APX4
APX4 DEVELOPMENT KIT
GETTING STARTED
Thursday, 29 November 2012
Version 1.5
Copyright © 2001 - 2012 Bluegiga Technologies
Bluegiga Technologies reserves the right to alter the hardware, software, and/or specifications detailed herein at
any time without notice, and does not make any commitment to update the information contained herein.
Bluegiga Technologies assumes no responsibility for any errors which may appear in this manual. Bluegiga
Technologies' products are not authorized for use as critical components in life support devices or systems.
Bluegiga Access Server, Access Point, APx4, AX4, BSM, iWRAP, BGScript and WRAP THOR are trademarks
of Bluegiga Technologies.
The trademark and logo are registered trademarks and are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc.Bluetooth
ARM and ARM9 are trademarks of ARM Ltd.
Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds.
All other trademarks listed herein belong to their respective owners.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Version history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.1 What is Bluegiga APx4? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.1.1 Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2 APx4 Development Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.3 APx4 Software Development Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3. Getting started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.1 How to get started? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2 Preparations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.2.1 Accessing the APx4 via RS232 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.2.2 Accessing the APx4 Linux console via SSH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.2.3 Accessing the APx4 with a web browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.2.4 Accessing the APx4 through Wi-Fi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4. Supported features of APX4 Development Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.1 Supported features of APX4 Development Kit under Linux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5. Tips and Tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.1 Figuring out IP address from Linux command line using command.ifconfig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.2 Checking device information with command.bgtinfo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.3 Scanning for low energy devicesBluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.4 Scanning for classic devicesBluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.5 Checking Wi-Fi interface status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.6 Enabling Wi-Fi interface and performing Access Point scan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.7 Installing Python on APx4 using OPKG packet manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
6. Contact information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
1 Version history
Version Comments
0.9 Version history added. Version number changed.
1.0 Improved getting started instructions.
1.1 Added Tips and Tricks section
1.2 Added more examples
1.3 Added Wi-Fi usage examples
1.4 Added OPKG example
1.5 Updated to have "Where to start?" section
Copyright © 2001-2012 Bluegiga Technologies Page 4 of 16
2 Introduction
This document is a getting started guide for Bluegiga APx4 development kit. The guide instructs you how to set
up the APx4 development kit, power it up and access the Linux operating system on the APx4 wireless
System-on-Module.
2.1 What is Bluegiga APx4?
The Bluegiga APx4 is a small form factor, low power system-on-module that includes the latest wireless
connectivity standards: 802.11 b/g/n and 4.0. APx4 is based on Freescale's i.MX28 processor familyBluetooth
and runs an embedded Linux operating system based on the Yocto Project . In addition to integrating the
TM
454MHz ARM9 processor, the wireless connectivity technologies, Linux operating system the APx4 also
includes with several built in applications, such as the 802.11 and 4.0 stacks, ContinuaBluetooth
v.1.5 compliant IEEE manager and many more. This combination provides an ideal platform for designing
multi-radio wireless gateways that enables fast time-to-market and minimum R&D risks.
The Bluegiga APx4 software can be easily extended or tailored customizing the Linux operating system with
applications. The motherboards for the APx4 can be easily extended to include almost anything from 3G
modems to Ethernet and audio interfaces to and touch screen displays.
The Bluegiga APx4 is an ideal product for applications requiring wireless or wired connectivity technologies and
the processing power of the ARM9 processor, such as health and fitness gateways, building and home
automation gateways, M2M, point-of-sale and industrial connectivity.
2.1.1 Key Features
APx4 is a computing platform:
450MHz ARM9 core (Freescale i.MX28)
64MB RAM and 128MB Flash
Real Time Clock
SO-DIMM form factor
A connectivity platform:
Bluetooth 4.0 dual-mode radio
2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n radio with Wi-Fi Access Point mode
10/100 Ethernet
With many extension options:
Up to 24bit display with resistive touch screen800 x 480,
MMC/SDIO, USB and USB OTG, multiple SPI, UART and I²C, PWM, GPIO and AIO interfaces
I²S
Linux operating system:
Based on the Yocto ProjectTM
Thousands of open source software packets available
Qualifications:
Bluetooth, CE, FCC and IC*
*Ready before mass production
Copyright © 2001-2012 Bluegiga Technologies Page 5 of 16
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