Linux Training Overview
This course provides a general introduction to Linux device driver development. Students gain a clear practical understanding of the way drivers are designed, interfaced with the kernel, implemented, and tested.
Linux Training Audience
Programmers and software designers who plan to integrate hardware devices to the Linux kernel.
Linux Training Prerequisites
Linux Internals is recommended. Strong C programming skills and intermediate knowledge of UNIX/Linux shell commands are required. Experience with the data structures and basic functions used in the Linux kernel is necessary. Proficiency at configuring and installing a new Linux kernel on a system is assumed
Linux Training Course duration
3 Days
Linux Training Course outline
Introduction to Linux Driver Development
Introduction and environmental setup
Kernel versions and compatibility
Components of the Kernel
Aims of driver development
Steps associated with the development of a driver
How device drivers work
Stability and security issues
Device Drivers
Elements of a driver
Benefits and drawbacks
Classes of drivers
Linux Kernel Facilities
System calls
Data structures
Functions
Modules
Benefits of using modules
Module-related tools
Compiling, loading, and unloading
Module implementation
Automatic module loading
Character Devices
Accessing the device
File and inode structure
File operations
Reading and writing
IOCTLs
Example of a character device
Hardware Aspects
Accessing memory
Direct Memory Access
I/O Management
PCI and ISA
Block Drivers
Registration
The blk.h header
Requests and Mounting
Networks
Layer model
Network communications
Implementation of the TCP/IP stack
Data structures
Socket
sk_buff
Inet socket
proto
ARP and IP Protocols
IP Filters
UDP and TCP
Network Devices
Integration in the kernel
Ethernet Devices
SLIP and PPP
Loopback
Dummy devices
Loading network drivers
Transmitting and receiving packets
Device configuration
Statistics
SCSI Subsystem
Architecture overview
Names and conventions
Upper level
Block devices (hard disks, CD-ROM)
Character devices (Tape)
Generic drivers
Mid level (boot parameters, proc interface)
Lower (hardware) level and pseudo drivers
Device Drivers Debugging
Printing with printk
Queries
/proc entries
Tracing and debuggers
