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Linux Kernel 2.4 Or 2.6 In Embedded System?

Posted by kdawson on from the comfort-on-the-trailing-edge dept.

snikulin writes "My 6-year-old embedded software happily runs on kernel v2.4 on an XScale CPU. The software gets a bunch (tens of megabytes) of data from an FPGA over a PCI-X bus and pushes it out over GigE to data-processing equipment. The tool chain is based on the somewhat outdated gcc v2.95. Now, for certain technical reasons we want to jump from the ARM-based custom board to an Atom-based COM Express module. This implies that I'll need to re-create a Linux RAM disk from scratch along with the tool chain. The functionality of the software will be essentially the same. My question: is it worth it to jump to kernel 2.6, or better to stick with the old and proven 2.4? What will I gain and what will I lose if I stay at 2.4 (besides the modern gcc compiler and the other related dev tools)?"

3 of 178 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why Linux? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Question submitter should hire teh Torvalds to codez teh leenux's forz heez company. Leenux is good. Thats why leenux rulez teh world with an iron fist. Embed teh leenux, it takes only a little wine to makez it woozy and friendliez with youz. Leenux ridez on everythingz, it's such a hore and we likes teh horez.

  2. Re:Why Linux? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    pffft. I do agree that Linux might not be good for embedded devices, but BSD? C'mon, that's practically the same.
    If you need embedded devices, Minix 3 is the only way to go!! It's small, light, and has the POSIX featured you need!

  3. Re:If you are olready doing 90% of the work... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    And by the way, if you see your mom this weekend, be sure and tell her. SATAN SATAN SATAN SATAN. Sorry, just an Orbital reference.