CPU freq and num of cores

Set the CPU freq. and number of active cores

If your motivation is to simulate a weaker SOC model (for example, simulate an i.MX6Solo using an i.MX6Quad),

note that there are a few other differences between some of the i.MX SOC models, like RAM bus width (32bit on the Solo, 64bit on the Quad) and some graphics acceleration features.
See the full change list here:

http://www.nxp.com/docs/en/brochure/FLYRIMXPRDCMPR.pdf

CPU cores

There are two ways to disable/enable CPU cores:

1. Add 'maxcpus=n' (n being the number of cores you wish to activate), to the kernel command line (the bootargs from U-Boot).
E.g. Assuming you are using our latest U-Boot, stop at the U-Boot command line and enter:

=> setenv kernelargs maxcpus=2

2. To disable/enable cores at kernel runtime:
Disbale core X:

# echo 0 > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpuX/online

Enable core X:

# echo 1 > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpuX/online

(X being the core number you want to enable/disable, and can range from 0 to 3)

To see the active cores, run:

# cat /proc/cpuinfo

CPU frequencies

Governors:
There are a few freq. governors which sets the freq. policy.
The default freq. governor is "ondemand", which sets the CPU frequency depending on the current system load.
To list all available governors:

# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_governors

To read about the different governors, see the following page from the Linux documentation:
https://github.com/varigit/linux-2.6-imx/blob/imx-rel_imx_4.1.15_2.0.0_ga-var02/Documentation/cpu-freq/governors.txt

To set the current governor:

# cat GOVERNOR > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor

(GOVERNOR being one of the available governors)

Useful commands:
To see the available CPU frequencies:

# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_frequencies

To see the current CPU frequency:

# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_cur_freq

Common scenarios:
1. Use the default "ondemand" governor and limit the maximum allowed CPU freq. using the following commands:

To see the current maximum allowed CPU frequency:

# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_max_freq

To set the maximum allowed CPU frequency:

# echo FREQ > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_max_freq

(FREQ being one of the available CPU frequencies)

2. Use the "userspace" governor and set the CPU to a specific frequency using the following command:

# echo FREQ > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_setspeed

(FREQ being one of the available CPU frequencies)