Yocto Build Linux

From Variscite Wiki
Build Linux from source code
It is recommended to build the kernel image using Yocto (see the Customizing the Linux kernel page) instead of using the direct method described in this page.
This is because some of the Yocto packages may depend on the kernel, like the WiFi module that is built from outside of the kernel source tree on some of the Yocto releases.

Toolchain installation for out of Yocto builds

To install the toolchain, follow the Yocto Toolchain installation guide.

Build Linux out of Yocto tree

Get the Linux source code:

$ git clone https://github.com/varigit/linux-2.6-imx.git
$ cd linux-2.6-imx
$ git checkout imx-rel_imx_4.1.15_2.0.0_ga-var02

Build the Linux kernel:

$ source /opt/fslc-x11/2.3.1/environment-setup-armv7at2hf-neon-fslc-linux-gnueabi
$ make mrproper
$ make imx7-var-som_defconfig
Customize the kernel configuration (optional step):
$ make menuconfig
Build everything:
$ make -j4
Build zImage only:
$ make -j4  zImage

Build modules only:
$ make -j4  modules

Build device trees only:
$ make -j4 dtbs
Build only the device tree for VAR-SOM-MX7 with eMMC:
$ make -j4 imx7d-var-som-emmc.dtb

Build only the device tree for VAR-SOM-MX7 with NAND flash:
$ make -j4 imx7d-var-som-nand.dtb

Build only the device tree for VAR-SOM-MX7 with eMMC and M4 support:
$ make -j4 imx7d-var-som-emmc-m4.dtb

Build only the device tree for VAR-SOM-MX7 with NAND flash and M4 support:
$ make -j4 imx7d-var-som-nand-m4.dtb


Notes:

If you replace the kernel image (zImage) on your system, you also need to reinstall the kernel modules, and vice versa.
If you just want to make a change in the device tree, you can compile and replace it without replacing the kernel image and modules.

Install the built kernel on an SD card

Copy the zImage and device trees to the SD card boot partition, and install the modules in the SD card rootfs partition.
Assuming the boot partition is mounted on /media/user/BOOT-VARMX7 and the rootfs partition is mounted on /media/user/rootfs:

Install the kernel image and modules:
$ cp arch/arm/boot/zImage /media/user/BOOT-VARMX7
$ sudo make ARCH=arm modules_install INSTALL_MOD_PATH=/media/user/rootfs


Install the device trees:

$ cp arch/arm/boot/dts/imx7*var*.dtb /media/user/BOOT-VARMX7

Notes:

  • If you are using our Yocto Recovery SD card, and you want the NAND flash/eMMC installation process to be updated as well as the SD card boot itself, you need to also update the /opt/images/Yocto directory.
  • You should always properly unmount your SD card before physically removing it.