native compilation on ARM ??

Hi,
i am running Kernel 2.6.8.1 and using ramdisk as files system.
can i install a compiler on a USB stick and do native compilation on ARM board.?
if yes which version? is it the same as the cross tool chain i use on my PC for the ARM?

thanks
ra2008

You cannot use the toolchain on your x86 for the ARM; you need to build a native toolchain for the ARM. You can use your cross-compiler to build a native compiler and tool chain with BUILD set for the x86, and HOST and TARGET set for ARM.

The ARM libraries which you have already compiled should be fine; you just need to put a copy on the ARM along with header files.

Originally Posted by pinniped The ARM libraries which you have already compiled should be fine; you just need to put a copy on the ARM along with header files.

hi,
u r right, but how can i generate modules, if i dont do on the ARM board building and conpilationn for the modules using (make -C $KDIR M=`pwd` modules)?
(by the way my ARM board runs kernel2.6.24.7 and the ramdisk)
thanks

To build modules for your ARM using the x86, you need a cross-compiler installed and the headers for that kernel. You can then build a module almost like normal - you just have to look at the various build scripts to see how you're meant to use a cross-compiler; most of the time it's simply setting 'CC' to point to your cross-compiler.

Originally Posted by pinniped you need a cross-compiler installed and the headers for that kernel.

hi,
it seems many things have been clarified now to me.
how do i get the headers of my kernel? and where do i have to intsall it?
thanks

If your board came with a development kit, there are usually instructions somewhere on where to find the kernel headers needed (and also the version information - the most important dynamically created kernel header).

If those headers were not provided, you will need to configure your kernel source as if it were the kernel on the ARM. Usually a "config" file is provided; if not, you can try to discover it from the ARM board if it's running the /proc virtual filesystem; there should be a virtual file /proc/config or /proc/config.gz. If you don't have any of those files, it's very difficult to build the module and it may be better to build the entire kernel.

It doesn't really matter where the headers go; you can say where they are when you invoke 'make' for the module.