Versal | PetaLinux | Custom Driver | GUI

Running Linux on Versal with Custom Driver and GUI Application

Built an embedded Linux flow for a Xilinx Versal board with custom character drivers, a browser-based OCT hardware control GUI, and a repeatable PetaLinux build workflow for deployment.

Xilinx Versal PetaLinux Custom drivers Linux ioctl GUI application Makefile Boot artifacts

Overview

A Versal Linux platform with driver control and a usable hardware dashboard.

This project brings up Linux on a Versal board for an OCT hardware data path. The system combines PetaLinux configuration, custom kernel driver integration, generated boot files, and a GUI application that gives the user one place to control and monitor the hardware.

VCK

Versal target

Prepared the embedded Linux image and boot outputs for deployment on the Versal platform.

DRV

Custom driver access

Integrated custom Linux character drivers so user-space software can control hardware through driver APIs.

GUI

OCT control interface

Built a browser GUI for hardware control, monitoring, counters, link status, resets, and duplex operation.

Build And Integration

The work spans Linux image configuration, driver packaging, and client-side build automation.

OCT GUI application running for Versal hardware control

PetaLinux configuration

Configured the project so the required custom drivers and rootfs packages are selected for the target image.

Custom kernel modules

Packaged the hardware-facing driver layer so the GUI and backend can communicate with the Versal hardware path.

Repeatable handoff

Used a Makefile-driven workflow so the Linux image, modules, and boot artifacts can be regenerated consistently.

Versal Linux workflow
  -> configure PetaLinux project
  -> select custom driver packages
  -> build Linux image and rootfs
  -> package boot files
  -> deploy to Versal board
  -> run GUI application
  -> control hardware through custom drivers

Implementation Flow

From driver selection to a running GUI on the target board.

Configure PetaLinux for Versal

Prepared the Linux project and selected the required target-side packages for the Versal board.

Enable custom drivers

Integrated the custom character driver layer needed for OCT hardware control from user space.

Automate the build

Used Makefile commands to reduce manual PetaLinux build steps and make the workflow easier to repeat.

Run the GUI application

Validated the system through the OCT GUI, including hardware controls, status fields, counters, and link indicators.

Evidence

Screenshots from the Versal Linux build and GUI workflow.

OCT GUI dashboard for Versal hardware control — **OCT GUI application**
Browser-based dashboard for controlling and monitoring the OCT hardware path on the Versal Linux target.

PetaLinux custom driver selection menu — **PetaLinux driver selection**
Custom driver packages selected inside the PetaLinux configuration flow for the Versal image.

Makefile running PetaLinux build commands — **Automated Makefile run**
Repeatable build commands used to generate the Linux image and deployment outputs.

Generated Versal boot files after PetaLinux build — **Generated boot files**
Boot artifacts created by the PetaLinux workflow for running the project on the Versal board.

Outcome

A complete Versal embedded Linux project with driver-backed GUI control.

The final system demonstrates Linux running on Versal with custom driver integration, GUI-based OCT hardware control, PetaLinux build configuration, and generated boot artifacts for target deployment.

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