Difference between revisions of "Migrating from x86 architecture to Naon"

From DAVE Developer's Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
m
(10 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{InfoBoxTop}}
 
{{InfoBoxTop}}
−
{{AppliesToNaonFamily}}
+
{{AppliesToNaon}}
 
{{InfoBoxBottom}}
 
{{InfoBoxBottom}}
−
==Introduction==
 
−
Computational power achievable by system-on-chips built around Cortex-A8 processor make them an appealing solution for several applications that historically have been implemented on x86-based systems.
 
  
−
This article, written as a list of commonly asked questions, aims to help system integrators and developers who are used to work on x86-based machines to make a sort of comparison between these two different approaches in order to ease the migration process to Naon-based platforms.
+
Computational power achievable by system-on-chips built around Cortex-A8 processor make them appealing solution for several applications that historically have been implemented on x86-based processors.
 +
 
 +
This article, written as a list of commonly asked questions, aims to help system integrators and developers who are used to work on x86-based machines to make a sort of comparison between these two different approaches.
  
 
Following images show simplified block diagram of x86-based PC-like architecture and Naon architecture.
 
Following images show simplified block diagram of x86-based PC-like architecture and Naon architecture.
Line 14: Line 14:
 
This image shows in detail internal architecture of DM8148 digital media processor.
 
This image shows in detail internal architecture of DM8148 digital media processor.
 
[[File:Dm8148-block-diagram.png|300px|thumbnail|center|Naon SOM architecture]]
 
[[File:Dm8148-block-diagram.png|300px|thumbnail|center|Naon SOM architecture]]
−
The first notable difference is about the integration level. By definition, system-on-chip such as DM8148, are designed to address embedded systems where footprint - in terms of PCB area and power budget - has to be minimized but, at same time, no significant compromise in performance is acceptable.
 
−
 
−
Reading of [[Deploying Embedded Linux Systems]] is recommended to complement issues here described.
 
  
 
==Where is the BIOS?==
 
==Where is the BIOS?==
−
Technically speaking, there is no BIOS. Typical configurations of true embedded systems implement a bootloader instead. This software is executed by processor right after it comes out of reset. Like BIOS, bootlader is responsible of:
+
{{WorkInProgress}}
−
# initializing the majority of hardware components - for example processor main PLLs and SDRAM controller
 
−
# loading operating system kernel; once this step is completed, bootloader or any part of it is not involved anymore until next bootstrap.
 
−
Bootlader usually implements a console - for example via UART port - that allows human operators to interact with the machine. This is extremely useful, for example, for maintenance operations and for development purposes.
 
−
 
 
 
==What about GPU?==
 
==What about GPU?==
−
Modern PC graphics cards integrate a processor called GPU (Graphics processing unit) that accesses a dedicated SDRAM bank.
+
{{WorkInProgress}}
−
 
 
−
From the functional standpoint, on DM8148 graphics processing is performed by some blocks that are integrated in the chip. They are:
 
−
# High Definition Video Processing Subsystem (HDVPSS)
 
−
# High Definition Vieo Image Coprocessor (HDVICP2)
 
−
# SGX530 3D Graphics Engine
 
−
# Imaging Subsystem (ISS)
 
−
# Media controllers.
 
−
These blocks are tightly coupled with main general-purpose CPU (ARM Cortex-A8) and with SDRAM through a 128-bit wide 500 MHz internal bus called System Interconnect.
 
−
 
 
−
All of these entities share the system SDRAM. SDRAM is managed by sophisticated DMM/TILER module that optimizes its usage and implements priority management.
 

Revision as of 10:17, 15 June 2012

HOME SOMs SBCs ToloMEO Embedded Assistant Sale-tag.pngGET A QUOTE Customer-service.pngONLINE HELPDESK
Roadmap IoT Services ML/AI services Embedded Design Services
Info Box
Naon am387x-dm814x.png Applies to Naon

Computational power achievable by system-on-chips built around Cortex-A8 processor make them appealing solution for several applications that historically have been implemented on x86-based processors.

This article, written as a list of commonly asked questions, aims to help system integrators and developers who are used to work on x86-based machines to make a sort of comparison between these two different approaches.

Following images show simplified block diagram of x86-based PC-like architecture and Naon architecture.

x86-based PC-like architecture
Naon SOM architecture

This image shows in detail internal architecture of DM8148 digital media processor.

Naon SOM architecture

Where is the BIOS?[edit | edit source]

WorkInProgress.gif

What about GPU?[edit | edit source]

WorkInProgress.gif

HOME SOMs SBCs ToloMEO Embedded Assistant Sale-tag.pngGET A QUOTE Customer-service.pngONLINE HELPDESK
Roadmap IoT Services ML/AI services Embedded Design Services
Retrieved from "https://wiki.dave.eu/index.php?title=Migrating_from_x86_architecture_to_Naon&oldid=578"