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Embedded Linux Applications: An Overview

By Darrick Addison
2005-04-30

Hardware Platform Options
Choosing the best hardware can be complex because of internal company politics, prejudices, legacies of other projects, a lack of complete or accurate information, and cost, which should take into account the total product costs and not just the CPU itself. Sometimes a fast, inexpensive CPU can become expensive once bus logic and the delays necessary to make it work with other peripherals are considered. To calculate the necessary speed of a CPU for any given project, start with a realistic view of how fast the CPU needs to run to accomplish a given task and triple it. Also, determine how fast the bus needs to run. If there are secondary buses, such as a PCI bus, consider them also. A slow bus (that is, one that is saturated with DMA traffic) can significantly slow down a fast CPU. Here are some of the best hardware solutions for Embedded Linux applications.

Bright Star Engineering: Bright Star Engineering's ipEngine-1 is a credit-card sized single-board computer with Embedded Linux support. It utilizes a PowerPC-based CPU and provides an array of on-board peripherals, including Ethernet, LCD/Video Controller, USB, Serial I/O, and a 16K gate user-configurable FPGA. BSE's Embedded Linux configuration allows Linux to be booted from the ipEngine's on-board 4MB flash memory.

Calibri: CalibriTM-133 is a ready-to-use, compact, multipurpose network appliance that uses Embedded Linux as its operating system. It offers a highly efficient and low-cost solution to firewall, VPN, and routing demands.

EmbeddedPlanet: EmbeddedPlanet has created a PostPC-era computer that comes loaded with MontaVista's HardHat Linux. Powered by a PowerPC-based computing engine and matching I/O card, Linux Planet comes in a colorful translucent case with a touchscreen and access to digital and analog I/O.

Eurotech: Eurotech provides embedded PC SBC and sponsors ET-Linux, a complete Linux system designed to run on small industrial computers and based on glibc 2.1.2.

Microprocess Ingenierie: Microprocess develops, produces, and sells standard and customized products for the industrial and embedded market. Microprocess has a global activity in real-time software and great expertise in systems integration. Its products, like the 740 PowerPC compactPCI board, can be ordered with a standard distribution of Linux or an Embedded Linux version.

Moreton Bay: Moreton Bay is releasing their NETtel 2520 and NETtel 2500 range of Linux-based Internet routers. These small, easy-to-connect intelligent router solutions are engineered to offer a simple, secure, and affordable extranet-friendly Virtual Private Network (VPN) for flat networks. The NETtel router family runs an Embedded Linux kernel. A development kit is available; it enables customized code to be stored in flash memory and executed inside the NETtel. The code may contain special encryption or authentication protocols, or some local monitoring script where NETtel is used as a remote control device.

Matrix Orbital: This an optional, but not recommended, addition. Matrix Orbital manufactures a line of serial LCDs and VFDs, which many Linux users are including in their embedded systems. The product line ranges from 8x2 to 40x4 character LCDs, 20x2 and 20x4 VFDs, plus a 240x64 graphic LC (128x128 on the way). Communication with the displays is accomplished via either RS232 or I2C, both of which are standard on all of their modules. A comprehensive command set is included in the modules' BIOS.

Hardware projects of interest

Here are some current embedded hardware projects tailored to the Linux operating system.

PLEB: Pocket Linux Embedded Box with ARM SA-1100 / ArmLinux Ucsimm / Uclinux Flash EPROM.

Linux Lab: The Linux Lab project is intended to help people develop data-collection and process-control software for Linux. It is planned to provide a standardized development environment for a wide variety of applications, from hardware support to application development.

Controller Area Network: Controller Area Network (CAN) bus driver for Linux GPIB; the Linux GPIB Package is a support package for usual GPIB (IEEE 488.1) hardware. The driver supports National Instruments AT-GPIB, TNT488.2, and PCII and PCIIa boards. This package contains a complete development environment with testing and configuration tools, libraries and tcl and python language support.



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First published by IBM DeveloperWorks
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