In 2021, we introduced the primary availability of Ubuntu operating on RISC-V processors and {hardware}. Nonetheless, the endeavor didn’t cease. Now we’re proud to announce the Ubuntu launch for an additional piece of RISC-V {hardware}: StarFive’s VisionFive board.
RISC-V, a brand new paradigm for open supply {hardware}
Within the final decade, open supply and open requirements have reshaped our world. Such applied sciences have produced long-lasting outcomes, and the RISC-V consortium has prolonged open supply to develop an ordinary open-source processor structure. The discharge of RISC-V to the open group marked the primary time the {hardware} group embraced open-source requirements and collaboration at this stage.
This free and open Instruction Set Structure (ISA) can allow a brand new period of processor innovation by means of open-standard collaboration with fast industry-wide adoption. The RISC-V ISA delivers a brand new stage of free, extensible software program and {hardware} freedom on structure. The structure could be utilized to a broad vary of processors, from low-end microcontrollers to high-end server-grade processors.
StarFive, a pacesetter and promoter of RISC-V expertise and ecosystem
Based in 2018, StarFive is a Chinese language high-tech firm with impartial mental property rights, offering world-leading RISC-V-based merchandise, together with CPU IP, SoC, growth boards, and so forth. StarFive is a pacesetter in RISC-V expertise and ecosystem growth in China.
VisionFive, the primary technology of cost-effective RISC-V single-board computer systems, is designed to run Linux, with StarFive’s JH7100 imaginative and prescient processing SoC. The JH7100 SoC is provided with a 64-bit high-performance RISC-V dual-core processor with a 2 MB L2 Cache and operating at 1.0 GHz, which is great for high-performance computing. In contrast with different RISC-V growth boards, VisionFive is excessive performing, inexpensive, and straightforward to make use of. It’s geared up with 8 GB RAM, 40-pin GPIO header, and end-to-end {hardware} and software program infrastructure, which make it handy and versatile for builders to configure and deploy peripherals, and to construct a devoted software setting.
Open supply initiatives are backed by Canonical
Whereas RISC-V permits secure reference architectures and {hardware}, operating secure software program on new boards can nonetheless be difficult. The cornerstone of the mandatory software program is the underlying Working System (OS), which gives reliability and stability. This demand makes growth on Linux much more engaging, since Linux is the most well-liked OS for builders and hobbyists, throughout kernel, drivers, and distributions.
At Canonical, we imagine that open supply is one of the simplest ways to speed up innovation. It motivates us to allow a variety of open supply communities below the Ubuntu umbrella. Nonetheless, open supply software program comes with its personal set of challenges. Canonical goals to place Ubuntu as not simply the reference OS for innovators and builders, but in addition because the automobile to allow them to take their merchandise to market quicker by letting them give attention to their core software with out having to fret concerning the stability of the underlying frameworks.
RISC-V has loads of potential and is turning into a aggressive ISA in a number of markets. With this premise in thoughts, porting Ubuntu to RISC-V to change into the reference OS for early adopters was the pure alternative.
StarFive and Canonical convey Ubuntu to the VisionFive board
“VisionFive is designed to fulfill the massive demand and excessive expectation for RISC-V growth boards from the {industry},” stated Thomas Xu, StarFive Founder and CEO. “We’re excited to have Ubuntu efficiently operating on VisionFive, because of Canonical. The working system is vital to RISC-V excessive efficiency purposes. Devoted to selling RISC-V ecosystem growth, StarFive will make additional contributions to the open-source world with Canonical.”
The supply of Ubuntu operating on the VisionFive board comes as the results of the joint work between Canonical and StarFive’s engineering groups. Canonical’s crew is within the means of porting Ubuntu to the VisionFive board, backed by the StarFive engineering crew, as a part of a long-term collaboration between the 2 firms.
Ubuntu, backed by Canonical, gives a commercial-grade Linux distribution that can be free to make use of by innovators and builders. ”Ubuntu is the most well-liked open supply working system, and we’re thrilled to be increasing assist for the RISC-V open supply group.” stated Cindy Goldberg, Vice President of Silicon Alliance at Canonical.
“Canonical and StarFive are partnering to create an enterprise-grade Ubuntu picture for the brand new VisionFive board, bringing open supply software program and open supply {hardware} collectively for builders to construct a broad vary of laptop imaginative and prescient purposes on the edge. I can’t wait to see what builders are going to construct with this VisionFive board and Ubuntu.“
Ubuntu on VisionFive boards is on the market now
An Ubuntu picture is now accessible for StarFive’s VisionFive board, and extra work is anticipated to incorporate new options and a port to the most recent Ubuntu releases.
StarFive’s VisionFive board is supported by Ubuntu 22.04.1.Obtain the newest Ubuntu pictures for StarFive’s VisionFive board right here.
StarFive will showcase Ubuntu operating on the VisionFive board through the RISC-V China summit. If you need a preview, please try StarFive’s demo through the occasion and go to right here for extra data.
For steering and dialogue on the pictures and the perfect methods to put in them, please use the Ubuntu discourse below the documentation itself so everybody can profit out of your expertise.
About Canonical
Canonical is the writer of Ubuntu, the main OS for container, cloud, and hyperscale computing. Ubuntu is the OS for many public cloud workloads in addition to the rising classes of good gateways, self-driving automobiles and superior robots. Canonical gives enterprise safety, assist, and companies to industrial customers of Ubuntu. Established in 2004, Canonical is a privately held firm.
About StarFive
Based in 2018, StarFive is a Chinese language high-tech firm with impartial mental property rights, offering world-leading and RISC-V primarily based merchandise together with CPU IP, SoC, and growth boards, and so forth. Additionally, StarFive is the chief of RISC-V expertise and ecosystem growth in China.
