Build and execute a Connectal project on a Zedboard running Linux.

Step 1: Parts List

0. Zedboard, ZC706, or Zynq Mini-ITX

1. SD Card (and card writer)

2. Host machine running Linux or Mac OS

3. USB to Micro-USB cable

4. Ethernet cable

Step 2: Connecting the Board

Plug the Micro USB into port marked 'UART' on your Zedboard, and the other end into a vacant USB port on your host/build machine. Then, connect the power and ethernet cables.

Step 3: Booting Linux

Before compiling and executing a Connectal project on your Zedboard, you must have Linux running and be able to connect to it. Follow the instructions here to boot Linux on your Zedboard.

Step 4: Connecting to Linux

It is often useful to have direct access to the Linux console running on the Zedboard when debugging both hardware and software. The 'UART' usb port on the Zedboard connects to a serial port which is in turn connected to the console when Linux boots (this specified by the linux command line). When the board is powered on, the physical USB device is detected by the host OS and a node is created in /dev/. On Linux this can be named "ttyACM*", and on Mac OS, "tty.usbmodem". (These names will differ between machines and operating systems) The Connectal framework includes its own terminal emulator called "consolable". Download and install it using the following commands:

git clone https://github.com/cambridgehackers/consolable.git; cd consolable; make

Once you have compiled consolable, invoke it as follows, replacing tty.SLAB_USBtoUART with the appropriate string:

dhcp-1-197:consolable mdk$ ./consolable tty.SLAB_USBtoUART
consolable: To exit program, type ctrl-Z
consolable: Waiting for USB device
consolable: opening /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART
consolable: fd 4
consolable: USB device '/dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART' opened fd=4

With consolable up and running, you can determine the IP addressed which has been assigned to your Zedboard by invoking 'ifconfig'

Step 5: Create a Connectal Project (Optional)

Now that your Zedboard is running Linux and you can connect to it, you are ready to compile a Connectal project and run it on the board. If you need to learn how to create a Connectal project, follow the instructions here. Otherwise, skip to the next step.