VexRISCV_SMP Core

The vexrisc_smp core supports a two-pass build, producing the kernel (nuttx.bin), and a number of applications, compiled into the apps/bin directory. In the standard configuration, the applications are loaded to the FPGA in a RAMdisk. Although, for custom boards this could be extended to loading from SDCards, flash, or other mediums.

Building

Nuttx uses openSBI to configure and prepare the vexriscv_smp core. With this configuration, the Nuttx kernel is a binary payload for OpenSBI. The configuration used is identical to that used for Linux on Litex project (https://github.com/litex-hub/linux-on-litex-vexriscv).

To build OpenSBI:

$ git clone https://github.com/litex-hub/opensbi --branch 0.8-linux-on-litex-vexriscv
$ cd opensbi
$ make CROSS_COMPILE=riscv64-unknown-elf- PLATFORM=litex/vexriscv
$ cp build/platform/litex/vexriscv/firmware/fw_jump.bin ../opensbi.bin"

Build the Nuttx kernel:

$ ./tools/configure.sh arty_a7:knsh
$ make

Build the loadable applications:

$ make export -j16
$ cd ../apps
$ make ./tools/mkimport.sh -z -x ../nuttx/nuttx-export-*.tar.gz
$ make import

Generate a romfs to be loaded to the FPGA as a ramdisk:

$ cd nuttx
$ genromfs -f romfs.img -d ../apps/bin -V "NuttXBootVol"

Booting

Create a file, ‘boot.json’ in the Nuttx root directory, with the following content:

{
  "romfs.img":   "0x40C00000",
  "nuttx.bin":   "0x40000000",
  "board.dtb":   "0x41ec0000",
  "opensbi.bin": "0x40f00000"
}

Load the application over serial with:

litex_term --images=boot.json --speed=1e6 /dev/ttyUSB0

Update the baud rate and serial port to suit your configuration.