Yocto Setup Guide for i.MX Processors

Introduction to Yocto for i.MX

The Yocto Project is a collaborative open-source project that provides templates, tools, and methods to help you create custom Linux-based systems for embedded products regardless of the hardware architecture. NXP provides a Board Support Package (BSP) layer for i.MX processors that enables developers to leverage the full capabilities of these SoCs.

Setting Up the Build Environment

Follow these steps to set up your Yocto build environment for i.MX processors:

1. Install required packages on your Ubuntu system:

   sudo apt-get install gawk wget git-core diffstat unzip texinfo gcc-multilib \
   build-essential chrpath socat cpio python3 python3-pip python3-pexpect \
   xz-utils debianutils iputils-ping libsdl1.2-dev xterm sed

2. Create a working directory and clone the fsl-community-bsp-platform:

   mkdir ~/imx-yocto && cd ~/imx-yocto
   git clone https://source.codeaurora.org/external/imx/fsl-community-bsp-platform -b krogoth

3. Initialize the build environment:

   cd fsl-community-bsp-platform
   source imx-setup-release.sh -b build imx-6.2.2-morty

4. For newer releases, check NXP's official documentation for the latest BSP and compatible Yocto version.

For specific setup instructions for your i.MX platform, contact our FAEs through the contact page for detailed guidance.

Building Your First Image

After setting up the environment, build your first image with these commands:

1. Change to the build directory:

   cd build

2. Modify conf/local.conf to specify your machine:

   MACHINE = "imx8mqevk"

   Replace "imx8mqevk" with your specific board (e.g., "imx6qsabresd", "imx8mmek", etc.)

3. Build the image:

   bitbake core-image-base

4. For a minimal image with GUI support:

   bitbake core-image-weston

The resulting image will be located in tmp/deploy/images/<machine-name>/ directory.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Frequently encountered issues when setting up Yocto for i.MX:

• Missing Dependencies: Ensure all required packages are installed before initializing the build environment
• Insufficient Disk Space: Yocto builds require significant temporary space; ensure at least 100GB free
• Incorrect MACHINE Setting: Verify your machine configuration matches your actual hardware
• Download Failures: Some recipes require internet access; configure proxy settings if needed
• Build Errors: Clean the affected recipe with bitbake -c cleansstate <recipe> before rebuilding

For complex build issues, our technical support team has extensive experience with i.MX Yocto configurations and can provide tailored assistance.

Advanced Topics

Additional Resources

Further resources for i.MX Yocto development:

• Linux Porting Guide for i.MX
• Getting Started with Yocto on i.MX
• Implementing Secure Boot with Yocto
• Reference System Designs

Get Support

Our NXP-certified Linux engineers can help with your Yocto implementation:

• Custom BSP development for your specific hardware
• Performance optimization for your application
• Security implementation in Linux environment
• Training and knowledge transfer sessions