[yocto] Run-time discovery of machine for image compatibility check

[Eystein Måløy Stenberg]

Thanks to everyone on the input on this issue. I eventually solved it by
using an image feature called "buildinfo".

In case someone come across a similar need in the future I've created
these two blog post to advertise buildinfo it a bit more and show how to
use it:

* https://www.mender.io/blog/build-info-yocto-1
* https://www.mender.io/blog/build-info-yocto-2

On 30/09/15 17:45, Khem Raj wrote:
> 
>> On Sep 30, 2015, at 2:31 PM, Eystein Måløy Stenberg <eystein at mender.io> wrote:
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Before starting a bitbake build, we input the MACHINE variable in
>> local.conf (e.g. MACHINE ?= beaglebone).
>>
>> Is there a way to detect this variable at run-time? I.e. if I have built
>> the image, written it to a device, and I'm now logged in to it.
> 
> There is no standard bill of materials that you will find on images. Everyone produces it
> per own needs. The reason is that we do not have a one OTA mechanism recommended or preferred
> in OpenEmbedded or maintained by yocto project. May be this could be a thing to consider come future
> right now, there were other big fish to fry around workflow. OTA firmware upgrade, could be big thing for next release
> or there after.
> 
> I don’t have a better answer for you at the moment. You have to work with device firmware manufacturer
> and see if they have put some image info into the image in some form.
> 
>>
>> The reason I want this is that I'm working on a project to deploy image
>> updates (remotely), and I only want to write the image if the device is
>> compatible with the image file. So I need to know both the
>> hardware/board type and what the image target is (assuming this is the
>> MACHINE variable alone). Then I will only write the image if they are
>> the same.
>>
>> Also, do you think using the MACHINE variable is the right approach for
>> this problem? Maybe someone has had a similar problem?
>>
>> I'm new to Yocto, sorry if I'm asking something obvious (but I could not
>> find an answer in the docs).
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> --
>>
>> Eystein
>> --
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> 

-- 

Eystein