Architectures/AArch64/FoundationModelQuickStart

Aarch64 Quickstart Guide

This page will help those new to aarch64(armv8) get started the foundation model provided by ARM.

Download The Required Software

The first step will be to download the Foundation model from ARM, a stage4 root filesystem, and a kernel for use with the file system. In order to download the Foundation model you will need to create a free account with ARM.

• The Foundation Model
• The Kernel
• The root filestsystem

Using the model

Unpack the model

mkdir ~/aarch64
cd ~/aarch64
tar xvzf FM000-KT-00035-r0p8-44rel23.tgz

Rather than using the full path, create an alias for running the Foundation model

alias fv8="~/aarch64/Foundation_v8pkg/Foundation_v8"

Extract the Root Filesystem

After downloading the rootfs extract it to your '~/armv8' directory:

cd ~/armv8
tar xvjf f19-stage4-rootfs.tar.bz2

With the kernel, rootfs in your working directory fv8 --image img-foundation.axf --block-device f19-stage4-rootfs.img --network=nat

The model will take a few moments to start.

Using the model with an NFS root

Using the model through an NFS is recommended as it will allow the most flexibility when working with the model. Again there are two kernels, one for use with Busybox, the other for use with systemd.

• Kernel w/systemd
• kernel w/busybox
• nfs file system (link to stage4)

Extract

First you will need to create a directory for the root filesystem. It is important you use the same path in the example as the kernel expects the rootfs to be at the path noted.

mkdir -p /var/exports/aarch64/stage4-nfs-root
cd /var/exports/aarch64/
wget http://fedorapeople.org/groups/armv8/stage4-root-20130411.tar.xz
cd stage4-nfs-root
sudo tar xvJf ../stage4-root-20130411.tar.xz
sudo mv stage4-root-20130411/* .
sudo rm -rf stage4-root-20130411

• Now create an NFS share for the rootfs, edit /etc/exports

vi /etc/exports
/var/exports/aarch64/stage4-nfs-root *(rw,no_root_squash,no_all_squash,async)

• Start the service

sudo systemctl start nfs.service

Networking with an NFS root

You need to setup the network for use with the aarch64 model and the addressing used in the kernel arguments. Start the model using one of the following depending on if you would like to use systemd or busybox.

• Systemd:

fv8 --image systemd-3.7-nfs-foundation.axf --network=bridged

• Busybox:

fv8 --image busybox-3.7-nfs-foundation.axf --network=bridged

After starting the model you will see a new device created on your host system named 'ARM0', use the following to assign an IP address for use with the model:

sudo ifconfig ARM0 10.0.0.1 netmask 255.255.255.0

Once this adapter is assigned an IP address, the system should boot to either a login prompt or boot with busybox as the init process.