Install the Toolchain and Sam7utils

How to install the required software.

How to set up to play with your Make Controller from a Linux desktop.

Page 1 of 3.

Note: These steps were performed on a PC running Ubuntu Linux. Some steps may be different depending on your installation. Rather than su root, we use sudo.

The Linux versions used:

GCC 4.0.3
Linux Kernel 2.6.15-26

Install the Toolchain

Get the toolchain from GNUARM.org

% cd /tmp
% wget \
http://www.gnuarm.com/bu-2.15_gcc-3.4.3-c-c++-java_nl-1.12.0_gi-6.1.tar.bz2
% cd /usr/local
% sudo tar jxvf \
/tmp/bu-2.15_gcc-3.4.3-c-c++-java_nl-1.12.0_gi-6.1.tar.bz2
% export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/gnuarm-3.4.3/bin

You can add the path in your .bashrc or wherever you prefer.

Install sam7utils

1. Get the tool itself.

    % cd /tmp    
    % wget http://oss.tekno.us/sam7utils/sam7utils-0.1.0.tar.gz

2. Unpack and install the tool

    % tar -zxvf sam7utils-0.1.0.tar.gz
    % cd /tmp/sam7utils-0.1.0
    % ./configure
    % make
    % sudo make install

Note that older distributions might fail during configuration complaining about missing readline library. They require the curses library to be added explicitly. This can be done by issuing the following prior to the ./configure step:

    %export LDFLAGS=-lcurses

3. Build install the driver

If your kernel version is greater than 2.6.15, you may get an error when you make the driver. In this case comment out the .mode line in driver/at91.c:

    // don't use the mode line if your kernel is version 2.6.15 or greater
    // .mode= S_IFCHR | S_IRUSR | S_IWUSR | S_IRGRP | S_IWGRP | S_IROTH,
    % cd /tmp/sam7utils-0.1.0/driver
    % make
    % sudo /sbin/insmod at91.ko

On some distributions, you may also need to comment out the ".owner = THIS_MODULE" field.

Enter SAM-BA mode on your MAKE Controller Kit by briefly shorting the ERASE jumper, and then cycling power. If you are not powering your MAKE Controller Kit via USB, connect your computer to your MAKE Controller Kit via a USB cable. You should see a new device:

    % ls /dev/at91_0
    /dev/at91_0

To make the module reload next time you boot, don't forget to copy it somewhere neutral and add it to your /etc/modprobe.conf (or whatever passes for that on your distribution).

Test sam7util by running sam7 as root:

    % sudo sam7
    Chip Version: 0
    Embedded Processor: ARM7TDMI
    NVRAM Region 2 Size: 0 K
    SRAM Size: 64 K
    Series: AT91SAM7Xxx
    Page Size: 256 bytes
    Lock Regions: 16
    sam7>

If you do not see all the interesting info above, then check to make sure you're board is in SAM-BA mode, check to make sure the USB connection is good.

Exit by typing <CTRL>D

Next: Compile firmware

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