The Seven Year Leap - Updating a Product from Linux 2.6 to 4.15, a Real-World

on YouTube ↗33m

" summary

Updates an OMAP3/BeagleBone XM handset from 2.6.37 → 4.15, getting a mainline kernel and newer U-Boot running with a simple rootfs, fixing RTC wake, SD card hotplug and an intermittent suspend lockup; battery suspend current meets the target. Uses device tree to replace custom backlight hacks, forward‑ports some drivers and copies ashmem.c for Android KitKat, struggles with closed‑source GPU userspace and kernel glue, totals about 800 hours (~94 days), and results in a working Android device with software rendering until GPU bits are reconciled.

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" chapters (25)

1. 0:00Intro
2. 1:46Not the first talk related to working with older kernels
3. 2:31Where are you on the kernel development spectrum?
4. 4:13What was the device in this project?
5. 5:46Older kernel problems NOT resolved
6. 7:43Making the case for the upgrade
7. 9:39Finding the starting point
8. 10:39Getting to a bash prompt
9. 11:15Newer kernel, newer boot loader
10. 13:38Check the new kernel has fixed the blocking issues
11. 14:04Re-adding support for peripherals to new kernel
12. 14:51Example of almost doing it wrong: Backlight
13. 16:47Touchscreen
14. 17:08Display: A bigger challenge
15. 17:44Re-enabled a driver... in the wrong subsystem?
16. 19:47RFBI being stubborn
17. 21:15Regulators
18. 22:07Putting Android back on again
19. 22:39Staying with Kitkat on 4.x kernel
20. 24:43First usable release
21. 25:25Initial feedback from test team
22. 26:16Re-adding PowerVR SGX rendering support
23. 26:48A whole bunch of other bits
24. 27:52How long did it take, in retrospect?
25. 29:14Points to remember when jumping major kernel versions

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