VxWorks 6.8 on Kontron COM Express: LiveUSB Evaluation Guide

VxWorks 6.8 on Kontron COM Express: LiveUSB Evaluation Guide

The Wind River VxWorks 6.8 and Kontron COM Express LiveUSB Evaluation provides a preconfigured environment for evaluating VxWorks on Kontron Computer-on-Modules (COMs) without requiring a conventional software installation on the host system.

The evaluation environment combines VxWorks 6.8, a dedicated board support package (BSP), Wind River Workbench, documentation, tutorials, and demonstration software. Developers can use the environment to build and debug VxWorks applications while communicating with a Kontron COM Express target through serial and Ethernet connections.

The evaluation follows a traditional cross-development model:

• The host computer runs Wind River Workbench and the development tools.
• The Kontron COM Express module acts as the target system running VxWorks.
• A serial connection provides console access.
• An Ethernet connection provides communication between the target and development environment.
• The LiveUSB environment provides the preconfigured host software stack.

This setup is intended to shorten evaluation time by eliminating most host-side installation and configuration work.

🧰 Evaluation Environment Overview

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The evaluation kit is designed to demonstrate the complete VxWorks development workflow on a Kontron COM Express platform.

Developers can use the environment to create and test:

• VxWorks kernel projects
• Downloadable Kernel Modules (DKMs)
• Real-Time Process (RTP) projects
• Application code
• Debugging and analysis workflows
• Basic target-side demonstrations and benchmarks

The evaluation also demonstrates how Wind River development tools interact with an embedded target during cross-development.

Host and Target Architecture

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The evaluation uses two independent systems.

Host computer

The host is responsible for:

• Running Wind River Workbench
• Building VxWorks projects
• Compiling application code
• Debugging target software
• Analyzing test results
• Accessing Wind River documentation and tutorials
• Running the LiveUSB environment

Target system

The target is the Kontron COM Express Computer-on-Module on which VxWorks executes.

The two systems communicate through serial and Ethernet interfaces, creating the development path between the host toolchain and embedded target.

📦 What the Evaluation Kit Includes

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The original evaluation package contains the following hardware and software components:

• Kontron COM Express Starterkit Type 2 or COM Express miniStarterkit Type 2
• Kontron COM Express Computer-on-Module
• 1GB DDR2 memory
• Heatsink and cooling hardware
• COM Express miniBaseboard Type 2
• Power supply and required cables
• 2GB USB flash drive containing the VxWorks 6.8 boot image
• 8GB bootable Wind River LiveUSB environment
• Serial cable for target-console communication
• Ethernet cable for host-to-target communication
• Documentation and evaluation materials

The target USB drive contains a preconfigured VxWorks 6.8 image designed for the selected Kontron COM Express platform.

💻 Required Hardware

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Kontron COM Express Starterkit Configuration

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The evaluation platform is designed around a standard Kontron COM Express Starterkit Type 2 or miniStarterkit Type 2 containing:

• Selected Kontron COM Express basic or compact Computer-on-Module
• 1GB memory
• Heatsink
• COM Express miniBaseboard Type 2
• Cooling fan with a copper-core heatsink interface
• Appropriate power supply
• USB flash drive containing documentation and related materials
• Ethernet and serial cables

The target system boots VxWorks directly from the supplied USB flash drive.

Host Computer Requirements

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The original evaluation documentation recommends the following host configuration:

Host architecture: Intel Core Duo, 2GHz or greater
Host memory:       2GB RAM or greater
USB:               USB 2.0 required
Communication:     Ethernet and serial

No additional software installation is required before booting the LiveUSB evaluation environment.

💾 LiveUSB Technology

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The Wind River LiveUSB provides a complete, bootable host environment containing the software required for the evaluation.

The original LiveUSB environment includes:

• Fedora 11 Linux
• Wind River Workbench Development Suite
• VxWorks 6.8
• A dedicated BSP for the selected Kontron COM Express module
• VxWorks and Workbench documentation
• Evaluation tutorials
• Audio-visual training materials
• Supporting development tools

The primary advantage is that developers can boot directly into a prepared development environment instead of manually installing and configuring the required toolchain.

LiveUSB Isolation

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The LiveUSB environment is designed to operate primarily from the host’s RAM and the USB device.

According to the original evaluation documentation, the environment does not normally write evaluation data to the host computer’s internal hard drive when used as intended.

This makes the evaluation relatively isolated from the existing host operating system and development environment.

🔧 Connecting the Kontron COM Express Target

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Before beginning the evaluation, assemble and connect the Kontron COM Express target correctly.

Because the platform contains exposed electronics and removable components, perform hardware assembly in an appropriate static-safe environment.

Assembling the COM Express Module

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If the COM Express module is not already assembled on its baseboard:

1. Remove the COM Express module, memory, cooling hardware, and accessories from their packaging.
2. Install the DDR2 memory module into the appropriate memory socket.
3. Prepare the CPU cooler by applying the required thermal compound and removing any protective film.
4. Install the heatsink and cooling fan onto the COM Express module.
5. Align the COM Express connectors with the corresponding connectors on the miniBaseboard.
6. Press the module down evenly until the connectors are fully seated.
7. Secure the module using the supplied screws.
8. Connect the power supply to the miniBaseboard.
9. Connect the cooling fan to its designated three-pin connector.
10. Attach the serial adapter to the COM1 connector.

Connecting the Target to the Host

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The target requires both serial and Ethernet connectivity.

1. Ensure the host computer is powered off before connecting the hardware.
2. Connect the serial cable between COM1 on the miniBaseboard and the host’s serial interface.
3. Connect an Ethernet cable between the target and host.
4. The target and host may be connected directly or through an Ethernet switch.
5. Connect a mouse to the target’s USB port if required by the evaluation.
6. Connect a monitor through the available DVI interface.
7. Insert the VxWorks boot USB drive into the target.
8. Connect the appropriate power supply.

The evaluation uses predefined network settings during the target-development workflow.

▶️ Booting VxWorks on the Target

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Once the hardware is assembled and connected, the target can be booted into the prepared VxWorks environment.

1. Verify that the COM Express module and miniBaseboard are correctly assembled.
2. Press the power switch on the miniBaseboard.
3. Allow the system to begin its boot process.
4. The ROM BIOS detects the VxWorks boot loader on the USB flash drive.
5. Allow the boot loader countdown to continue.
6. VxWorks 6.8 starts using the configuration prepared for the evaluation platform.
7. After boot, the target displays the Wind River Tilcon Graphics Suite demonstration.

The development-oriented VxWorks image may take up to approximately 60 seconds to complete its boot sequence.

The Tilcon Graphics Suite demonstration can run independently on the target and provides an immediate visual confirmation that VxWorks has booted successfully.

The target can be reset using its hardware Reset button or through the Wind River development tools.

🖥️ Starting the LiveUSB Evaluation Environment

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The host computer must boot from the supplied Wind River LiveUSB rather than its internal operating system.

Booting the Host

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1. Insert the Wind River LiveUSB into a USB port.
2. Connect a keyboard and mouse.
3. Configure the host to boot from USB if necessary.
4. Power on or restart the host.
5. Interrupt the normal boot sequence if the BIOS requires manual boot-device selection.
6. Select the LiveUSB device.
7. Allow the system to boot into the preconfigured Fedora environment.

The host should start with Wind River development tools and documentation already available.

📜 Accepting the Evaluation Agreements

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After booting the LiveUSB environment, the evaluation presents the applicable license agreements.

Review the displayed agreements and select Accept to continue.

🔑 Obtaining the Evaluation License

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During the first LiveUSB startup, the activation agent attempts to obtain a temporary evaluation license.

An Internet connection is required for this process.

By default, the host attempts to access the Internet through its first wired Ethernet interface. If multiple interfaces are available, or if wireless networking is required, additional network configuration may be necessary.

Follow the on-screen activation workflow and provide the requested registration information, including a valid email address.

The original evaluation license is valid for 30 days from acceptance of the applicable agreements and can be used on machines running the LiveUSB environment.

🚀 Starting the VxWorks Evaluation

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After the host has booted into the Fedora LiveUSB environment, the desktop provides shortcuts to the evaluation documentation and development tools.

Wind River resources can also be accessed from the top-level application menu.

The primary entries include:

Applications
└── WindRiver
    ├── Documentation
    │   ├── Evaluation Tutorial
    │   └── Getting Started Guide
    └── Videos

The Evaluation Tutorial provides the guided VxWorks and Tilcon Graphics Suite exercises.

The Getting Started Guide provides additional information about the evaluation environment and development workflow.

The Videos directory contains visual demonstrations of the evaluation exercises.

🧪 Evaluation Workflow

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The evaluation is not restricted to the supplied tutorial sequence.

Developers can use the environment to:

• Follow the guided exercises
• Create their own VxWorks projects
• Build kernel components
• Develop DKMs
• Create RTP applications
• Run benchmarks
• Debug target applications
• Analyze system behavior
• Experiment with the supplied BSP
• Explore the Tilcon graphics demonstrations

This makes the LiveUSB environment useful both as a structured product demonstration and as a short-term development sandbox.

🌐 Network Configuration

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Networking has two different requirements during the evaluation.

Internet Access for License Activation

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For license activation, the LiveUSB host normally obtains network connectivity through DHCP on its first wired Ethernet interface.

Wireless interfaces may require manual configuration because they are disabled in the default environment.

Static Networking for Target Development

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The VxWorks evaluation itself uses predefined static IP addresses for communication between the host and target.

Before running the evaluation tutorial, the LiveUSB host must be switched from its Internet-facing DHCP configuration to the static configuration required by the evaluation.

The configuration script selects the lowest-numbered Ethernet interface it detects.

For example, if the host exposes eth1 and eth2, the script uses eth1.

🛠️ Troubleshooting License Activation

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If the activation agent cannot communicate with the Wind River license server, the LiveUSB may display an information dialog indicating that license activation failed.

A basic recovery procedure is:

1. Configure the host according to the evaluation network topology.
2. Open:

Applications > Wind River > IP Address > Switch to DHCP

3. Select:

Applications > Wind River > Evaluation License Activation
> Activate 30 Day Evaluation

4. Repeat the standard license activation process.
5. If activation continues to fail, contact Wind River licensing support.

Automatic proxy configuration is not supported by the original activation workflow.

💽 Recreating the VxWorks Boot Drive

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If the original VxWorks boot drive is lost or damaged, the evaluation LiveUSB contains a recovery image that can be written to another USB flash drive.

This operation destroys existing data on the target USB device, so verify the device path carefully before executing the command.

Creating a Replacement Boot Drive

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1. Boot the host computer from the Wind River evaluation LiveUSB.
2. Insert a replacement USB flash drive with at least 1GB of capacity.
3. Back up any data that must be preserved from the replacement drive.
4. Open a terminal.
5. Become the root user:

su

6. Write the recovery image to the USB device:

dd if=/WindRiver/workspace/Boot-Image/usb-recovery.img of=/dev/sdX bs=4M

Replace /dev/sdX with the actual device path assigned to the replacement USB drive.

Do not blindly copy the example device path. Selecting the wrong block device can overwrite another disk.

If the USB device was automatically mounted by the desktop environment, unmount it before running dd.

7. Flush pending writes:

sync

8. Remove the USB drive after the command completes.

The replacement USB drive can then be used as the VxWorks boot device for the Kontron COM Express target.

⚠️ Operational Considerations

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The original evaluation environment is based on older software and hardware, including Fedora 11, VxWorks 6.8, DDR2 memory, and legacy serial/Ethernet workflows.

When reproducing this environment today, developers should distinguish between the historical evaluation procedure and current Wind River tooling.

In particular:

• Modern PCs may require BIOS configuration to boot legacy USB environments.
• Modern systems may not provide native RS-232 ports.
• USB-to-serial adapters may require compatible drivers.
• Modern network interfaces may not expose the legacy ethX naming expected by the original scripts.
• Old Linux distributions may have compatibility limitations on newer hardware.
• The original evaluation license and activation infrastructure may no longer be available.
• The supplied VxWorks 6.8 environment should be treated as a historical evaluation platform rather than a current production toolchain.

These constraints are especially relevant when attempting to reproduce the evaluation outside its original hardware ecosystem.

📚 What This Evaluation Demonstrates

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The Kontron COM Express LiveUSB evaluation illustrates the complete embedded cross-development workflow used by VxWorks 6.8:

Host PC
  │
  ├── Wind River Workbench
  ├── VxWorks project development
  ├── Build and debugging
  └── System analysis
        │
        │ Ethernet
        │
        ▼
Kontron COM Express Target
  │
  ├── BSP
  ├── VxWorks 6.8
  ├── Embedded applications
  └── Tilcon Graphics Suite
        │
        └── Serial console

The architecture separates development from execution while providing the interfaces required to build, deploy, debug, and analyze embedded software.

🏢 About Wind River

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Wind River develops software platforms and development technologies for embedded and edge systems.

VxWorks is Wind River’s real-time operating system and has historically been used in applications where deterministic execution, reliability, and safety are important requirements.

The original evaluation materials reference Wind River trademarks and third-party software components. Applicable trademark notices, licensing information, and third-party notices should be reviewed in the product documentation supplied with the relevant VxWorks release.

🏭 About Kontron

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Kontron develops embedded computing and communications platforms, including Computer-on-Modules, embedded boards, systems, displays, and customized solutions.

The Kontron COM Express platform used in this evaluation follows the Computer-on-Module approach, separating the computing module from the carrier board and allowing developers to evaluate or integrate different embedded computing configurations within a standardized form factor.

🔎 Conclusion

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The VxWorks 6.8 and Kontron COM Express LiveUSB evaluation provides a compact example of a traditional embedded cross-development environment.

Its architecture combines a preconfigured host development system, a dedicated VxWorks BSP, a Kontron COM Express target, serial console access, Ethernet-based development communication, and a bootable VxWorks image.

The most important workflow is straightforward:

1. Assemble the Kontron COM Express target.
2. Connect the target to the host through serial and Ethernet.
3. Boot the target from the VxWorks USB image.
4. Boot the host from the Wind River LiveUSB.
5. Activate the evaluation license.
6. Configure the required network topology.
7. Start Wind River Workbench and the evaluation tutorials.
8. Build, deploy, debug, and analyze VxWorks applications.
9. Use the recovery procedure when the target boot drive needs to be recreated.

Although the original platform is based on legacy hardware and software, the evaluation remains useful as a reference for understanding the architecture of VxWorks BSP development, embedded cross-compilation, target debugging, and RTOS-based development workflows.