Since the release of the 2.4 kernel, Linux users gained serious USB support for a wide range of devices. The Linux USB subsystem, integrated in the kernel and already supported by most Linux distributions, including uClinux, supports all necessary features like plug-and-play, USB bandwidth allocation and more than 100 ports per bus. USB development is very active in the 2.6 kernel tree.

Before you can connect a USB Peripherals, you must have a working host device in your system. For x86 Linux - this usually means a Universal Host Controller Interface (UHCI, used by Intel & Via chipsets) and the Open Host Controller Interface (OHCI, used by Compaq, Apple, SiS, OPTi, Lucent and ALi chipsets). These are a common register level interface, allowing Linux developers to write two drivers, and making USB support available to anyone with a modern motherboard. Since most embedded Linux do not use UHCI or OHCI, you will need a specific Host Controller driver for the chipset you want to use.

On the Blackfin BF54x,BF52x and BF60x, the USB controller that is used is the Mentor Graphics MUSBHSFC USB 2.0 High-Speed Function Controller. While this IP Block can be found in many other embedded processors, there are many optional features which are specified at the time of implementation. The Analog Devices designers choose to implement a subset of the available options, and as so, it can not support USB Hub devices as a host. (You can not plug a hub into the USB controller found on the BF54x or BF52x). The BF60x uses a later version of the above USB IP block, which is a multi-point controller implementation and as such hub support is provided.

On bf527 ezkit-v2 sw13 position 2 must be set off and position 3 set on in order to support musb host mode. You can find the details here

BF527_EZKIT_Lite_manual_Rev_1.6

On bf609-ezkit if board version is 0.1,musb CLK must changed to 24Mhz like:

diff --git a/arch/blackfin/mach-bf609/boards/ezkit.c b/arch/blackfin/mach-bf609/boards/ezkit.c
index 1222cfb..74c6d10 100644
--- a/arch/blackfin/mach-bf609/boards/ezkit.c
+++ b/arch/blackfin/mach-bf609/boards/ezkit.c
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ static struct musb_hdrc_config musb_config = {
        .dma            = 1,
        .num_eps        = 16,
        .dma_channels   = 8,
-       .clkin          = 48,           /* musb CLKIN in MHZ */
+       .clkin          = 24,           /* musb CLKIN in MHZ */
 };
 
 static struct musb_hdrc_platform_data musb_plat = {

The usb_otg controller operates in either of two USB operation modes (peripheral or host mode) at a given time.

In peripheral mode, the USB controller encodes, decodes, checks, and directs all USB packets sent and received, responding appropriately to host requests. Data is transferred from the processor core memory into the device’s Tx FIFOs to be transmitted onto USB as IN packets and in the other direction USB OUT packets are received into the Rx FIFOs (having being sent from the host) and transferred to system memory for processing or storage. In peripheral mode, the USB controller is acting as a slave device to another USB host; either a personal computer or another OTG host controller.

EZKIT with USB Mini_AB female receptacle (USB Peripheral)
<---USB Mini_B male plug ----------- USB standard A female plug--->
PC with USB standard A female receptacle (USB Hosts)

USB Mini_B male plug and USB standard A male plug:

[Linux Kernel Configuration] --> [Device Drivers] --> [USB support]

 <*> Support for Host-side USB
 [*]   USB device filesystem
 [*]   USB device class-devices (DEPRECATED)
 <*> Inventra Highspeed Dual Role Controller (TI, ADI, ...)
 <*>     Platform Glue Layer (Blackfin)  ---> 
         MUSB DMA mode (Inventra)  --->
         
 <*>   USB Gadget Support  --->
 <*>   USB Peripheral Controller (Inventra HDRC USB Peripheral (TI, ADI, ...))  --->
 <*>   USB Gadget Drivers (Gadget Zero (DEVELOPMENT))  --->
         Gadget Zero (DEVELOPMENT)

Each USB peripheral that is plugged into the USB Host controller on the Blackfin needs its own driver. These drivers are host antagonistic (same driver runs on your Linux host as on the Blackfin), so determining which driver to use can be as easy as plugging the device into your development host.

imhotep:/home/rgetz # dmesg
usb 3-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 4
usb 3-1: new device found, idVendor=04b3, idProduct=3004
usb 3-1: new device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
usb 3-1: Product: IBM USB HUB KEYBOARD
usb 3-1: Manufacturer: Silitek
usb 3-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
hub 3-1:1.0: USB hub found
hub 3-1:1.0: 3 ports detected
usb 3-1.1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 5
usb 3-1.1: new device found, idVendor=04b3, idProduct=3003
usb 3-1.1: new device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
usb 3-1.1: Product: IBM USB HUB KEYBOARD
usb 3-1.1: Manufacturer: Silitek
usb 3-1.1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
input: Silitek IBM USB HUB KEYBOARD as /class/input/input6
input: USB HID v1.00 Keyboard [Silitek IBM USB HUB KEYBOARD] on usb-0000:00:1d.2-1.1
input: Silitek IBM USB HUB KEYBOARD as /class/input/input7
input: USB HID v1.00 Device [Silitek IBM USB HUB KEYBOARD] on usb-0000:00:1d.2-1.1

Our basic view is that any USB device that works on a host Linux machine should work on the Blackfin. If it does not, it is a bug, and should be reported and fixed. Sometimes this is difficult, since we may need physical access to the device that is having problems. This will not be a list of tested devices, since the list would quickly grow so large it was unmanageable, but will be a short document that will detail how to provide the information we need to properly debug the USB driver.

Any device that is listed as working on the Linux USB project web site is expected to work on the Blackfin. This would include 416 audio devices, 235 communication devices, 217 HID devices, 410 digital imaging devices, 1002 mass storage devices, etc - now you understand why we don't keep our own list.

Here lists samples to enable some frequently used usb devices.

Device Drivers -->
  HID Devices -->
    --- Generic HID support
    [ ]   HID debugging support
    --- USB Input Devices
    <*> USB Human Interface Device (full HID) support
    [ ]   Enable support for iBook/PowerBook/MacBook/MacBookPro special keys
    [ ]   Force feedback support (EXPERIMENTAL)
    [ ]   /dev/hiddev raw HID device support

Plug in the USB keyboard, kernel outputs message like:

usb 1-1: new low speed USB device using musb_hdrc and address 2         
usb 1-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice                                  
input: Dell Dell USB Keyboard as /class/input/input0                            
input: USB HID v1.10 Keyboard [Dell Dell USB Keyboard] on usb-musb_hdrc.0-1 

Kernel configuration is the same as configuration of USB keyboard.

When plugging in a USB mouse, there is output message like:

usb 1-1: new low speed USB device using musb_hdrc and address 3                 
usb 1-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice                                  
input: HID 413c:3010 as /class/input/input1                                     
input: USB HID v1.10 Mouse [HID 413c:3010] on usb-musb_hdrc.0-1 

You may need to enable Input Device drivers before using the mouse. If the application uses /dev/input/eventX interface, enable:

--- Generic input layer (needed for keyboard, mouse, ...)
<*>   Event interface

To use /dev/input/mouseX interface, enable:

--- Generic input layer (needed for keyboard, mouse, ...)
<*>   Mouse interface

The framebuffer console shows example of using USB keyboard and mouse with framebuffer console and nano-x.

Please refer to examples here .

EZKIT with USB Mini_AB female receptacle (USB Peripheral)
<---USB Mini_B male plug ----------- USB standard A male plug--->
PC with USB standard A male recptacle (USB Hosts)

USB Mini_B male plug and USB standard A male plug:

[Linux Kernel Configuration] --> [Device Drivers] --> [USB support]

 <*> Support for Host-side USB
 [*]   USB device filesystem
 [*]   USB device class-devices (DEPRECATED)
 <*> Inventra Highspeed Dual Role Controller (TI, ADI, ...)
 <*>     Platform Glue Layer (Blackfin)  ---> 
         MUSB DMA mode (Inventra)  --->

[Linux Kernel Configuration] --> [Device Drivers] --> [USB support] --> [USB Gadget Support]

<*> Support for USB Gadgets
    USB Peripheral Controller (Inventra HDRC USB Peripheral (TI, ADI, ...))  --->

usbcore: registered new interface driver usbfs
usbcore: registered new interface driver hub
usbcore: registered new device driver usb
musb_hdrc: version 6.0, pio, peripheral, debug=0
musb_hdrc: USB Peripheral mode controller at ffc03c00 using PIO, IRQ 82

See the USB Gadget page for more information.

Currently, OTG support in the MUSB driver is incomplete. However, some of the cable based role switching works. (That is, grounding the ID pin switches the controller to host mode, while leaving it floating leaves it in peripheral mode.)

PM must be selected to support OTG.

 Power management options  --->
   [*] Power Management support

Enable OTG mode.

 <*> Support for Host-side USB
 [*]   USB device filesystem
 [*]   USB device class-devices (DEPRECATED)
 <*> Inventra Highspeed Dual Role Controller (TI, ADI, ...)
 <*>     Platform Glue Layer (Blackfin)  ---> 
         MUSB DMA mode (Inventra)  --->

At least one of the gadget drivers must be selected.For instance, Gadget Zero.

 <*> Support for USB Gadgets
 <M> USB Gadget Drivers
 <M>   Gadget Zero (DEVELOPMENT)

After compling the kernel and downloading the image to target board, make sure that the gadget driver must be loaded first. From the shown up message, it can be seen that gadget and host is ready and the target is waiting for inserting of Mini B-plug/Mini A-plug. Of course, the A-plug or B-plug can be inserted to the target before loading gadget driver.

root:/> modprobe g_zero autoresume=5
zero gadget: Gadget Zero, version: Cinco de Mayo 2008
zero gadget: zero ready
musb_hdrc musb_hdrc.0: MUSB HDRC host driver
musb_hdrc musb_hdrc.0: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 1
usb usb1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
hub 1-0:1.0: USB hub found
hub 1-0:1.0: 1 port detected

• USB Implementers Forum
• Main Linux/USB Project
• Frequently Asked Questions
• List of Supported Devices
• Linux-USB Gadget API Framework

• System Setting

• Kernel Configuration

mkfs.ext2 /dev/sdb1 
mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/
time dd conv=fsync if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/100m.bin bs=1M count=100
100+0 records in
100+0 records out
real    0m 38.36s
user    0m 0.00s
sys     0m 4.00s

• Result: 2.6 MB/s

mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/sdb1 
mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/
time dd conv=fsync if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/100m.bin bs=1M count=100
100+0 records in
100+0 records out
real    1m 17.84s
user    0m 0.00s
sys     0m 6.30s

• Result: 1.3 MB/s

• System Setting

• Kernel Configuration

root:/> mkfs.ext2 /dev/sdb2
root:/> mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt/
root:/> time dd conv=fsync if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/100m.bin bs=1M count=100
100+0 records in
100+0 records out
real    0m 7.34s
user    0m 0.01s
sys     0m 4.60s

• Result: 13.6 MB/s

root:/> mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/sdb1
root:/> mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/
root:/> time dd conv=fsync if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/100m.bin bs=1M count=100
100+0 records in
100+0 records out
real    0m 10.15s
user    0m 0.00s
sys     0m 6.72s

• Result: 9.9 MB/s

root:/> mkfs.ext2 /dev/sdb2
root:/> mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt/
root:/> bonnie++ -u root -d /mnt/

• Result:

Version       1.94
Concurrency   1
File Size     300M
File Number   16
         ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
         -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
         K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP  /sec %CP
            40  99 15268  72  6420  53    78  99 10798  47 129.2   5
Latency     211ms     276ms     319ms     144ms     728ms     608ms

         ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
         -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
         /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP
          16   182  99  2519  99  2019  98   187  99  2625 100   628  99
Latency   44000us    4000us    4000us   48000us    4000us    4000us

• Bonnie++ result on Linux PC using the same usb-ide hard disk:

root:/> mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/sdb1                                       
root:/> mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/                                                   
root:/> bonnie++ -u root -d /mnt                                                

• Result:

Version  1.94       ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random- 
Concurrency   1     -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks-- 
Machine        Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP  /sec %CP 
blackfin       300M    33  99  9415  65  6131  69    78  99 10665  60 131.9   6 
Latency               252ms     271ms     396ms     132ms     619ms     627ms   
Version  1.94       ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create-------- 
blackfin            -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- 
              files  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP 
                 16     3  99     5 100    58  99     4  99     5 100     9  99 
Latency               828ms     388ms   64000us     479ms     384ms     572ms   

root:/> mkfs.ext2 /dev/sdb2
root:/> mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt/
root:/> bonnie++ -u root -d /mnt/ -b

• Result

Version  1.94       ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
Concurrency   1     -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Machine        Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP  /sec %CP
blackfin       300M    38  99 16023  77  6735  56    76  99 10553  47 127.0   6
Latency               216ms     288ms     279ms     160ms     724ms     224ms
Version  1.94       ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
blackfin            -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
              files  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP
                 16   109  64  2553 100   506  44   110  64  2649  99   310  59
Latency             72000us    4000us     131ms   80000us    4000us     207ms

• System Setting

• Kernel Configuration

mkfs.ext2 /dev/sdb1 
mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/
time dd conv=fsync if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/100m.bin bs=1M count=100
100+0 records in
100+0 records out

• Result: MB/s

mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/sdb1 
mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/
time dd conv=fsync if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/100m.bin bs=1M count=100
100+0 records in
100+0 records out
real    0m 35.22s
user    0m 0.00s
sys     0m 6.44s

• Result: 2.84 MB/s

• System Setting

• Kernel Configuration

root:/> mkfs.ext2 /dev/sdb2
root:/> mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt/
root:/> time dd conv=fsync if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/100m.bin bs=1M count=100
100+0 records in
100+0 records out
real    0m 8.26s
user    0m 0.00s
sys     0m 5.61s

• Result: 12.1 MB/s

root:/> mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/sdb1
root:/> mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/
root:/> time dd conv=fsync if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/100m.bin bs=1M count=100
100+0 records in
100+0 records out
real    0m 11.05s
user    0m 0.00s
sys     0m 7.40s

• Result: 9.1 MB/s

root:/> mkfs.ext2 /dev/sdb2
root:/> mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt/
root:/> bonnie++ -u root -d /mnt/

• Result:

Version       1.94
Concurrency   1
File Size     300M
File Number   16
Version  1.94       ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
Concurrency   1     -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Machine        Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP  /sec %CP
blackfin       300M    48  99 13837  89  6925  69   199  99 13157  59 128.7   5
Latency               187ms     148ms     240ms   84000us     660ms     395ms
Version  1.94       ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
blackfin            -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
              files  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP
                 16   223  99  8605  99  4858  94   220  99  9246  99   774  98
Latency             44000us    4000us    4000us   44000us    4000us    4000us

• Bonnie++ result on Linux PC using the same usb-ide hard disk:

root:/> mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/sdb1                                       
root:/> mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/                                                   
root:/> bonnie++ -u root -d /mnt                                                

• Result:

Version  1.94       ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
Concurrency   1     -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Machine        Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP  /sec %CP
blackfin       300M    45  99  8320  57  6380  61   194  99 14556  55 121.1   5
Latency               203ms     171ms     335ms     124ms     656ms     411ms
Version  1.94       ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
blackfin            -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
              files  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP
                 16     7  99  6481  99    96  99    10  99  8865 100    22  96
Latency               424ms    8000us   28000us     220ms    4000us     300ms

root:/> mkfs.ext2 /dev/sdb2
root:/> mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt/
root:/> bonnie++ -u root -d /mnt/ -b

• Result

Version  1.94       ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
Concurrency   1     -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Machine        Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP  /sec %CP
blackfin       300M    48  99 15715  89  7792  64   199  99 14803  57 120.3   5
Latency               187ms   83999us     220ms      99ms     564ms     196ms
Version  1.94       ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
blackfin            -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
              files  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP
                 16   123  63  8770  99   615  33   126  63  9437  99   322  55
Latency             72000us    4000us   23999us   92000us    4000us     228ms

• System Setting

• Kernel Configuration

root:/> mkfs.ext2 /dev/sdb2
root:/> mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt/
root:/> bonnie++ -u root -d /mnt/

• Result:

Version       1.94
Concurrency   1
File Size     200M
File Number   16
Version  1.94       ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
Concurrency   1     -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Machine        Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP  /sec %CP
blackfin       200M    42  98 2465  12  2321  14   177  99 15157  49 137.7   6
Latency               782ms     5592ms     3032ms   54132us     6646us     48772us
Version  1.94       ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
blackfin            -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
              files  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP
                 16   205  98  12564  100  2584  48   205  97  15692  99   646  92
Latency             18265us    564us    1188us   19353us    292us    4667us