Layerscape SDK

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Layerscape SDK is the next generation of Linux enablement software for Layerscape and QorIQ family of processors. It provides all the necessary drivers, tools, and libraries required to enable all features of the Arm^®-based Layerscape processors and Power-based QorIQ P-series and T-series processors.

Layerscape SDK is tested, certified, and frozen, ensuring a fully operational boot loader, kernel, and board-specific modules that are ready to use together within a fixed configuration for specific hardware reference platforms. Layerscape SDK, combined with CodeWarrior^® tools, provides the foundation you need to begin your project quickly.

There are 4 ways to use the Linux enablement software from NXP
- As a complete reference integration¹ with an Ubuntu user-space² which allow users to quickly deploy and test-drive various features on a Layerscape reference design platform.
- As individual components including kernel drivers, U-Boot and UEFI bootloaders, firmware, user-space libraries that can be integrated into a Linux distribution. The LSDK components are commercial grade and thoroughly tested with years of development expertise going into them. These components form the basis for integration into community, commercial, and customer Linux distributions.
- As standard Linux distros, available directly from communities like Yocto, OpenWRT.
- As part of open source communities like kernel.org, dpdk.org, denx.de (U-Boot).

Notes:

This is a combination of NXP provided kernel and bootloaders with an Ubuntu user-space derived from an LTS release available from Ubuntu.
NXP Layerscape processors are fully Arm^® standards compliant and are capable of running thousands of Linux applications in binary form.

User Guide

Software Details

Diagram

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NXP Linux Software

Different ways to get Linux

Layerscape Software Development Kit

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Features

Layerscape SDK Components

Freely available
- Download from public repositories (e.g. github.com)
- No need to download a large ISO and extract
Modularized
- Boot-loaders, Kernels, User-space libraries, Tools, Configuration
- Pick and choose ones you need
Clean layering, separation
- Separate patches on top of open source
- Patches identified by platform/IP
Easy updates via Git
- Periodic releases and interim updates
- Support for 2 recent LTS kernels

Layerscape SDK

Easy boot mechanisms
- Boot from multiple sources
- Simple, quick updates from any mass-storage
- Brick-proof mechanism* - easy recovery via SD
Easy runtime upgrades
- Rich Ubuntu user-land and repositories
- On-the-fly install with apt-get
- Build/install from source on target
Latest and greatest
- Latest Layerscape platforms
- Latest drivers and features
- Layerscape specific tools, drivers

Note: LSDK is Not a Linux Distribution

It is a reference integration
Leverages user-land from popular Ubuntu Distribution

Note: LSDK is Not a Linux Distribution

What’s New in LSDK 21.08

LTS 5.10.35 update
PREEMPT_RT on LTS kernel 5.10.35
U-Boot v2021.04 update
TF-A v2.4 update
NXP LSDK Userland including Ubuntu 20.04 main packages and NXP packages
Support of LS1046ARDB-PB revC and LX2160A-RDB-B
Support of DPDK 20.11, OVS-DPDK 2.15, VPP 2101, PKTGEN 21.3
MC 10.28.1 update
OPTEE 3.13 update
Removal of eIQ^{^®} chapter from LSDK User Guide

Support Policy

Technology Support Policies for more information.

Supported Devices

Expand All

Processors and Microcontrollers
- Power Architecture
  - QorIQ^® Processors Based on Power Architecture Technology T-Series
    - T4240
    - T1024
    - T2080
    - T1042
    - T1040
  - QorIQ^® Processors Based on Field Proven Power Architecture Technology P-Series
    - P4080
    - P2020
    - P1020
    - P5040
    - P3041
    - P2040
    - P5020
    - P1010
    - P1022
- Arm Processors
  - Layerscape^® Processors
    - LS2084A
    - LS1012A
    - LS1088A
    - LS1020A
    - LS1046A
    - LS1043A
    - LS1021A
    - LS2088A
    - LS1028A
    - LX2160A

Supported Linux Distros

In addition to the Layerscape components and hybrid Ubuntu support, we also provide support for a variety of popular embedded and server Linux distros. We work together with various open-source communities like Yocto project, OpenWRT, ONIE/ONL and OpenIL to ensure that support for our platforms is available as part of the regular releases from these distro communities. Our Layerscape components form a common base that is re-used across these various distros and maintains consistency across PowerPC based QorIQ P and T-series family and Arm^®v8 based Layerscape family.

Yocto (QorIQ P/T-series and LS-series)
- Yocto layer which manages the recipes of BSP level packages, e.g. fm-ucode, u-boot, kernel.
  - meta-freescale
- Yocto layer which manages the recipes of SDK distro related packages, e.g. EdgeScale package, demo images.
  - meta-qoriq-demo
- Repo manifest project which facilitates the download of all required layers of Yocto SDK.
  - yocto-sdk
OpenWRT / LEDE (LS-series)
ONIE / ONL (QorIQ P/T-series and LS-series)

Compare QorIQ and Layerscape SDK

QorIQ SDK is a fully featured and mature Yocto-based software kit for both Arm-based Layerscape QorIQ Power Architecture-based P-series and T-series families of processors.
However, Layerscape SDK provides much more flexibility to users in terms of choice of distro, community code-base, ease-of-use.
We recommend customers using both Arm-based Layerscape and Power-based QorIQ P-series and T-series family to migrate to Layerscape SDK or the Linux distros for the most up to date enablement software and tools, including support for the latest LTS Linux kernels. For legacy compatibility with QorIQ SDK, we continue to support Yocto as one of the key Linux distro options going forward.
Both QorIQ and Layerscape SDK can be used either as reference Linux integration or as individual NXP components–drivers, tools, libraries, boot-loaders etc.

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^{BSP, Drivers and Middleware}
Layerscape SDK Components

EXTERNALRev 18.09Sep 25, 20181 KBLS-SDK

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Layerscape Software Development Kit

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