No virtualLogix with EVM6437?

Shiping Li said:

I want to try Linux on DM6437 so I bought EVM6437 kit, since it mentioned it would comes with VitrualLogix Linx

Where do you see this mentioned, I don't see Virtualogix listed on the tool folder?

Shiping Li said:

They let me download the software from VirtualLogix site. BUT it is too difficult to deal with them, I filled up evaluation for weeks ago but still have not yet got anything.

I hate to say, but TI really sucks

It sounds like your problem is more with VirtualLogix than with TI, Linux on the DM6437 was never a TI product.

Shiping Li said:

Anyone has suggestions?

In general if you want Linux on an embedded platform I would recommend one of the ARM based products like a DM6446 as opposed to a DSP only device like DM6437, the DSP has no MMU and so it has limited support in Linux.

Thanks Bernie for trying to help. 

I do not know whether you know EVM6437 particularly or speak out of the general cases.  If you had a chance to see EVM6437's product site you would see special emphasize on VirtualLinux to make Linux porting possible for those DSP chips without ARM processor. And I have the quick start guide in front of me mentioned 2 CDs included in the kits, while I never see them.

[TI may have changed the produce pages but I think it can not wipe out all the evidences. You can refer to this http://focus.ti.com/docs/training/catalog/events/event.jhtml?sku=1DW000643 to get a clue, I also have a hard copy to show this]

DM6437 is the best I can choose for my product from price and power consumption point of view after many investigations. And able to run Linux (even with VirtualLogix) made it even more attractive to my customers - I am able to make it more flexible for new tools and software for it.

Since TI advertised this on its website and I confirmed this before I made purchase by calling TI's support center, the problem is on TI side, not on VitualLogix and not on me.  It may not be appropriate to say TI cheated, but at least it did not provide what it promised.  And I was advised to file a complain on BBB for this case if it can not be solved properly.

Regards,

Shiping

[Screen copy from Previous TI Website For your Reference]

TMS320DM6437 Digital Video Development Platform

TMS320DM437 Digital Video Development Platform. (DVDP)- Available today for $495, the DVDP includes both hardware and software and enables immediate evaluation of the DM643x digital media processors. The DVDP provides developers with a comprehensive platform. that can be used throughout the entire design process. The DVDP includes:

• DM6437 Evaluation Module (EVM) with onboard emulator
• Operating system kernels, including TI’s real-time DSP/BIOS™ kernel and Virtuallogix Linux
• Board-specific Code Composer Studio Integrated Development Environment
• Digital Video Software Development Kit (DVSDK), including codec engine for the DSP/BIOS™ kernel, video codecs, audio codecs, Chip Support Library (CSL), and device drivers based on the DSP/BIOS™ kernel
• VirtualLogix VLX tool
• PCI Host Driver enabling the use of a PC as host for simplifying product development
• SoC Analyzer, based on the eXpressDSP™ Data Visualization Technology
• Network Developers’ Kit (NDK) with real-time TCP/IP stack for developing network-based applications
• Board-specific version of Code Composer Studio™ Integrated Development Environment
• PC-based high-level, how-to demonstration of DaVinci technology
• Sample A/V files for immediate out-of-the-box evaluation

Shiping Li said:

[TI may have changed the produce pages but I think it can not wipe out all the evidences. You can refer to this http://focus.ti.com/docs/training/catalog/events/event.jhtml?sku=1DW000643 to get a clue, I also have a hard copy to show this]

I apologize for the confusion here, though the EVM I have was shipped before VirtualLogix was available I do believe for a while the CDs were shipping with the EVM, note that these were not necessarily a full version of the VirtualLogix software, I belive they were just demonstration CDs, where to get the full VLX virtualization you would need to license the software. However this has since changed, this does not mean that VirtualLogix no longer exists, just that it was decided to no longer ship CDs with the EVM. Since it was just a software stack I am suprised you could not download it from VirtualLogix.

Shiping Li said:

Since TI advertised this on its website and I confirmed this before I made purchase by calling TI's support center, the problem is on TI side, not on VitualLogix and not on me.  It may not be appropriate to say TI cheated, but at least it did not provide what it promised.  And I was advised to file a complain on BBB for this case if it can not be solved properly.

For this sort of issue your best recourse would be through your local TI contact or product information center if you feel you have been mislead, though I am not sure they will be able to get you the CDs.

In general I do not think there was much value in the CDs themselves, since it was demo software you should be able to download the same software from VirtualLogix, also keep in mind that just because the VirtualLogix CDs were included with the EVM does not mean that TI supports VirtualLogix software, for technical inquiries you would have to go through VirtualLogix directly.

Hello Shiping Li,

Sounds like your experience with Virtuallogix has been discouraging. I can ensure you that you will have a much better, easier and successful experience with Open Kernel Labs.

If you are looking for a virtualization solutions for Linux based project, OKL4 is definitively the product you should be working with. Since it is open source we can share with you the source and help quickly and successfully get your project started. We backed by the largest, independent team of microkernel developers, the OKL4 microvisor is deployed on more than 300 million mobile devices worldwide.

Please let me know when is a good time to give you a call and we can start facilitating your efforts immediately.

Cheers,

Tim

http://www.ok-labs.com/releases/release/ok-labs-inaugurates-virtualization-integration-practice-to-jumpstart-next-g

Tim

Thanks for the information.

Quick question before I dive into this: Will OKL4 support DM6437 which does not have ARM core inside? Any BSP or equivalent for this if the answer above is yes?

Thanks Bernie

I just got a reply from VirtualLogix said they would not pursue this product anymore and, they would rather focus on ARM and other processors.

Seems I should stop here and find other solutions.

Shiping,

Although we do not currently support this architecture, as a commercial company we are constantly looking to grow the number and variety of supported architectures. I welcome hearing more about your project and discussing if there is a way we can assist you. Please contact me at your convenience: timh@ok-labs.com or +1 312 924-1073

Tim

@Tim

How is the OKL4 different from other virtualization products, as i can see it is a modified micro kernel for virtualization....

Good question - How is the OKL4 different?

Let me list a few things to start with:

• deployed on over 300MM devices
• open source
• the combination of attributes we bundle under Secure Hypercell Technology
• fine grained control over resource allocation, communication, and security characteristics of multiple software subsystems within the device
• a subsystem being embodied as either a traditional vm or a lightweight subsystem (no guest OS required in the cell)
• backed by the largest, independent team of microkernel developers
• proven to decrease BOM cost, reduce complexity, and speed time-to-market

Of course I would be happy to go into greater detail, and talk about specifics as it relates to any project you may be working on. In which case, feel free to contact me directly (+1 312 718 3037)