Abstract: In order to solve problems of poor real-time and adaptability and low automation degree of existing detection system of steel wire, the paper proposed a design scheme of damage detection system of steel wire with high performance based on ARM-Linux, and introduced hardware composition, working principle, software realization and design and realization of drawing real-time sampling curve. The system, which combines embedded Linux technology and magnetic leakage nondestructive detection technology, can accomplish detection independently and display detecting wave real-timely with higher efficiency.