Getting Started

Introduction

To get started pull the projects latest source from the svn workspace at ppc-dev/ppc-dev. To browse the latest project source just go here. and check the Status Page for related info on commits. This project kicked off in late 06 with an OpenSolaris on PPC source tarball generated by the Sun Labs team which you can find here. This was the source base for rev 1 of the projects repository. 

 The project started with the early work that had originally been put together by PowerPC community leaders Cyril Plisko and Dennis Clarke from Blastwave. Along with the community members, Genesi has been a great supporter of this project and a key player in assisting us technically in this 1st phase. We expect they will continue to be involved with moving this effort forward. Additionally Freescale Semiconductor has provided technical input and assistance in the areas of tools and target bringup.

This source contribution was also helped along by numerous Sun developers, past and present, who provided the overview to get us going. The inital contribution you find here has been sync'd with a snapshot of onnv a bit after build 47. The latest source however is sync'd with bld 57.

The goal of this initial contribution was to create a working cross compile and debugging environment to facilitate kernel development on an actual PPC target. This source contribution has enabled that capability.  

What you will need...

The basics for kernel development here are a build or host machine, a target, a way of getting your executable down to the target and a means for debugging it. Since this project is in the early stages of bringing the kernel up on the target there are a number of limitations that you will face at this time ie: no Solaris PowerPC based host machine, only printf debugging, lack of KMBD 

• Host Machine: OpenSolaris x86 box. If you have an x86 system but need to install OpenSolaris on it go here. 

• Build Tools: You'll need the projects GCC 3.4.3 Cross Tool Chain that has updated configurations and bug fixes. 

• Target HW Platforms: There are a few choices. First Sun Labs develops mostly on the Genesi Pegasos ODW. Additionally we have used the EFIKA which you can get here, the PowerMac or the PPC based MacMini and it's OpenFirmware. Details on the CHRP HW architecture is excellent background information also. Of course Apple has moved on so you'll have to dig around for these PPC based models.

• TFTP, NFS & Network Switch: The project's development system uses the x86 Solaris host / build machine to serve also as the tftpboot and nfsroot for the target. With 2 network interfaces we have utilized it's 2nd ethernet port and a simple switch to create a dedicated private network that the target boots from. Make sure you are running nfs3, not nfs4 to serve the target. 

• The Source Tree: You can either obtain the source tarball generated by the Sun Labs team which you can find here, additionally the project has an svn repository which you can access according to the std instructions. For example you would have svn+ssh://user@svn.opensolaris.org/svn/ppc-dev/ppc-dev. Then there are a few kickstarting notes that should prove useful.

• Target Debugging Tools: PMDB and Printf on both targets, ODW via serial console and the PowerMAC via it's display. Metrowerks Codewarrior tool chain with PowerTAP PRO. Abatron BDI2000 with GDB.