Running a Linux distribution ( Xillinux ) on ZedBoard

Introduction :

This lab consists of an implementation (or port) of an operating system called Xillinux, based on the distribution Ubuntu 12.04, intended for ZYNQ architecture (2 ARM processor and FPGA part).
Currently, there are two versions of this system, Xillinux 1.1 and Xillinux 1.3
In this lab, we are interested in version Xillinux 1.1

To achieve our goal, we invite you to take the following steps:

1. Visit this page, and then download both resources, as shown in the following figure.

2. Unzip the archive: xillinux-eval-zedboard-1.2.zip

In the "system" folder, double-click the file « system.xmp »,it will be opened with the software: Xilinx Platform Studio (XPS).

3. After opening the software, choose the tab « ZYNQ », then in the block I/O Peripherals block Zynq PS GPIO Peripheral (the last entry ) in EMIO GPIO (Width) ; choose the value 56.

4. Choose the option « Generate Netlist »

At the end of this stage, a message will be displayed on the software console, indicating the success of this stage.

ِClose XPS software.

5. Double click the folder "runonce", ISE software will launch.

Click on the project entitled "runonce.xise"

For each application "fifo_32x512", "fifo_8x2048" and "vga_fifo"; action "regerate core"

Example: select "fifo_32x512" and double click "Regenerate core"

5. Now, we need to generate the file named "Bitstream"

choose (your choice), verilog or VHDL file, then double click on the project "xillydemo.xise"

We will choose the verilog folder.

Choose the option" Generate Programming File "

At the end of this stage, a file will be created, appointed " xillydemo.bit "

Just copy it to the directory " boot "

6. Finally, to generate the boot.bin file, just click on the file "makeboot.bat"

The boot.bin file is the file that provides the startup of the operating system Xillinux 1.1, care from memory (SD card), the Zedboard development board.

7. Now just prepare the memory card.

Download this Software USB image tool

Insert the memory card in the dedicated slot on your laptop or external drive. ( if you are using Linux OS, you can use Gparted

In the sidebar, click right on the card in, then choose "format"

Create two partition, the first under the FAT size of 16 MB file format and a second format Ext4 partition (the remaining memory space).

Use the USB Image tool software (after extracting the archive), select "USB Image Tool.exe"

Click on "Restore" and then select the image system

· Select the location of the xilinx-1.1.img.gz image and confirm.

· Finally, copy the files located under the directory to the Boot partition (FAT 16 MB) in the memory card.

8. Prepare Zedboard card (see the figure below)

9. Link the keyboard and mouse to the USB OTG port, insert the memory card in the dedicated slot.

To start the graphical version of Xillinux operating system, just type startx