Adapting Linux Vfat Filesystem to embedded operating systems

Abstract

Nowadays, embedded systems play an important role in the new living fashion. Many embedded systems need storage capability to offer advanced application features. However, to implement file system for a target operating system from the scratch is a time-consuming and error-prone task. Linux under the spirit of GNU GPL and open source codes gains its stability, reliability, and high performance. Therefore, making use of the existing Linux vfat FileSystem source codes to adapt to embedded systems becomes a feasible and cost-effective way. This paper describes how to adapt Linux vfat FileSystem to LyraOS, a component-based operating system for embedded systems. Under different system design principles and kernel architectures, this work includes remodeling and modifying Linux vfat FileSystem to be a separate and self-contained C++ component, replacing Linux kernel support functions invocation with equivalent LyraOS kernel components invocation, adding data path to RAM-based device, and implementing compatible file system interfaces (POSIX) for LyraOS vfat filesystem. Performance evaluation under modified Andrew BenchMark shows that our LyraOS vfat FileSystem operates at low cost. The experience of this study can be of practical value to serve as the reference for embedding Linux file system into a target system that needs storage capability.