Torizon is a new Linux-based software platform that simplifies the process of developing and maintaining embedded software and allows containerized applications to run. The Docker container engine is one of the most popular and is currently used by the TorizonCore distribution. To get more information about TorizonCore, make sure to read the TorizonCore Overview.
A container is a standard unit of software that packages code and all its dependencies to enable very flexible, lightweight, portable and scalable software development. To get more information regarding Docker, be sure to visit its official doccumentation.
In this module you will:
- Test TorizonCore with a hello-world application.
Typographic Conventions
Throughout the Toradex documentation, the following typographic conventions are used:
$ (dollar sign) Command in the host computer (e.g. your PC)
$ Command in your PC
$$ (double dollar sign) Command in a container in the host computer (e.g. your PC)
$$ Command inside a container in your PC
# (hashtag) Command in the target device/board (e.g. Linux terminal)
# Command in the target board, e.g. Colibri iMX6
## (double hashtag) Command inside a container in the target device (Torizon)
## Command inside a container in Torizon
> (greater-than sign) Command in the bootloader (e.g. U-Boot console)
> Command in the Bootloader
No symbol: Command output
$ Command waiting for output
Output
For this Quickstart Guide:
- Development computer with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.
Warning: Commands and instructions may vary slightly on other Ubuntu releases and Linux distributions.
- Successfully completed the previous lessons from this guide.
For this lesson:
- Have your host-target (development PC - Computer on Module) communication setup through SSH using the PuTTY client.
- Have both host and target connected to the same network.
Note: Carefully read this module's cover page clicking on "Module 2: First Steps with Torizon" on the left menu bar before starting this lesson.
Now that you have access to your board through SSH, it is possible to fully explore TorizonCore capabilities. On the board's terminal, run the Docker Hello World:
docker run hello-world
Read the generated prompt to understand what happened and how Docker works.
For more information about this example and additional information about how to use Docker, please, refer to Docker Get Started page.
In this example, we confirmed that Docker is running correctly on the board. We are now ready to start working with Toradex's Debian images.
How relevant is the processor's architecture in containers?
Just like when building regular applications, a container built on an x86 machine will work only on x86 targets, the same is true for ARM and other computer architectures. Both images used in this lesson have been built for a wide variety of architectures, including ARM.
Note: There is also a distinction between ARMv7 (32 bit) and ARMv8 (64 bit)
