--- Quote Start ---
By "this type of communication" I simply meant that support for the standard Linux system calls was implemented in the driver with the natural semantics.
--- Quote End ---
O have no idea what you mean by this. Embedded Linux _is_ standard Linux, as long you use features that are not configured to be missing to save resources.
--- Quote Start ---
By start a command shell you mean connect to the Nios via serial rather than JTAG UART?
--- Quote End ---
or additional to same by means of initab or by starting it from the shell.
-Michael