Using VxWorks* as User OS

VxWorks* is a real-time proprietary OS designed for use in embedded systems requiring real-time, deterministic performance. This tutorial describes how to run VxWorks as the User OS on the ACRN hypervisor based on Clear Linux 29970 (ACRN tag v1.1).

Note

You’ll need to be a WindRiver* customer and have purchased VxWorks to follow this tutorial.

Steps for Using VxWorks as User OS

1. Build VxWorks

   Follow the VxWorks Getting Started Guide to setup the VxWorks development environment and build the VxWorks Image.

   Note

   The following kernel configuration should be excluded:

   • INCLUDE_PC_CONSOLE
   • DRV_SIO_PCI_NS16550
   • SELECT_PC_CONSOLE_KBD

   The following kernel configuration should be included:

   • DRV_SIO_IA_NS16550
   • DRV_SIO_FDT_NS16550

   The following kernel configuration value should be set:

   • CONSOLE_BAUD_RATE = 115200
   • SYS_CLK_RATE_MAX = 1000

2. Build GRUB2 BootLoader Image

   We use grub-2.02 as the bootloader of VxWorks in this tutorial; other versions may also work.

   $ curl ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/grub/grub-2.02.tar.xz | tar xJv
   $ cd grub-2.02
   $ ./autogen.sh
   $ ./configure --with-platform=efi --target=x86_64
   $ make
   $ ./grub-mkimage -p /EFI/BOOT -d ./grub-core/ -O x86_64-efi -o grub_x86_64.efi \
         boot efifwsetup efi_gop efinet efi_uga lsefimmap lsefi lsefisystab \
         exfat fat multiboot2 multiboot terminal part_msdos part_gpt normal \
         all_video aout configfile echo file fixvideo fshelp gfxterm gfxmenu \
         gfxterm_background gfxterm_menu legacycfg video_bochs video_cirrus \
         video_colors video_fb videoinfo video net tftp
   

   This will build a grub_x86_64.efi image in the current directory.

3. Preparing the Boot Device

   $ dd if=/dev/zero of=VxWorks.img bs=1M count=35
   $ mkfs.vfat -F 32 VxWorks.img
   $ sudo mount `sudo losetup -f -P --show VxWorks.img` /mnt
   

   Create the following directories.

   $ sudo mkdir -p /mnt/efi/boot
   $ sudo mkdir -p /mnt/kernel
   

   Copy vxWorks and grub_x86_64.efi.

   $ sudo cp vxWorks /mnt/kernel/
   $ sudo cp grub-2.02/grub_x86_64.efi /mnt/efi/boot/bootx64.efi
   

   Create /mnt/efi/boot/grub.cfg containing the following:

   set default=0
   set timeout=5
   
   menuentry "VxWorks Guest" {
       multiboot /kernel/vxWorks
   }
   

   Unmount the loopback device:

   $ sudo umount /mnt
   

   You now have a virtual disk image with bootable VxWorks in VxWorks.img.

4. Follow Getting started guide for Intel NUC to boot “The ACRN Service OS”.

5. Boot VxWorks as User OS.

   On the ACRN SOS, prepare a directory and populate it with VxWorks files.

   $ mkdir vxworks && cd vxworks
   $ cp /usr/share/acrn/samples/nuc/launch_vxworks.sh .
   $ cp /usr/share/acrn/bios/OVMF.fd .
   

   You will also need to copy the VxWorks.img created in the VxWorks build environment into directory vxworks (via, e.g. a USB stick or network).

   Run the launch_vxworks.sh script to launch VxWorks as Uos.

   $ sudo ./launch_vxworks.sh
   

   Then VxWorks will boot up automatically. You will see the prompt.

                  VxWorks 7 SMP 64-bit
   
   Copyright 1984-2019 Wind River Systems, Inc.
   
         Core Kernel version: 1.2.7.0
                  Build date: May  5 2019 21:40:28
                       Board: x86 Processor (ACPI_BOOT_OP) SMP/SMT
                   CPU Count: 1
              OS Memory Size: ~1982MB
            ED&R Policy Mode: Permanently Deployed
   
   Adding 9315 symbols for standalone.
   
   ->
   

   Finally, you can type help to check whether the VxWorks works well.

   -> help
   
   help                           Print this list
   dbgHelp                        Print debugger help info
   edrHelp                        Print ED&R help info
   ioHelp                         Print I/O utilities help info
   nfsHelp                        Print nfs help info
   netHelp                        Print network help info
   rtpHelp                        Print process help info
   spyHelp                        Print task histogrammer help info
   timexHelp                      Print execution timer help info
   h         [n]                  Print (or set) shell history
   i         [task]               Summary of tasks' TCBs
   ti        task                 Complete info on TCB for task
   sp        adr,args...          Spawn a task, pri=100, opt=0x19, stk=20000
   taskSpawn name,pri,opt,stk,adr,args... Spawn a task
   tip       "dev=device1#tag=tagStr1", "dev=device2#tag=tagStr2", ...
                                  Connect to one or multiple serial lines
   td        task                 Delete a task
   ts        task                 Suspend a task
   tr        task                 Resume a task
   
   Type <CR> to continue, Q<CR> or q<CR> to stop: