From: eLinux.org

Embedded Linux Distributions

Contents

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Vendor distros
• 3 Platforms
• 4 Other distros
  • 4.1 Special purpose embedded Linux
    distributions
• 5 Configuration and Build
  systems
• 6 Obsolete things
• 7 Further reading

Introduction

Besides the Linux kernel, one of the advantage of embedded Linux is the
ability to leverage hundreds if not thousands of existing free and open
source packages to easily and quickly add new features to devices. These
packages range from graphical libraries, multimedia libraries, network
libraries, cryptographic libraries, network servers, infrastructure
software and more. However, integrating all these components together
requires a relatively deep knowledge of the components. Hence,
embedded-specific distributions and build systems have been created to
ease this process.

Vendor distros

• The Blackfin uClinux
  Distribution
  by Analog Devices - a fork of the
  uClinux distribution for Blackfin processors
• Embedded Alley - see
  http://www.embeddedalley.com/
• KaeilOS embedded linux
• Lineo Solutions
  uLinux
• MontaVista Linux - see
  http://www.mvista.com/products_services.php
• Pengutronix OSELAS.BSP() - see
  http://www.pengutronix.de/oselas/bsp/index_en.html
• RidgeRun Linux - see
  http://www.ridgerun.com/sdk.shtml
• TimeSys LinuxLink - see
  http://www.timesys.com/embedded-linux/linuxlink
• Ubuntu Mobile
• Wind River - see
  http://www.windriver.com/products/linux/
• Little Blue Linux - MPC Data
• Digi Embedded
  Linux
  for Digi’s ARM based modules

Platforms

• Android
• Maemo (deprecated - see Meego)
• Meego
• Moblin (deprecated - see Meego)
• OpenMoko
• Access Linux Platform
• LIMO

Other distros

• Snapgear Embedded Linux Distribution -
  http://www.snapgear.org/
• Open Wrt -
  http://openwrt.org/
• Embedded Debian -
  http://www.emdebian.org/
  • Emdebian has made some significant progress the last few years,
    and has now reached an usable state. Two versions of
    Emdebian are
    available : Emdebian Grip and Emdebian Crush.
  • Neil Williams gave a talk Emdebian 1.0 release, small and super
    small Debian at the FOSDEM 2009. A
    video
    is available.
• Embedded Gentoo -
  http://embedded.gentoo.org/
• Arch Linux for ARM -
  http://archlinuxarm.org/
• GeeXboX -
  http://www.geexbox.org/
  • GeeXboX is an embedded multimedia distribution that turns your
    device into a full-featured MediaCenter.
• Aboriginal Linux -
  http://landley.net/aboriginal/

Special purpose embedded Linux distributions

• Flash Linux - a distribution
  specifically for USB keys and Live CDs
• Eagle Linux -
  http://www.safedesksolutions.com/eaglelinux/
  • An embedded Linux distribution aimed at helping users learn
    Linux by creating bootable Linux images “virtually from
    scratch”. Eagle Linux 2.3 is currently distributed as a concise,
    26-page PDF documenting the creation of a minimalist,
    network-ready Linux image for bootable CDs, floppies, or flash
    drives. See description at:
    http://ct.enews.deviceforge.com/rd/cts?d=207-106-2-28-5560-8662-0-0-0-1
• uClinux A distribution targeting (but not
  only) systems without Memory Management Unit. See also UClinux
  Shared Library.

Configuration and Build systems

See Build Systems

See also Toolchains

Obsolete things

• Qplus Target Builder
  • Target image builder from ETRI

Further reading

• Embedded OS mentions a variety of
  embedded operating systems, including embedded Linux.
• Tools and distributions for embedded Linux
  development - LWN.net 2010/04/27
  by Tom Parkin
  • This is an excellent roundup of current (as of 2010) tools and
    distributions available for embedded Linux development (that’s
    redundant).

Category:

• Linux