# BeagleBone README Quick-Start Guide

## Step #1: Plug in BeagleBone via USB

The BeagleBone will boot Linux from the provided microSD card and operates as a flash drive. This provides you with a local copy of the documentation and drivers.

## Step #2: Install drivers

Install the drivers for your operating system.

Operating System | USB Drivers [FTDI] [Network] | Comments
--- | --- | ---

Windows (32-bit)

BONE_DRV.exe

- Note #1: Windows Driver Certification warning may pop up a couple times. Click "Ignore"
- Note #2: To check if you're running 32 or 64-bit Windows see this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218

Windows (64-bit) | BONE_D64.exe
Mac OS X | FTDI_Ser.dmg | Note: Driver installation is not required for rev A5 boards or newer
Linux | mkudevrule.sh | Note: Driver installation is not required for rev A5 boards or newer

## Step #3: Eject BEAGLE_BONE

The EJECT operation tells your BeagleBone to switch from "storage mode" to "network mode", enabling you to access the networking features over your USB cable.

- Note #1: "Safely remove hardware" is not the same as EJECT.
- Note #2: On Windows, it may take a couple of minutes for the driver to load after EJECT.
- Note #3: On Windows, you may be prompted to locate the 'linux.inf' file. If the driver was installed properly, you should be able to find it under c:\windows\system32\drvstore\linux_...
- Note #4: OS X Mountain Lion no longer issues the EJECT operation upon using EJECT. You'll need to access the serial console (as described further below) and input the following commands into the console:

         systemctl stop storage-gadget-init.service; systemctl start network-gadget-init.service

## Step #4: Browse to your board

Using either Chrome or Firefox (Internet Explorer will NOT work), browse to the web server running on your board. It will load a presentation showing you the capabilities of the board. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate the presentation.

- http://192.168.7.2

## Step #5: Explore Cloud9 IDE

Cloud9 IDE can be used to develop software on your BeagleBone without the need to download any development software. Cloud9 IDE runs directly on your BeagleBone and is accessible through your browser.

- http://192.168.7.2:3000/

## Troubleshooting and reference

BeagleBone System Reference Manual <-- please read before asking for help
BeagleBone README Quick-Start Guide <-- latest version of this document
Online discussion <-- Where to ask questions
Angstrom Mirrors <-- latest pre-built microSD card images
Building Angstrom <-- instructions to rebuild the image

### Connect to your BeagleBone's serial console

Under Windows, it is recommended to follow the Adafruit tutorial.

For Mac or Linux, it is recommended simply to invoke 'screen':

    screen `ls /dev/{tty.usb*B,beaglebone-serial}` 115200

Type 'CTRL-a k' to exit screen.

The username is 'root' and the password is blank, so you may simply press the ENTER key.

## Next steps to try

### Matt Richardson's getting started video

### Derek Molloy's tutorial series on YouTube

### Jan Axelson's BeagleBone getting started guide

### Mark Yoder's ECE497 materials

### Other currently available starting images

- Texas Instruments releases: Android, Linux, StarterWare (no OS)
- Linux: Ubuntu, Debian, ArchLinux, Gentoo, Sabayon, Buildroot, Erlang, Fedora
- Other: QNX, FreeBSD

### Powering options

To power the board with connected USB peripherals, a 2A, 5V power adapter is recommended.

Note: Some software images limit the clock speed of the BeagleBone by determining if the power source is USB or the 5V adapter to avoid excess use of current.

### JTAG debug

Code Composer Studio v5 (CCSv5) is available for free for BealgeBone users and is a TI-provided Eclipse-based integrated development environment that enables you to debug and develop C/C++ applications. Please visit the CCSv5 Frequently Asked Questions page.

OpenOCD is an application that provides JTAG-based debugging on all three operating systems, but currently only Linux is verified. Please visit Matt Massey's blog post describing installation in Ubuntu.

## Hardware

### Design materials

- System Reference Manual
- Schematics (PDF)
- Schematics (Orcad)
- Bill of materials
- PCB design files
- PCB manufacturing files

### Revisions

CircuitCo.com's BeagleBone page documents all of the known hardware issues.

#### A3

This is the original version of the board. Main issue was issues with the reset switch where the reset line was being pulled low which could cause random dropping of the Ethernet port. This issue has not be seen broadly.

#### A4

This version of the board was mainly to provide a new SD connector due to supply issues. Also added was R219 in an attempt to make the Yellow LED on the RJ45 turn on when at 100M operation. This caused the Ethernet not to work on power up but did work after a board reboot.

#### A5

This version of the board returns the functionality of the board to that of the Rev A3 via the removal of R219. There have been no PCB changes for this revision. It uses the same PCB revision as the A4. It also ships with an updated version of the Angstrom image providing out of the box support for the DVI-D and 7" LCD Capes.

There will be three possible versions of the Rev A5. One will be the new production version that is built from the ground up as an A5. The second version will be a reworked Revision A4 that has R219 removed at the factory and retested. The third version will be a revision A3, that just has the updated SW added. All reworked versions will have the reset switches double checked as well. All reworked boards will be retested using the full production test process.

You will be able to identify these versions via the serial number. They all will be labeled as revision A5. The two digits after the BB in the serial number, S/N: 5111BB000023, will indicate the board. A fresh revision A5, will be 00, A4 reworked will be 01, and a recertified A3 will be 02. There is no functional or operational difference between any of these boards. They are all revision A5 and will ship with the same SW.

#### A6

This version of the board has several updates, but none should impact execution of existing software.

- Yellow LED to turns on during 100M operation
- Two additional PRU signals overlaid with existing signals to the expansion header
- Moved resistors away from the standoff
- Removed connection to VPP pin from the layout
- Removed R163 to avoid spurious JTAG reset issues
- Removed incorrect and ignored configuration resistor for LAN8710

## Software updates

### Known issues and to-do list

- System
  - Mount time for USB-to-Ethernet may take a couple of minutes under Windows
- Kernel
  - Need completed CAN drivers
  - Need improved PWM support
  - Need device tree support and run-time configuration with daughterboards
  - Need improved USB and USB DMA support
  - Need improved SD performance
- SD card image
  - Add Java
  - Need simplified IP discovery
  - Need improved GateOne performance and resolve 'redirect loop' issue
  - Need to consider ConnMan tethering for USB-based IP
  - 'top' refresh rate can sometimes be crazy fast
  - Restore automounting of hotplugged media
  - Restore Matrix and add application entries for GateOne and Cloud9 IDE
- Documentation
  - Need daughterboard building guide
  - Add graphics and/or videos where appropriate
  - Need full description of /sys entries
  - Basic information on apps for each major interface type, ie. I2C, SPI, etc.
  - Need to highlight daughterboard ("cape") EEPROM spec
- Cloud9 IDE and BoneScript
  - Update the git data to match the checked out repository
  - Update version of Bone101 included to one that runs
  - Inclusion of node-fibers such that delays don't hog the CPU
  - Arduino-like automatic execution of installed apps
  - Dynamic web conent example with board status and streaming data
  - Optimal utilization of the PRU and performance improvements
  - Extensive improvements to the BoneScript API
  - Need examples on programming in C and Python through the Cloud9 IDE interface
  - Include npm and several node modules

Last updated by blog.hangerhead.com on Mon Oct 15 2012 14:24:27 GMT-0500 (CDT).