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This practically-oriented textbook provides a clear introduction to the different component parts of an operating system and how these work together. The easy-to-follow text covers the bootloader, kernel, filesystem, shared libraries, start-up scripts, configuration files and system utilities. The procedure for building each component is described in detail, guiding the reader through the process of creating a fully functional GNU/Linux embedded OS. Features: presents a concise overview of the GNU/Linux system, and a detailed review of GNU/Linux filesystems; describes how to build an embedded system to run on a virtual machine, and to run natively on an actual processor; introduces the concept of the compiler toolchain, demonstrating how to develop a cross toolchain so that programs can be built on a range of different architectures; discusses the ARM-based platforms BeagleBone and Raspberry Pi; explains how to build OpenWRT firmware images for OMxP Open-mesh devices and the Dragino MS14 series.

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Introduction

Overview of GNU/Linux

The Filesystem in Detail

Building an Embedded System (First Pass)

Building an Embedded System (Second Pass)

Compiler Toolchains

Embedded ARM Devices

OpenWRT

Start-Up Scripts

Inittab

Glossary

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Dr. Alan Holt is Chief Technical Officer at the network consultancy company IP Performance Ltd., based in Bristol, UK. His publications include the Springer title Network Performance Analysis: Using the J Programming Language .

Dr. Chi-Yu Huang works for Tata Technologies Ltd., and is currently a software consultant on the Airbus project in Bristol. She was formerly Operations Manager for DL Consulting, New Zealand. Together with Dr. Holt, she is also co-author of the Springer book 802.11 Wireless Networks: Security and Analysis .

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