Super Fast Boot of Embedded Linux: 300 ms from boot loader to shell

Super Fast Boot of Embedded Linux: 300 ms from boot loader to shell

[Constantine Shulyupin]

Hello all,

Make Linux Software presents the fastest ever embedded Linux boot for
720 MHz ARM and NAND flash memory. Linux boot time is 300 milliseconds
from boot loader to shell. The first goal of the project is to achieve
a minimal boot time of a minimal but functional Linux system on common
hardware. The second goal is to provide a platform for developing more
functional systems with an even minimized boot time.

Video of boot process:   http://youtu.be/747XLVbTgA4

Boot log with timestamps:

0.000 0.000: TI X-Loader 1.4.4ss Mar 26 2011 01:45:43
0.000 0.000: Optimised by www.MakeLinux.com
0.000 0.000: Loading
0.237 0.237: Running
0.237 0.000: CFG_LOADADDR=80008000
0.249 0.012: *(int*)CFG_LOADADDR=e321f0d3
0.276 0.027: Linux version 2.6.32 (const@makelinux.com)
0.276 0.000: Starting application
0.296 0.020: BusyBox v1.16.2 hush - the humble shell

To learn more, please visit http://www.makelinux.com/emb/fastboot/omap

Thanks.

-- 
Constantine Shulyupin
http://www.MakeLinux.com/
Embedded Linux Systems,
Device Drivers, TI DaVinci

Re: Super Fast Boot of Embedded Linux: 300 ms from boot loader to shell

[Marco Stornelli]

Il 11/04/2011 16:02, Constantine Shulyupin ha scritto:
> Hello all,
>
> Make Linux Software presents the fastest ever embedded Linux boot for
> 720 MHz ARM and NAND flash memory. Linux boot time is 300 milliseconds
> from boot loader to shell. The first goal of the project is to achieve
> a minimal boot time of a minimal but functional Linux system on common
> hardware. The second goal is to provide a platform for developing more
> functional systems with an even minimized boot time.
>

Hi,

is it a marketing announcement or a presentation of an innovative 
solution? In the first case don't send this kind of email to this 
mailing list. In the second one, could you explain to us your "fast 
boot" solution or your kernel modifications? I can't find any 
implementation details on the web site.

Marco

Re: Super Fast Boot of Embedded Linux: 300 ms from boot loader to shell

[Constantine Shulyupin]

Thank you Marco for your feedback. I've added summary of used
optimization method:
• Reduction of kernel and filesystem size
• Kernel features: naked boot, initrd without compression
• Optimization of NAND flash interface in boot loader
• Boot time was measured with utility tstamp
• You can find more detailed list of methods at http://elinux.org/Boot_Time
• Techniques for improving embedded Linux startup time, presentation:
http://www.makelinux.com/emb/fastboot/MontaVista

Actually, detailed implementations of optimization methods are
described in numerous documents.

On Mon, Apr 11, 2011 at 7:53 PM, Marco Stornelli
<marco.stornelli@gmail.com> wrote:
> Il 11/04/2011 16:02, Constantine Shulyupin ha scritto:
>>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> Make Linux Software presents the fastest ever embedded Linux boot for
>> 720 MHz ARM and NAND flash memory. Linux boot time is 300 milliseconds
>> from boot loader to shell. The first goal of the project is to achieve
>> a minimal boot time of a minimal but functional Linux system on common
>> hardware. The second goal is to provide a platform for developing more
>> functional systems with an even minimized boot time.
>>
>
> Hi,
>
> is it a marketing announcement or a presentation of an innovative solution?
> In the first case don't send this kind of email to this mailing list. In the
> second one, could you explain to us your "fast boot" solution or your kernel
> modifications? I can't find any implementation details on the web site.
>
> Marco
>



-- 
Constantine Shulyupin
http://www.MakeLinux.com/
Embedded Linux Systems,
Device Drivers, TI DaVinci

Re: Super Fast Boot of Embedded Linux: 300 ms from boot loader to shell

[Marco Stornelli]

Il 13/04/2011 16:53, Constantine Shulyupin ha scritto:
> Thank you Marco for your feedback. I've added summary of used
> optimization method:
> • Reduction of kernel and filesystem size
> • Kernel features: naked boot, initrd without compression
> • Optimization of NAND flash interface in boot loader
> • Boot time was measured with utility tstamp
> • You can find more detailed list of methods at http://elinux.org/Boot_Time
> • Techniques for improving embedded Linux startup time, presentation:
> http://www.makelinux.com/emb/fastboot/MontaVista
>
> Actually, detailed implementations of optimization methods are
> described in numerous documents.

I really know. I was talking about *your* optimization method, but if I 
well understand you've just applied a list of well known methods.

Re: Super Fast Boot of Embedded Linux: 300 ms from boot loader to shell

[Matthieu CASTET]

Hi,

Marco Stornelli a écrit :
> Il 13/04/2011 16:53, Constantine Shulyupin ha scritto:
>> Thank you Marco for your feedback. I've added summary of used
>> optimization method:
>> • Reduction of kernel and filesystem size
>> • Kernel features: naked boot, initrd without compression
>> • Optimization of NAND flash interface in boot loader
>> • Boot time was measured with utility tstamp
>> • You can find more detailed list of methods at http://elinux.org/Boot_Time
>> • Techniques for improving embedded Linux startup time, presentation:
>> http://www.makelinux.com/emb/fastboot/MontaVista
>>
>> Actually, detailed implementations of optimization methods are
>> described in numerous documents.
> 
> I really know. I was talking about *your* optimization method, but if I 
> well understand you've just applied a list of well known methods.

Not to say such case are not interesting : loading a linux kernel with only a
serial driver, a ramdisk and a shell as init doesn't reflect reality.

In real product what you want if fast user interaction (sound, mounting big
filesystem with user data, lcd display, ...)


Matthieu

Re: Super Fast Boot of Embedded Linux: 300 ms from boot loader to shell

[Robert Schwebel]

On Thu, Apr 14, 2011 at 09:43:35AM +0200, Matthieu CASTET wrote:
> Not to say such case are not interesting : loading a linux kernel with
> only a serial driver, a ramdisk and a shell as init doesn't reflect
> reality.
>
> In real product what you want if fast user interaction (sound,
> mounting big filesystem with user data, lcd display, ...)

Well, it depends on the application. In the automotive box I've shown
the barebox based boot optimizations for in my ELC-E talk, the task is
to get CAN communication running in < 200 ms. For that kind of
application it's useful to be in userspace as fast as possible, just in
order to have one socket-can application running, and everything else
comes later.

rsc
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