This is the Boot-Time Wizard, a test program for researching boot-time tuning options for embedded Linux systems.

Introduction

This tool provides a number of features that support developers working to improve boot-time on their embedded Linux systems.

• grab-boot-data.sh is a tool to collect information about a system and it's boot time. This data is used for subsequent analysis.
• boot_data_parser.py and boot-data are used to process information from a 'boot-data' file, and present info to the user
• boot-time-wizard is a program that allows a developer to experiment with a pre-defined set of boot-time optimization techniques

boot-time-wizard

This program runs a series of tests, doing the following for each selected optimization technique:

• instrumenting the Linux kernel to retrieve information relevant to the particular optimization technique selected
• building, installing, and booting the instrumented kernel
• gathering baseline boot-time data
• applying the specified optimization technique
• building, installing (if appropriate), and booting an optimized kernel
• gathering results boot-time data
• comparing the baseline data with the results data to create a report of changes to the system

This system allows you to see what optimization techniques are effective for your platform (kernel, distro and required early boot functionality). It also allows you to see what breaks if you use a particular optimization technique.

Dependencies

The boot-time-wizard uses 'ttc' (see https://github.com/tbird/ttc) as its board access and management tool. You should have configured ttc with full support for: 1) building and install a kernel, 2) accessing a board, and controlling its power and boot, 3) manipulating the kernel command line.

Getting Started

Use boot-time-wizard -t <target> -l to list the optimization methods that are available to try on your system.

Then use boot-time-wizard -t <target> -m <method> to test that optimization method. Data will be collected from your system as the method is tried, and a report will be provided of the effect on the system. These appear in an 'artifact directory', usually called btw-artifacts in the current directory.

Use boot-time-wizard -h to get usage help for the tool.

Happy Linuxing!!...