How to create a target image

The QNX website includes reference (evaluation) images for you to explore and use; however, as a system integrator or the developer of a custom solution, you might want to generate your own images.

If you want to use a custom image, you'll have to create an image for your target board. When you have your board booting with this custom image, you can modify the filesets to include additional packages and applications in the generated image.

The image generation process

Depending on your board, you will need to follow these high-level steps to create your target image:

Step 1
Download a board-specific BSP (which contains drivers and prebuilt files) from the QNX website. For information about QNX BSPs, see "Board Support Packages (BSPs)" and the BSP User Guide.
Step 2
Extract your BSP, then copy the files from the /prebuilt directory. For instructions about extracting BSPs and where to copy the files, see the platform-specific instructions under "Building a target image."
Step 3
(Optional) Depending on the board and boot loader used, you may require an Initial Program Loader (IPL, which loads the IFS) or an MLO (multimedia card loader for OMAP5 EVM).
To generate the IPL, run the mkflashimage script. For more information, see the BSP User Guide for your board.
Step 4
(Optional) You can customize the image to:
  • change its contents (e.g., add or remove apps)
  • include binaries and files in filesets
  • modify the configuration profile files (e.g., os.xml, dos-sd.xml) for the board-specific package
  • modify the startup process using .build files and System Launch and Monitor (SLM)
Step 5
Run the mksysimage.sh (Linux) or mksysimage.bat (Windows) script to generate your target image.

The following diagram shows an overview of the process used to create a target image for the QNX SDK for Apps and Media. This process is discussed in detail in the chapters that follow.

Figure 1. Process to create a QNX SDK for Apps and Media target image

The mksysimage.py image generation script

Because generating the various files needed for a complete target image is a time-consuming and error-prone process, the QNX SDK for Apps and Media platform includes the mksysimage.py Python script that handles the entire process of generating a system image. To ensure that you use the correct version of Python (included with the Apps and Media installation), always use mksysimage.sh (Linux) or mksysimage.bat (Windows) to run this Python Script.

For more information about mksysimage.py and other relevant scripts and utilities, see "Building Target Images" in this guide, "Image Generation Utilities" in the System Services Reference, and the QNX SDP Utilities Reference.

You also have the option of generating a system image manually; you can run the individual utilities manually to generate any of the following: