from the UEFI shell on the Compulab IoT Gate i.MX8 board.

Booting Fedora 33 IoT ISO Image

In addition to booting Linux from the UEFI shell, system readiness also encompasses booting custom distributions such as Fedora. This section focuses on booting a Fedora 33 IoT ISO image, which is modified to work seamlessly with Arm devices. The boot path for Fedora involves additional components, including the UEFI shim executable and the GRUB bootloader. By following the appropriate steps and utilizing a customized USB key, users can successfully boot Fedora on their EBR devices. This section provides a comprehensive guide to booting the Fedora 33 IoT ISO image on the Compulab IoT Gate i.MX8 board.

Call to Action for the Community

Achieving system readiness requires collective efforts from the Arm community. This section emphasizes the importance of community involvement and encourages readers to participate in the System Ready program. By reproducing the demonstrations on their own platforms and providing feedback, community members can contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of the program. The article also provides resources and contact information for further inquiries.

Reproducing the Demonstrations on Your Platform

To stimulate community involvement, the demonstrations showcased in this article can be reproduced on various Arm platforms. This section encourages readers to replicate the steps detailed in the demonstrations, including using the UEFI SCT and booting unmodified distributions. Resources and links are provided for accessing the necessary files and tools. Readers are encouraged to share their experiences and results, ultimately contributing to the overall system readiness of Arm embedded devices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the System Ready program and the Arm EBR category play vital roles in ensuring software compatibility and system readiness for embedded devices. The demonstrations conducted using the Compulab IoT Gate i.MX8 board provide practical insights into the certification process and booting various distributions. By actively engaging with the System Ready program and reproducing the demonstrations on their own platforms, community members can contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of system readiness in the Arm ecosystem.

Highlights:

• Introduction to the System Ready program and the Arm EBR category
• Specifications and certifications involved in achieving system readiness
• Practical demonstrations using the Compulab IoT Gate i.MX8 board
• Utilizing the UEFI SCT for certification
• Booting Linux from the UEFI shell
• Booting Fedora 33 IoT ISO image
• Call to action for community involvement
• Reproducing the demonstrations on different Arm platforms

FAQ:

Q: What is the System Ready program? A: The System Ready program, implemented by Arm, is a certificate and specification program designed to ensure software compatibility and system readiness for embedded devices.

Q: What is the Arm EBR category? A: The Arm EBR category encompasses the smallest embedded devices in the Arm family and focuses on achieving software compatibility across the Arm ecosystem.

Q: What are the specifications and certifications involved in achieving system readiness? A: The EBVR (Embedded Base Boot Requirements) certification and the ACS (Arm Certification Suite) test suite are the key specifications and certifications involved in achieving system readiness.

Q: How can I reproduce the demonstrations on my platform? A: You can reproduce the demonstrations by following the steps provided in the article and utilizing the necessary files and tools. Resources and links are available for further assistance.