Cross Compile of Linux Kernel for Raspberry Pi

This repository contains make files and scripts for easy cross compiling of the Linux kernel for Raspberry Pi.

Get the tools

ed_rpi_linux

git clone https://github.com/embed-dsp/ed_rpi_linux.git

Rasperry Pi Linux source

Clone the Rasperry Pi Linux source tree into the ed_rpi_linux directory.

# Enter the ed_rpi_linux directory
cd ed_rpi_linux

# Clone the Rasperry Pi Linux source tree
git clone https://github.com/raspberrypi/linux.git

Cross Compile using Raspberry Pi tool chain

Perform these steps to install the Raspberry Pi tool chain.

# Create directory for storing the Raspberry Pi tool chain
sudo mkdir -p /opt/raspberry

# Change the owner from root to <your name>
sudo chown <your name>:<your name> /opt/raspberry

# Enter directory for the Raspberry Pi tool chain
cd /opt/raspberry

# Clone Raspberry Pi tool chain
git clone https://github.com/raspberrypi/tools.git

Cross Compile using Linaro tool chain

Perform these steps to install the Linaro tool chain.

# Create directory for storing the Linaro tool chain
sudo mkdir -p /opt/gcc-arm

# Change the owner from root to <your name>
sudo chown <your name>:<your name> /opt/gcc-arm

# Enter directory for the Linaro tool chain
cd /opt/gcc-arm

# Download Linaro tool chain
wget https://releases.linaro.org/components/toolchain/binaries/7.2-2017.11/armv8l-linux-gnueabihf/gcc-linaro-7.2.1-2017.11-x86_64_armv8l-linux-gnueabihf.tar.xz

# Install the Linaro tool chain
tar Jxf gcc-linaro-7.2.1-2017.11-x86_64_armv8l-linux-gnueabihf.tar.xz

Build the Linux kernel

Select Cross Compiler

cd ed_rpi_linux

# Edit Makefile and select the cross compiler
vim Makefile

RPi0, RPi0W, RPi1 and CM

sudo make RPI=rpi clean
sudo make RPI=rpi defconfig
sudo make RPI=rpi build

# Install kernel, modules and device tree blobs into build/rpi_kernel_<timestamp> folder.
make RPI=rpi install

RPi2

sudo make RPI=rpi2 clean
sudo make RPI=rpi2 defconfig
sudo make RPI=rpi2 build

# Install kernel, modules and device tree blobs into build/rpi2_kernel_<timestamp> folder.
make RPI=rpi2 install

RPi3 and CM3

sudo make RPI=rpi3 clean
sudo make RPI=rpi3 defconfig
sudo make RPI=rpi3 build

# Install kernel, modules and device tree blobs into build/rpi3_kernel_<timestamp> folder.
make RPI=rpi3 install

Install built kernel on Rasperry Pi

Use rsync and LAN / WiFi to transfer the built kernel to the /home/pi directory on Raspberry Pi.

# RPi0, RPi0W, RPi1 and CM
rsync -avz build/rpi_kernel_<timestamp> pi@<ip address>:/home/pi/

# RPi2
rsync -avz build/rpi2_kernel_<timestamp> pi@<ip address>:/home/pi/

# RPi3 and CM3
rsync -avz build/rpi3_kernel_<timestamp> pi@<ip address>:/home/pi/

Use ssh to login to Raspberry Pi.

ssh pi@<ip address>

Use the install.sh script to backup the current kernel into the /root directory and to install the new kernel.

# RPi0, RPi0W, RPi1 and CM
cd rpi_kernel_<timestamp>
sudo ./install.sh

# RPi2
cd rpi2_kernel_<timestamp>
sudo ./install.sh

# RPi3 and CM3
cd rpi3_kernel_<timestamp>
sudo ./install.sh

Reboot the Raspberry Pi.

sudo reboot