Adding learning path for Linux on an NXP board

content/learning-paths/embedded-and-microcontrollers/linux-nxp-board/1-overview.md

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+---
+title: Overview
+weight: 2
+
+### FIXED, DO NOT MODIFY
+layout: learningpathall
+---
+
+## Hardware Overview - NXP's FRDM i.MX 93 Board
+
+Selecting the best hardware for machine learning (ML) models depends on effective tools. You can visualize ML performance early in the development cycle by using NXP's [FRDM i.MX 93](https://www.nxp.com/design/design-center/development-boards-and-designs/frdm-i-mx-93-development-board:FRDM-IMX93) board.
+
+<center>
+<iframe src='//players.brightcove.net/4089003392001/Sk5u9ln3l_default/index.html?videoId=6366294691112' allowfullscreen frameborder=0 width="800" height="400"></iframe>
+
+*Unboxing NXP's FRDM i.MX 93 board*
+</center>
+
+![NXP FRDM i.MX 93 Board SoC Highlighted alt-text#center](./nxp-frdm-imx93-board-soc-highlighted.png "Arm Ethos-U65 NPU location")
+
+### NXP's FRDM i.MX 93 Processor Decoded
+
+![i.MX 93 Processor SoC alt-text#center](./imx93-application-processor-soc.png "NXP's FRDM i.MX 93 processor")
+
+**NXP's Processor Labeling Convention:**
+|Line|Meaning|
+|----|-------|
+|MIMX9352|• MI – Microcontroller IC<br>• MX93 – i.MX 93 family<br>• 52 – Variant:<br>• Dual-core Arm Cortex-A55<br> • Single Cortex-M33<br>• Includes **Ethos-U65 NPU**|
+|CVVXMAB|• C - Commercial temperature grade (0°C to 95°C)<br>• VVX - Indicates package type and pinout (BGA, pitch, etc.)<br>• MAB - Specific configuration (e.g., NPU present, security level, memory interfaces)
+|
+|1P87F|• Silicon mask set identifier|
+|SBBM2410E|• NXP traceability code|
+
+## Benefits and applications
+
+NPUs, like Arm's [Ethos-U65](https://www.arm.com/products/silicon-ip-cpu/ethos/ethos-u65) NPU are available on physical devices specifically made for developers. Development boards like NXP's [FRDM i.MX 93](https://www.nxp.com/design/design-center/development-boards-and-designs/frdm-i-mx-93-development-board:FRDM-IMX93) also connect to displays via a HDMI cable. Additionally the board accepts video inputs. This is useful for for ML performance visualization due to:
+- visual confirmation that your ML model is running on the physical device,
+- image and video inputs for computer vision models running on the device,
+- clearly indicated instruction counts,
+- confirmation of total execution time and
+- visually appealing output for prototypes and demos.

content/learning-paths/embedded-and-microcontrollers/linux-nxp-board/2-boot-nxp.md

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+---
+# User change
+title: "Boot the NXP FRDM i.MX 93 Board"
+
+weight: 3
+
+# Do not modify these elements
+layout: "learningpathall"
+---
+
+In this section, you will prepare the NXP [FRDM i.MX 93](https://www.nxp.com/design/design-center/development-boards-and-designs/frdm-i-mx-93-development-board:FRDM-IMX93) board for ML development.
+
+## Unbox the NXP Board
+
+Follow NXP's getting started instructions: [Getting Started with FRDM-IMX93](https://www.nxp.com/document/guide/getting-started-with-frdm-imx93:GS-FRDM-IMX93):
+* Stop when you complete section "1.6 Connect Power Supply"
+
+## Connect to the NXP Board
+
+Prior to logging in to the NXP board, you need to configure `picocom`. This allows you to connect to the board using a USB cable.
+
+{{% notice macOS %}}
+
+1. Install the Silicon Labs driver:
+
+   https://www.silabs.com/developer-tools/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers?tab=downloads
+
+2. Install [picocom](https://github.com/npat-efault/picocom):
+   ```bash
+   brew install picocom
+   ```
+
+3. Establish a USB-to-UART (serial) connection:
+   - Connect the board's "DEBUG" USB-C connector to your Mac
+   - Find the NXP board's USB connections in your computer's terminal:
+     ```bash { output_lines = "2-7" }
+     ls /dev/tty.*
+     # output lines
+     ...
+     /dev/tty.debug-console
+     /dev/tty.usbmodem56D70442811
+     /dev/tty.usbmodem56D70442813
+     ...
+     ```
+
+   - Connect to the NXP board:
+     ```bash { output_lines = "2-5" }
+     sudo picocom -b 115200 /dev/tty.usbmodem56D70442811
+     # output lines
+     picocom v3.1
+     ...
+     Terminal ready
+     ```
+
+4. Go straight to step 2, in the below instructions
+
+{{% /notice %}}
+
+1. Establish a USB-to-UART (serial) connection:
+   - Connect the board's "DEBUG" USB-C connector to your Linux machine
+   - Find the NXP board's USB connections in your computer's terminal:
+     ```bash { output_lines = "2-3" }
+     ls /dev/ttyUSB* /dev/ttyACM* 2>/dev/null
+     # output lines
+     /dev/ttyACM0   /dev/ttyACM1
+     ```
+
+   - Connect to the NXP board:
+     ```bash { output_lines = "2-5" }
+     sudo picocom -b 115200 /dev/ttyACM0
+     # output lines
+     picocom v3.1
+     ...
+     Terminal ready
+     ```
+2. Log in to Linux on the NXP board:
+   - Connect the board's "POWER" USB-C connector to your laptop
+   - At this point you should see one red and one white light on the board
+   - Next you should see scrolling text in your `picocom` window, as the NXP board boots
+   - The last line should say `login:`
+     ```bash { output_lines = "1-9" }
+     # output lines
+     ...
+     [  OK  ] Reached target Graphical Interface.
+              Starting Record Runlevel Change in UTMP...
+     [  OK  ] Finished Record Runlevel Change in UTMP.
+
+     NXP i.MX Release Distro 6.6-scarthgap imx93frdm ttyLP0
+
+     imx93frdm login: 
+     ```
+3. Type `root` to log in as root. There is no password
+
+### Troubleshooting
+* Restart the NXP board, to get to the `login:` prompt:
+  * Hold the NXP board's power button for 2-seconds, until the lights turn off
+  * Hold the NXP board's power button again for 2-seconds, until the lights turn on
+
+## [Optional] Run the Built-In NXP Demos
+* Connect the NXP board to a monitor via HDMI
+* Connect a mouse to the NXP board's USB-A port
+
+![NXP board built-in ML demos alt-text#center](./nxp-board-built-in-ml-demos.png "NXP board built-in ML demos")

content/learning-paths/embedded-and-microcontrollers/linux-nxp-board/3-create-super-user.md

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+---
+# User change
+title: "Create a Linux Super User"
+
+weight: 4
+
+# Do not modify these elements
+layout: "learningpathall"
+---
+
+On the NXP board, create a non-root super user (if you do not already have one):
+
+1. While [logged in as root]( {{< relref "2-boot-nxp.md" >}} ):
+
+   * Enable super user privileges:
+     ```bash
+     sudo visudo
+     ```
+   * In the vi editor that opens up, uncomment the below line:  
+     ```bash { output_lines = "1" }
+     %wheel ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL # uncomment this line
+     ```
+
+2. Add a super user:
+   ```bash
+   sudo adduser testuser
+   sudo usermod -aG wheel testuser
+   ```
+
+3. While still logged in as root, confirm successful super user creation:
+   ```bash
+   su - testuser 
+   sudo whoami # should return "root"
+   ```
+
+4. Log out of the NXP board and log back in to Linux as the super user

content/learning-paths/embedded-and-microcontrollers/linux-nxp-board/4-enable-wifi.md

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+---
+# User change
+title: "Enable WiFi"
+
+weight: 5 # 1 is first, 2 is second, etc.
+
+# Do not modify these elements
+layout: "learningpathall"
+---
+
+{{% notice Note %}}
+
+* WiFi network connectivity **does not persist** on NXP board reboot
+* It **does persist** on logging out and then logging back in as the same Linux user
+
+{{% /notice %}}
+
+1. [Log in to Linux]( {{< relref "2-boot-nxp.md" >}} ) on the board, as a [super user]( {{< relref "3-create-super-user" >}} )
+
+2. Run the below terminal commands:
+   ```bash
+   sudo /usr/sbin/modprobe moal mod_para=nxp/wifi_mod_para.conf
+   sudo connmanctl
+   ```
+
+3. The prompt will change to `connmanctl>`, where you will enter the following commands:
+
+   ```bash
+   enable wifi
+   scan wifi
+   services
+   ```
+
+4. Your available WiFi networks will be listed in the following form:
+
+   ```bash { output_lines = "1-3" }
+   <SSID>                wifi_0123456789ab_cdef0123456789_managed_psk
+   <SSID>                wifi_abcdef012345_6789abcdef0123_managed_psk
+   <SSID>                wifi_fedcba987654_3210fedcba9876_managed_psk
+   ```
+
+   {{% notice Note %}}
+
+   Duplicate SSIDs may appear, so you will have to experiment with the different `wifi_..._managed_psk` names, when you try to connect in the next step
+
+   {{% /notice %}}
+
+5. Still within the `connmanctl>` prompt, enter the following commands:
+
+   ```bash
+   agent on
+   connect wifi_0123456789ab_cdef0123456789_managed_psk # Your wifi_..._managed_ps name will be different
+   Agent RequestInput wifi_0123456789ab_cdef0123456789_managed_psk
+   Passphrase = [ Type=psk, Requirement=mandatory ]
+   Passphrase? # Enter your WiFi password
+   connmanctl> quit
+   ```
+
+6. Assuming your WiFi network is connected to the Internet, test connectivity:
+
+   ```bash
+   curl -I http://www.example.com
+   ```
+
+   If WiFi is configured correctly, you will see the example.com web page load:
+
+   ```bash { output_lines = "1-2" }
+   HTTP/1.1 200 OK
+   ...
+   ```
+
+7. [optional] If your WiFi network is not connected to the internet, test connectivity this way:
+
+   ```bash
+   ifconfig | grep RUNNING -A 1
+   ```
+
+   If WiFi is configured correctly, you will see a list of `RUNNING` network adapters:
+   * one for `127.0.0.1` (`localhost`) and
+   * a second for the NXP board's assigned IP address on the WiFi network
+   * Example output, where `192.168.1.89` is the NXP board's successfully assigned IP address:
+     ```bash { output_lines = "1-5" }
+     lo: flags=73<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING>  mtu 65536
+          inet 127.0.0.1  netmask 255.0.0.0
+     --
+     mlan0: flags=-28605<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST,DYNAMIC>  mtu 1500
+          inet 192.168.1.89  netmask 255.255.255.0  broadcast 192.168.1.255
+     ```

content/learning-paths/embedded-and-microcontrollers/linux-nxp-board/5-transfer-files-wifi.md

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+---
+# User change
+title: "Transfer Files Over WiFi"
+
+weight: 6 # 1 is first, 2 is second, etc.
+
+# Do not modify these elements
+layout: "learningpathall"
+---
+
+1. [Log in to Linux]( {{< relref "2-boot-nxp.md" >}} ) on the board, as a [super user]( {{< relref "3-create-super-user" >}} )
+
+2. [Enable Wifi]( {{< relref "4-enable-wifi.md" >}} ) on the NXP board
+
+3. Note down the NXP board's IP address on your WiFi network:
+   ```bash
+   ifconfig | grep RUNNING -A 1
+   ```
+
+4. Open a terminal window on the machine with the source file
+
+5. Navigate to the source file directory and copy the file to the NXP board's destination directory:
+   ```bash
+   # On your machine, in the source file directory
+   scp <source_file> <nxp_user>@<nxp_ip_address>:/home/nxp_user/path/to/destination/directory/
+   ```
+   Example:
+   ```bash { output_lines = "1" }
+   scp install.sh [email protected]:/home/testuser/apps/test_app/
+   ```

content/learning-paths/embedded-and-microcontrollers/linux-nxp-board/6-tranfer-files-usb.md

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+---
+# User change
+title: "Transfer Files Over USB"
+
+weight: 7 # 1 is first, 2 is second, etc.
+
+# Do not modify these elements
+layout: "learningpathall"
+---
+
+1. [Log in to Linux]( {{< relref "2-boot-nxp.md" >}} ) on the board, as a [super user]( {{< relref "3-create-super-user" >}} )
+
+2. On your machine with the source file, copy the source file to a USB-A thumb drive:
+
+3. Insert the thumb drive into the NXP board's USB-A port
+
+4. Mount the thumb drive and then copy the files to the board:
+   ```bash { output_lines = "1" }
+   # Execute these commands on the board
+   mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
+   cp /mnt/<source_file> /path/to/destination/directory/
+   ```
+
+   Example:
+   ```bash { output_lines = "1" }
+   cp /mnt/install.sh ./apps/test_app/
+   ```
+
+5. [optional] Unmount the thumbdrive and then remove it from the NXP board
+   ```bash
+   umount /mnt
+   ```