Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] GNU Radio on Beaglebone black

[Dennis Glatting]

On Wed, 2017-03-22 at 09:34 +0500, Usman Haider wrote:
> 
> 
> On Wed, Mar 22, 2017 at 2:52 AM, Dennis Glatting <address@hidden>
> wrote:
> > On Tue, 2017-03-21 at 22:59 +0500, Usman Haider wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I am currently building GNU Radio 3.7.10.1 on Beaglebone black
> > > running Debian 8.6.  I have disable some components for testing
> > and
> > > to speed up the process. After installing the dependencies when I
> > run
> > > cmake I am getting following messages. Are these messages okay?
> > Do I
> > > have to pass any flags to cmake like -march etc or not?
> > >
> > > ....
> > > -- Performing Test have_msse2
> > > -- Performing Test have_msse2 - Failed
> > > -- Performing Test have_msse3
> > > -- Performing Test have_msse3 - Failed
> > > -- Performing Test have_mssse3
> > > -- Performing Test have_mssse3 - Failed
> > > -- Performing Test have_msse4a
> > > -- Performing Test have_msse4a - Failed
> > > -- Performing Test have_msse4_1
> > > -- Performing Test have_msse4_1 - Failed
> > > -- Performing Test have_mavx
> > > -- Performing Test have_mavx - Failed
> > > -- Performing Test have_mavx2
> > > -- Performing Test have_mavx2 - Failed
> > > -- Architecture is not x86 or x86_64, Overruled arch 3dnow
> > > -- Architecture is not x86 or x86_64, Overruled arch mmx
> > > -- Architecture is not x86 or x86_64, Overruled arch sse
> > > -- Architecture is not x86 or x86_64, Overruled arch sse2
> > > -- Architecture is not x86 or x86_64, Overruled arch sse3
> > > -- Architecture is not x86 or x86_64, Overruled arch ssse3
> > > -- Architecture is not x86 or x86_64, Overruled arch sse4_a
> > > -- Architecture is not x86 or x86_64, Overruled arch sse4_1
> > > -- Architecture is not x86 or x86_64, Overruled arch sse4_2
> > > -- Architecture is not x86 or x86_64, Overruled arch avx
> > > -- Available architectures: generic;hardfp;neon;orc;norc
> > > -- Available machines: generic_orc;neon_hardfp_orc
> > > -- BUILD TYPE = RELEASE
> > > -- Base cflags = -O3 -DNDEBUG  -std=gnu99 -fvisibility=hidden
> > -Wsign-
> > > compare -Wall -Wno-uninitialized -Wall
> > > -- BUILD INFO ::: generic_orc ::: GNU ::: -O3 -DNDEBUG  -
> > std=gnu99
> > > -fvisibility=hidden -Wsign-compare -Wall -Wno-uninitialized
> > -Wall 
> > > -- BUILD INFO ::: neon_hardfp_orc ::: GNU ::: -O3 -DNDEBUG  -
> > > std=gnu99 -fvisibility=hidden -Wsign-compare -Wall -Wno-
> > uninitialized
> > > -Wall -mfpu=neon -funsafe-math-optimizations -mfloat-abi=hard
> > > -- Compiler Version: cc (Debian 4.9.2-10) 4.9.2
> > > Copyright (C) 2014 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> > > This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. 
> > There
> > > is NO
> > > warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
> > PARTICULAR
> > > PURPOSE.
> > > -- ---- Adding ASM files
> > > -- -- Detected neon architecture; enabling ASM
> > > -- Adding source file:
> > >
> > /home/debian/gnuradio/volk/kernels/volk/asm/neon/volk_16i_max_star_
> > ho
> > > rizontal_16i.s
> > >
> > > ...
> > > ...
> > > Complete output
> > >
> > > http://pastebin.com/t3KSu0f5
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > 
> > You can build from source on the Beagle. I have done it. 
> Great!
>  
> > However, the
> > Beagle has only a single core processor, you will have to mount
> > swap
> > space, the 4G of memory isn't roomy - at all, and you will have to
> > install a bunch of additional packages. 
> > 
> Can you point me to those packages so that I do not miss something? I
> installed pre-reqs for GNU Radio and cmake seems to run fine with
> some warnings/messages as shown in my first email. 
>  

Pybombs is a more robust solution but at the time I did a lot of trial
and error - I ran configure, looked at the results, then installed what
satisfied the errors and missing features.


> > I don't recommend native builds but it can be done. Cross develop
> > if
> > you can. I seem to recall it took a few /days/ to build, multiply
> > if
> > there is a failure. You should also mount an external USB disk for
> > swap, /tmp, etc. 
> >  
> 
> The compiler on the Beagle is old. I installed a more modern version.
> 
> I tried to cross develop but was not able to do so. I am still
> working on that approach. If you have done it or have any pointers
> please do share.  What compiler did you use? Did you do a full
> install of GNU Radio on BBB?  

I only found one cross solution but it required custom tweaks to qemu.
It was pain.

I satisfied as many GNURadio dependencies as I could. I also built and
ran gnuradio-companion on the Beagle. The real SoC target was a
CubieBoard4 whereas the Beagle was for proof of concept. Neither of
those targets supported OpenCL, which we also wanted to do for another
proof of concept. I wanted an OpenACC capable compiler but nothing
useful was found.

The real development work was done on a 5GHz AMD box (over clocked,
liquid cooled). I simply ported my blocks and the run graph to the SoCs
(after I installed GNURadio). Since I was using OpenMP and C++11
features, I needed a more capable compiler than GNU 4.8/4.9. I used
templates too, which can cause any compiler to grind and grind.

My external disk was mounted as /opt (and swap). That is were I stored
the source and utilities with the run-time going into /usr/local.

Lots and lots of work. That project has been sitting is a box for a
year, maybe a year and a half.

A buddy said he was going to make GNURadio run on a Pi3. I don't know
if he actually tried, but since I haven't heard any bellowing from
Pullayup to here in Redmond, I assume it works or he hasn't tried. The
Pi3 sounds mike a better target environment.


> > The Beagle isn't suited for GNURadio unless you have a low data
> > rate
> > and low memory requirements, but it can work.
> > 
> I'll also use low data-rates :) 
>  
> > Regarding VOLK, you may have to tune the build. You will have to
> > look
> > up the processor specifics and tune the build appropriately.
> > 
> I'll look how can I do it. Thanks for your time.
> 


Keep in mind this is going to be work and suck time.


> --
> Usman 
>