Debugging Embedded Linux
Camarillo, Calif. – February 19, 2010 – Signum Systems
Corp., a 30-year provider of development tools for the embedded markets, has
added embedded Linux debugging features to its flagship Chameleon Debugger™ for
ARM processors.
With the new features, Chameleon Debugger together with Signum Systems’ JTAGjet
emulator make it easier and faster for the software and hardware engineers to
port Linux kernels to new hardware platforms, write and debug boot codes (UBL,
UBOOT), peripheral drivers, kernel modules and Linux applications.
With older, traditional debug tools, Linux requires a serial port or Ethernet
port for the terminal console, but with JTAGjet and Chameleon Debugger all
console operations are done via the JTAG port so that Ethernet and serial ports
are not necessary (many small, portable devices may not even have these ports).
Designers will also benefit from a much simpler and faster debug environment
that works on "bare-metal" boards which do not have any software, drivers or
even stable hardware platform.
All debugging is performed via a single JTAG port (IEEE 1149.1) connected
directly to the ARM processor, so that the hardware controlled by the processor
can be brought up in stages. All Linux terminal console messages during the boot
process are displayed in the debugger’s Console window, thus eliminating the
need for a terminal or other PC running terminal emulation.
When Linux is ready to load its file system, all TCP/IP operations are
redirected through the JTAG port and over LAN to the remote or host PC
containing the image of the Linux NFS file system. Only when the Linux port and
applications are ready for production, do the boot codes, kernel and NFS file
system need to be programmed into the NAND or NOR flash on the target board.
Having the entire Linux firmware objects on a PC rather than in flash results in
a faster and simpler debugging process.
NAND and NOR flash programming utilities are available as options to complete
the debugging and testing environment.
When more visibility into the executing applications is required, Chameleon
Debugger offers ETM (Embedded Trace Macrocell) and ETB (Embedded Trace Buffer)
support, which in addition to the ARM core execution path captured in real-time,
displays also variables and timing information.
Chameleon Debugger and JTAGjet are available now. For more information, please
contact Signum Systems Corp. at 805-383-3682 or visit www.signum.com for a list
of distributors.
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JTAGjet, Chameleon Debugger are trademarks of
Signum Systems Corp. ARM is a trademark of ARM Ltd. Other brands and products
are trademarks of their respective holders
™
