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https://github.com/dhruvvyas90/qemu-rpi-kernel

Qemu kernel for emulating Rpi on QEMU
https://github.com/dhruvvyas90/qemu-rpi-kernel

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Qemu kernel for emulating Rpi on QEMU

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README 

        
# qemu-rpi-kernel



## Emuation using Qemu's native raspi2/3 machine



Follow instructions under `native-emulation` subfolder in order to use Qemu's

native raspi2/3 machine to emulate raspberry pi. 



## Emulation using pre-compiled versatilepb kernels



Ready-made kernels that can be used to emulate a Raspberry Pi using QEMU.



They are compiled from the same [kernel sources] used for official Raspian

images, with tweaks to make them suitable for use with QEMU, and are supposed

to be used along with official Raspbian images.



### Obtaining Raspbian



Before starting, you should download a [Raspbian image] from the Raspberry Pi

website and extract the `.zip` archive to obtain an `.img` file.



### Choosing a kernel image



This repository contains three types of kernel images:



* `kernel-qemu-4.*.*-buster` are the most recent images, which are compatible

  with Raspbian Buster and Stretch. To use these images, you'll need a compiled

  device tree file (.dtb) which is also contained in this repository.  Use

  `versatile-pb-buster.dtb` for Buster, or use `versatile-pb.dtb` for Stretch.

  Unless you are positive you need a different kernel, the most recent of

  these images is probably what you want.



* `kernel-qemu-4.*.*-stretch` are images compatible with Raspbian Stretch and

  Jessie. To use these images, you'll need the `versatile-pb.dtb` file which

  is also contained in this repository.



* `kernel-qemu-4.4.*-jessie` are images compatible with Raspbian Jessie and

  Wheezy.



* `kernel-qemu-3.10.25-wheezy` is the original image from [xecdesign.com],

  which is compatible with Raspbian Wheezy only.



### Using kernel images with QEMU



The QEMU command line will look like



    $ qemu-system-arm \

      -M versatilepb \

      -cpu arm1176 \

      -m 256 \

      -hda /.../2019-09-26-raspbian-buster-lite.img \

      -net user,hostfwd=tcp::5022-:22 \

      -dtb /.../versatile-pb-buster.dtb \

      -kernel /.../kernel-qemu-4.19.50-buster \

      -append 'root=/dev/sda2 panic=1' \

      -no-reboot



For the kernel 5.4.51 please use (Tested with Raspbian Buster Lite):



    $ qemu-system-arm \

      -M versatilepb \

      -cpu arm1176 \

      -m 256 \

      -drive "file=/.../2020-05-27-raspios-buster-lite-armhf.img,if=none,index=0,media=disk,format=raw,id=disk0" \

      -device "virtio-blk-pci,drive=disk0,disable-modern=on,disable-legacy=off" \

      -net "user,hostfwd=tcp::5022-:22" \

      -dtb /.../versatile-pb-buster-5.4.51.dtb \

      -kernel /.../kernel-qemu-5.4.51-buster \

      -append 'root=/dev/vda2 panic=1' \

      -no-reboot



with the paths to the disk image, `.dtb` file and kernel image adjusted

appropriately.



There is a Docker image available to automate this whole process:



```

docker run -it lukechilds/dockerpi

```



More information: https://github.com/lukechilds/dockerpi



### Using kernel images with libvirt



Assuming your libvirt version is at least 5.0.0, you can use something like



    $ virt-install \

      --name pi \

      --arch armv6l \

      --machine versatilepb \

      --cpu arm1176 \

      --vcpus 1 \

      --memory 256 \

      --import \

      --disk /.../2019-09-26-raspbian-buster-lite.img,format=raw,bus=virtio \

      --network user,model=virtio \

      --video vga \

      --graphics spice \

      --rng device=/dev/urandom,model=virtio \

      --boot 'dtb=/.../versatile-pb-buster.dtb,kernel=/.../kernel-qemu-4.19.50-buster,kernel_args=root=/dev/vda2 panic=1' \

      --events on_reboot=destroy



to create a new libvirt guest called `pi`. You'll be able to manage the guest

with all the usual tools, such as `virsh` and `virt-manager`.



### Building your own kernel image



See the contents of the `tools/` directory, where the build scripts and

instructions on how to use them are stored.



### Origin of this repository



While searching the Internet for information on emulating a Raspberry Pi using

QEMU in Jun 2015, most of the guides pointed to kernel images hosted on

[xecdesign.com]; however, at the time the resource was no longer online, and

that's still the case as of Feb 2019.



This repository was initially created as a way to make those kernel images

available once again, and has since been expanded to provide improved and

up-to-date images.



### Further information



Additional documentation can be found on the [wiki].



[Raspbian image]: https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/

[kernel sources]: https://github.com/raspberrypi/linux/

[xecdesign.com]: https://xecdesign.com/downloads/linux-qemu/kernel-qemu

[wiki]: https://github.com/dhruvvyas90/qemu-rpi-kernel/wiki