Ara240 Runtime Support on x86 Linux

[yuvraj1102]

Hi NXP Team,

I am evaluating the possibility of running an Ara240 module directly on an x86 Linux host over PCIe for validation and performance testing.

During my investigation, I found indications that x86 runtime support may exist:

• dvapi.py contains references to:

  art/linux/x86/lib/libaraclient_x86_64.so

• Optimum-Ara documentation references:

  $DV_TGT_ROOT/art/linux/x86/proxy/

• The UIO DMA driver repository includes x86 support.
• Historical Kinara runtime recipes package architecture-specific runtime components using:

  art/linux/${TARGET_ARCH}/...

However, the current imx-nxp-ara2 runtime package available through the i.MX BSP contains only AArch64 runtime binaries:

1 libaraclient_aarch64.so

2 proxy_ara240

3 nnapp

4 hardware utilities

I could not locate the corresponding x86 runtime artifacts.

Could you please clarify:

1. Is direct Ara240 runtime execution on an x86 Linux host officially supported?
2. Is there an x86 Runtime SDK package available?
3. Where can I obtain the following x86 runtime components?

   libaraclient_x86_64.so
   x86 proxy binary
   x86 dvapi runtime package

4. Is there an integration guide or reference flow for:

   x86 Host
      ↓
   UIODMA Driver
      ↓
   Ara240 PCIe
      ↓
   Runtime SDK
      ↓
   Inference Execution

Any guidance on obtaining the required x86 runtime components would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Yuvraj Solanki

[JorgeCas]

Hello,

The software stack architecture is the next:

User Application
    ├── Optimum-Ara (Python, HuggingFace integration for LLM/VLM)
    ├── GStreamer Plugins (gstdvInf, for vision pipelines)
    └── dvapi.py (Python bindings for direct inference)
         │
         ▼
    libaraclient.so (Client library)
         │
         ▼
    Proxy Daemon (rt-sdk-ara2.service)
         │
         ▼
    uiodma.ko (UIO DMA kernel driver, PCIe only)
         │
         ▼
    ARA-240 NPU Hardware

ARM64 or x86 Linux host with PCIe should work, provided the uiodma.ko driver can be compiled for that kernel.

Platform	Package	Notes
x86 Linux	rt-sdk-ara2_x86_64.deb	Requires building uiodma.ko for the host kernel
ARM64 Linux (non-i.MX)	RT-SDK ARM64 .deb + platform-specific uiodma.ko	Demonstrated on NXP S32G3 and S32N79 (ARM Cortex-A cores, not i.MX)

The uiodma.ko driver source code is open (GPL-2.0) and available on GitHub. It has two variants:

• uiodma/ — for x86 (cache-coherent systems)
• uiodma_cache_management/ — for ARM (explicit cache management)

The imx-nxp-ara2 package distributed through the i.MX Embedded Linux BSP is intentionally built for AArch64, as it is integrated into the i.MX platform.

To get access into missing binaries, please contact your FAE.

Best regards

[Jacek]

Hi Jorge,

Thank you — this confirms exactly what I was looking for.

My problem is obtaining the rt-sdk-ara2_x86_64.deb package.

I do not currently have an assigned NXP FAE, and unfortunately I am also unable to create a technical support case because my NXP account is not associated with a company. I previously contacted NXP support, but I was redirected to the technical Cases portal, which I cannot access for this reason.

Is there another way for an individual developer/researcher to request access to rt-sdk-ara2_x86_64.deb?

I already have a fully working Ara240 PCIe setup on x86_64 Linux using the older Geniatech/Kinara runtime, including a working native Frigate detector integration. I specifically need the current x86_64 Runtime SDK to test DVM models generated with Ara SDK 2.1.1.

If the package requires an NDA or another access procedure, I would be happy to follow it.

Thank you, Jacek

[JorgeCas]

Hello,

Thank you for the update.

Unfortunately, we do not have access to these files and cannot be shared through this support channel.

I suggest you check it directly with your sales-person.

Best regards.

[Jacek]

Hi Yuvraj,

I can confirm that Ara240 can actually run on a standard x86_64 Linux host over PCIe.

I am currently using an Ara240 in a Lenovo ThinkCentre with Intel x86_64 Linux. My working stack is:

x86_64 Linux

→ UIODMA

→ Ara240 PCIe

→ proxy_x86_64

→ libaraclient / DVAPI

→ DVM model

→ inference

I obtained the x86_64 runtime components from an older Geniatech/Kinara "customerReadyPackage_v3".

I have also developed a native Ara240 detector integration for Frigate NVR, and inference works correctly with the YOLOv8n DVM supplied with that package.

However, I have run into another compatibility problem which may be directly related to what you are investigating.

The old supplied DVM works correctly with the old x86_64 runtime, but DVM models generated with the newer Kinara/Geniatech compiler and with NXP Ara SDK 2.1.1 fail during "dv_model_load_from_file".

So in my case:

old DVM + old x86_64 runtime = WORKS

new DVM + old x86_64 runtime = FAILS

I am therefore also looking for a newer Ara240 Runtime SDK for x86_64, preferably the runtime generation with proxy 1.3.x / support for cnn_model 2.1.x, or alternatively an older compiler capable of generating DVMs compatible with the existing x86_64 runtime.

So x86_64 Ara240 execution definitely exists and works — the missing piece appears to be access to a current x86_64 runtime package compatible with models generated by the newer SDK.

I would also be very interested in any response from NXP regarding availability of the current x86_64 runtime.

Regards,

Jacek