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RISCV hardware testing

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Ho-Ren (Jack) Chuang edited this page Feb 2, 2022 · 19 revisions

Hardware required

  • RISCV SiFive HiFive Unleashed SBC.
  • A working linux desktop or Laptop. (This tutorial was made based on running on a Ubuntu machine with i5 8th Gen x86 machine. Laptop Model Acer Switft 3) (Also tested on Dell XPS 13).

Download the patch files and support files

  • Download the following files.
Item Filename URL
Prebuilt sifive disk image demo-coreip-cli-freedom-u540-20200607233715.rootfs.wic.gz https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sl6jGANckoA0CppHtRA_LuTr34TGIi8p
Popcorn Kernel patch popcorn-kernel.diff https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eIBaIqbhBD1GnGcPR0uS6omkYl7Bk0zg

Setting up the x86 Machine

  • We have to update the kernel in the laptop to v5.2.21. (Downgrade if the distro is up to date).
  • Follow the steps below to change the laptop kernel with popcorn sub system.
  $ git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git && cd linux
  $ git checkout v5.2.21
  $ patch -p1 < popcorn-kernel.patch
  (Use the right kconfig e.g., $cp kernel/popcorn/configs/config-x86_64-<HOST> .config)
  $ make oldconfig
  • Now we have a basic .config file for the laptop. -After this open the .config file and Enable the following switches
-- CONFIG_ARCH_SUPPORTS_POPCORN
  • Disable all the following configurations in .config file
-- CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE
-- CONFIG_SWAP 
-- CONFIG_CMA 
-- CONFIG_KSM
-- CONFIG_MEM_SOFT_DIRTY
-- CONFIG_MIGRATION  
-- CONFIG_COMPACTION
  • After disabling these switches , we will be able to include popcorn into the kernel.
  $ make -j24
  $ sudo make modules_install
  $ sudo make install
  $ sudo update-grub

Make the following changes to your /etc/default/grub for safety , incase the kernel is corrupted.

 -- Comment the lines with GRUB_HIDDEN*. (Use # for comments)
 -- Change  GRUB_TIMEOUT to -1. ( GRUB_TIMEOUT=-1)
  • Now reboot your system to boot the popcorn kernel.
  • Now you have a popcorn enabled kernel in your system.

Setting up the Sifive board

  • Easy Way If you do no want to do the 3 hour long build , then use the *.rootfs.wic.gz file downloaded.
$ zcat demo-coreip-cli-freedom-u540-*.rootfs.wic.gz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdd 
    bs=512K iflag=fullblock oflag=direct conv=fsync status=progress
  • Complex Way The following steps is for bbuilding the rootfs image yourself.This build takes around 75GB and 2-3 hours of compilation , dependin on your system power.
  • Yocto is used for building the kernel and ram-disk Image.
  • The yocto build structure will look like below
            riscv-sifive/
		meta-openembedded/
		meta-riscv/
		meta-sifive/
		openembedded-core/
  • Follow the steps below to setup the Yocto enironment to build riscv.
  $ mkdir riscv-sifive
  $ cd riscv-sifive
  $ repo init -u git://github.com/sifive/meta-sifive -b v201908-branch -m tools/manifests/sifive.xml
  $ repo sync
  $ cd meta-sifive
  $ patch -p1 < meta-sifive-v201908-branch.diff
  $ cd ../openembedded-core
  $ patch -p1 < oe-v201908-branch.diff
  $ cd ..
  $ . ./meta-sifive/setup.sh
  $ MACHINE=freedom-u540 bitbake demo-coreip-cli
  $ zcat tmp-glibc/deploy/images/freedom-u540/demo-coreip-cli-freedom-u540-*.rootfs.wic.gz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdd 
    bs=512K iflag=fullblock oflag=direct conv=fsync status=progress

  • Warning : Make sure to point to the right device for the SD card in the last step. Pointing to a wrong device can destroy the system. (dd == device destroy)

  • With the above steps you can insert the SD card into the SiFive Hifive board.Provide the board with a ethernet connection. Either through USB or secure shell connect to the Sifive Board.

Setting up the machines

Do the following in both the x86 system and the Sifive board.

  • Create a folder /etc/popcorn
  • Create a file /etc/popcorn/nodes
  • Both the files must contain identical nodes file. The file must contain x86's IP address in the first line and riscv ip address in seccond line.
Example:
   $ cat /etc/popcorn/nodes
     10.4.4.100
     10.4.4.101
This must be the file in both machines. Very imporrtant.
10.4.4.100 --> Suppose x86 machine's IP is
10.4.4.101 --> Suppose riscv board's IP is

Setting up messaging layer

Now execute the following command in both the machines:

In the sifive board : root@freedom-u540:~# modprobe msg_socket

In the x86 machiens : user@x86 # modprobe msg_socket

  • If all works fine you are set with environment.

Compiling applications for x86<-> riscv

Warning : You must ensure that the applications are present in identical locations in both machines.

-The steps to follow in that Wiki :

  1. Compiling the RISCV GNU toolchain. Link --> https://github.com/ssrg-vt/popcorn-kernel/wiki/RISCV-VM-testing-of-popcorn#compiling-the-riscv-gnu-toolchain
  2. Compiling the popcorn compiler with riscv support. Link --> https://github.com/ssrg-vt/popcorn-kernel/wiki/RISCV-VM-testing-of-popcorn#compiling-the-popcorn-compiler-with-riscv-support
  3. Compiling NPB applications for testing --> https://github.com/ssrg-vt/popcorn-kernel/wiki/RISCV-VM-testing-of-popcorn#compiling-npb-applications-for-testing

Executing the applications on x86 <-> RISCV environment(Appication needs to be in identical locations in both machines)

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