Add a Hardware section.

1 files changed, 62 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/user/hardware/tiers.rst b/user/hardware/tiers.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b216df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/user/hardware/tiers.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+.. comment SPDX-License-Identifier: CC-BY-SA-4.0
+
+.. comment: Copyright (c) 2016 Chris Johns <chrisj@rtems.org>
+.. comment: All rights reserved.
+
+.. _tiers:
+
+Tiers
+-----
+.. index Tiers
+
+RTEMS has a tiered structure for architecture and BSPs. It provides:
+
+#. A way to determine the state of a BSP in RTEMS.
+
+#. A quaility measure for changes entering the RTEMS source code.
+
+The tier structure in RTEMS is support by the Buildbot continuous integration
+server. Changes to RTEMS are automatically built and tested and the results
+indicate if a BSP currently meets it's tier status.
+
+The rules for Tiers are:
+
+#. A BSP can only be in one of the following tiers:
+
++------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| Tier | Description                                                           |
++------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| 1    | * The RTEMS Kernel must build without error.                          |
+|      | * Tests are run on target hardware.                                   |
++------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| 2    | * The RTEMS Kernel must build without error.                          |
+|      | * Tests can be run on simulation.                                     |
++------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| 3    | * The RTEMS Kernel must build without error.                          |
+|      | * There are no test results.                                          |
++------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| 4    | * The RTEMS Kernel does not build.                                    |
++------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| 5    | * The BSP is to be removed after the next release.                    |
++------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
+
+#. An architecuture's tier is set by the highest BSP tier reached.
+
+#. The tier level for a BSP is set by the RTEMS Project team. Movement of BSP
+   between tier level requires agreement. The Buildbot results indicate the
+   current tier level.
+
+#. Changes to RTEMS may result in a BSP not meeting it's tier are acceptable if
+   the change is accompanied by an announcement and a plan on how this is to be
+   resolved.
+
+#. Test results are set on a per BSP basis by the RTEMS Project team. Changes
+   to the test result values requires agreement. The test results are defined
+   as:
+
+     #. Passes
+
+     #. Expected Failures
+
+   Expected failures must be explicitly listed. A BSP is required to have a
+   valid test result entry to reach tier 1.