NXP TWR-MPC5125 Quick Start Guide

Step 1: Connect the HDMI cable

Use an HDMI-to-DVI-D cable to connect the HDMI port on the TWR-MPC5125 to a DVI-D port on a display monitor. An HDMI-to-HDMI cable can also be used if the monitor has an HDMI port (cable not provided). Note: DVI-to-VGA connection is not supported.

Step 2: Connect the USB cable for the Serial-to-USB bridge to provide power

Power the board using the dual-port USB cable. Connect the Standard-A plugs to two USB ports on a host computer. Then, connect the Mini-B side of the cable to the Mini-B connector (J19) located next to the SDHC card slot. Alternatively, power can be supplied via a 5V barrel jack from a wall adapter (center-hot, 2.1 mm jack, 5V; cable not provided).

Step 3: View video on the display

The board is pre-programmed to automatically boot the LimePC™ Linux operating system with a video demonstration application. Users can choose to 'Stop Here' or 'Continue on to LimeOS™ Linux desktop'.

Step 4: Connect a USB mouse and keyboard

Connect a USB mouse and keyboard to a USB hub, and then connect the hub to the Mini-AB connector (DOWN4) adjacent to the RJ45 port.

Step 5: Press Q on the keyboard or right-click on the mouse

This action will close the video demonstration application, revealing the LimeOS graphical desktop. Users can then interact using the USB mouse and keyboard.

Step 6: Using the Serial-to-USB bridge

The Freescale MC9S08JM60 Serial-to-USB bridge provides an RS-232 equivalent connection to the host computer via USB communications device class. Upon connection and power-up, the USB connection will be enumerated as a COM port on the PC. To identify the COM port number, right-click on 'My Computer', select 'Manage', then 'Device Manager', and expand 'Ports (COM & LPT)'. The device will appear as 'HC9S08JMxx CDC (COMx)' where 'x' is the assigned COM port number.

Step 7: Install software driver

When the cable is first plugged in, the Found New Hardware Wizard will launch. Select 'Install the software from a list or specific location (Advanced)' and click 'Next'. Browse to the 'Freescale_CDC_Driver.inf' file on the provided DVD, select it, and click 'Next' followed by 'Finish'.

Step 8: Open Microsoft® HyperTerminal or a terminal program

In your chosen terminal program, select 'File > New Connection'. Enter a name for the connection and select the COM port identified in Step 4. Configure the port settings as follows: Bits per Second: 115200, Data bits: 8, Parity: None, Stop bit: 1, Flow control: None.

Step 9: Press the reset button on the board

Press the reset button located on the board.

Step 10: Find the U-Boot prompt on the terminal

Quickly press any key on the host computer keyboard to halt the automatic booting process. The U-Boot bootloader is pre-flashed in the on-board NAND flash memory. Upon system startup, U-Boot initializes the system and allows the user to select an operating system. The default OS is LimeOS. To select another OS, such as MQX, press a key within three seconds to stop automatic booting.

The U-Boot prompt will display information about the system, including the U-Boot version, CPU details, board information, DRAM, and FLASH size. It will also show network interfaces and prompt to hit any key to stop autoboot.

Step 11: Booting Freescale MQX RTOS with digital signage demo application

At the U-Boot prompt, type run mqxboot and press Enter. The MQX RTOS with the demo application will load from NAND flash into SDRAM and execute.

Step 12: View images on the display

The Freescale MQX RTOS with digital signage demonstration software is preloaded on the board. This application showcases how information, advertising, and other messages can be displayed in various public settings such as retail stores and corporate buildings.

Step 13: Booting LimeOS Linux from the U-Boot terminal

To change the auto-boot option to Linux, type set bootcmd run nandboot and press Enter. Then, type save to store these changes to the U-Boot environment variables in the NAND flash. To revert to the MQX boot option, replace “nandboot” with “mqxboot”.

After setting the boot command, press the Reset button and type run nandboot at the U-Boot prompt to boot LimeOS Linux.

Additional Information and Resources

For further details and to explore related resources, consult the following documents:

• MQX Lab: Guide for building and loading MQX applications.
• Linux Lab: Instructions for running pre-loaded applications in the LimeOS Linux demonstration software.
• TWR-MPC5125 User's Manual: Comprehensive information on hardware configuration, U-Boot, and Linux.
• MPC5125 Reference Manual and Data Sheet: Detailed specifications for the MPC5125 processor.

For information on other mobileGT families, visit www.freescale.com/mobilegt for tutorials, application notes, and training opportunities.

To learn more about Tower System controllers and peripheral modules, visit www.freescale.com/tower. Join the online Tower Geeks community at www.towergeeks.org.