Tuesday, November 6, 2007

$200 Almost-"Google" Desktop

Walmart is now selling the Everex Green gPC TC2502, a $198 low-power Linux-based PC.  Here are the specs:

  • CPU: 1.5GHz VIA C7®-D processor
  • 512MB DDR2 533MHz, SDRAM
  • 80GB Hard drive
  • OS: "gOS" (Ubuntu 7.10 with Enlightenment window manager)
  • Mainboard: mini-ITX
  • Power: Average 2W power consumption
  • DVD-ROM/D-RW Optical Drive
  • VIA UniChrome Pro IGP Graphics
  • Realtek 6-Channel Audio
  • (1) 10/100 Ethernet Port
  • (1) DB 15-Pin VGA Port
  • Additional: (6) USB 2.0 Port, (1) RJ-11 Port, (1) Headphone/Line-Out Port, (2) Microphone/Line-In Ports, (1) Serial Port, (1) Parallel Port, (1) Keyboard, (1) Mouse, (1) Set of Amplified Stereo Speakers

The operating system is gOS-- a version of Ubuntu 7.10 with the Enlightenment window manager.

Ok, so it isn't a true embedded system, but it can be a cheap prototype system.

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Thursday, October 25, 2007

Open Embedded Linux Platform (ARM)

I just stumbled on the Linuxstamp project over at opencircuits.

In a nutshell, it is a simple, small, inexpensive ARM (with an MMU) platform that can run Linux. 

The parts cost for qty 1 is $75 from digikey, and $55 for qty 100.

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Monday, October 15, 2007

MontaVista Vision 2007

I am back from embedded Linux MontaVista Vision 2007 conference.  The conference was a two day (three days if you count the introductory boot camp) conference at the Santa Clara Marriott, adjacent to Yahoo! campus.

Considering it was the MontaVista conference, I expected lots of sales drivel from MontaVista sales reps.   Not so.  Many of the presenters had an only indirect knowledge MontaVista's upcoming offering (DevRocket 5.0); they mainly focused on bare-knuckle Linux development. 

As a result, I walked away very impressed at both the content of the presentation as well as the caliber of the presentations. 

There were only two negatives about the conference -- 1) the general lack of exhibitors, and 2) I still don't have access to the slide decks. 

At first, it was promised that the slide decks would be printed and available at the back of the room, then it was promised that we would have access to them online.  So far, I haven't received the email with the URL. 

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Friday, October 12, 2007

Fit PC

http://www.compulab.co.il/all-products/img/enclosure-m.jpgI am always searching for a low cost/low power embedded hardware platform to develop a firewall, router, and other assorted projects.  By low cost, I mean sub-$500.  Oh, and I would like it to be absolutely quiet.

Well, aside from the FreeScale development kit that I found at Vision 2007, I have stumbled on the fit-PC.   

The fit-PC is a fan-less PC about the size of a paperback book, with a power consumption of less than 5 watts of power.  Priced at the price of $285 (plus $40 shipping), the unit comes complete with Linux (Gentoo/2.6.20 kernel) pre-installed on a 40GB hard drive.  

Specifications for the fit-PC:

  • 40 GB hard drive
  • Dual 100 Mbps Ethernet
  • SXGA graphics controller, resolution to 1920 x 1440
  • 2 USB 2.0 high speed ports
  • Audio in/out interfaces
  • RS-232 serial port
  • Single 5V power supply
  • Dimensions -- 4.7 x 4.6 x 1.6 inches (120 x 116 x 40 mm)

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Friday, September 14, 2007

Installation of Xilinx ISE/EDK for Redhat 4.0

Prerequisites

 

You will need to build the USB drivers for the Xilinx Platform Cable USB device, hence, you must have the kernel headers/sources for your system available.

 

Note: Red Hat 4 does not come with a kernel sources rpm.  You can install the kernel headers with the kernel-devel-2.6.9-34.EL rpm.

 

Install ISE

 

Mount up the CD and run the installer to install ISE.

 

# mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom

# cd /mntrom

# ./setup

 

Select /opt/xilinx for the destination directory.

 

If you don't work with Red Hat Enterprise 3.0, Kernel 2.4, you better deselect Platform Cable USB Driver and Parallel Cable Drivers.

 

Install EDK

 

# mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cddrom

# cd /mnt/cdrom

# ./setup

 

Select /opt/edk for the destination directory.

 

Apply ISE patch

 

# unzip 8_1_03i_lin.zip

# ./setup

 

Apply EDK patch

 

# unzip EDK_8_1_02i_lin.zip

# ./setup

 

Apply Final ISE patch

 

# cp ise_81i_ip_update1.zip /opt/Xilinx

# cd /opt/Xilinx

# unzip ise_81i_ip_update.zip

 

Create Script/Setup Files

 

Next, we need to create a script or two.  Don’t forget to chmod +x these scripts.

 

start_ise.sh

 

Creat a start_ise.sh script.    This script will initialize the variables and create a personal .xilinx directory for you.

 

#!/bin/bash
XILINX_DIR=/opt/xilinx
XILINX_USER_DIR=~/.xilinx

if [ ! -d ${XILINX_USER_DIR} ]; then
mkdir ${XILINX_USER_DIR}
fi
cd ${XILINX_USER_DIR}

. ${XILINX_DIR}/settings.sh

${XILINX_DIR}/bin/lin/ise

 

start_edk.sh

 

Create a start_edk.sh script.  This script will initialize the variables and create a personal .xilinx directory for you.

 

#!/bin/bash

# start_edk.sh

#


XILINX_DIR=/opt/xilinx
EDK_DIR=/opt/edk
XILINX_USER_DIR=~/.xilinx

if [ ! -d ${XILINX_USER_DIR} ]; then
mkdir ${XILINX_USER_DIR}
fi
cd ${XILINX_USER_DIR}

. ${XILINX_DIR}/settings.sh
. ${EDK_DIR}/setup.sh

${EDK_DIR}/bin/lin/xps

 

setup.sh

 

Create a file in /opt/edk named setup.sh and place the following text in it:

 

          # /opt/edk/setup.sh

export XILINX_EDK=/opt/edk
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${XILINX_EDK}/bin/lin:${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}
export PATH=${XILINX_EDK}/bin/lin:${XILINX_EDK}/gnu/microblaze/lin/bin:\
${XILINX_EDK}/gnu/powerpc-eabi/lin/bin:${PATH}

 

 

Install WinDriver and Xilinx driver

 

Download the WinDriver package from Xilinx:

 

ftp://ftp.xilinx.com/pub/utilities/M1_workstation/linuxdrivers.2.6.tar.gz

 

Fedora 6 Note:  You will have to create a /usr/src/linux link to your kernel source.  In my case it was:

 

# ln –s /usr/src/linux /usr/src/kernels/2.6.18-1.2798.fc6-i586


# tar zxvf linuxdrivers.2.6.tar.gz
# cd linuxdrivers.2.6
# cd windrvr
# ./configure
# make
# make install
# dmesg

If you see the following line, then you have installed the driver correctly:

 

[...]
WinDriver v7.00 Jungo (c) 1997 - 2005 Build Date: Apr 26 2005 X86 loaded

 

To load the driver:

 

# modprobe windrvr6

 

Next, build the xpc4drvr driver:

 

# cd ..

# cd xpc4drvr

# ./configure

# make

# make install

 

You will receive the following error:

 

Loading /lib/modules/2.6.16/kernel/drivers/misc/xpc4drvr.ko
ERROR: Module xpc4drvr does not exist in /proc/modules

 

# depmod


Register the drivers with USB hotplug system

 

# cd path_to_ise_installation/bin/lin/
# touch /etc/hotplug/usb.usermap
# sh setup_pcusb

 

Troubleshooting

 

If you are having problems connecting and downloading, follow the next steps:


1. Login with root permission and open a terminal.
2. Verify that the "windrvr6" module is loaded and running.

cat /proc/modules

If it is installed, the "windrvr6" module will appear in the generated list. If the module is not loaded, refer to (Xilinx Answer 22648) for instructions on how to install and load the module.

3. Change the current directory to "<InstallDir>/bin/lin", where "<InstallDir>" is the location of the previously installed Xilinx design tools:

cd <InstallDir>/bin/lin

4. Download the "xusbdfwu.hex" firmware file from the following link to this directory:
ftp://ftp.xilinx.com/pub/utilities/fpga/xusbdfwu-1025.zip
5. Disconnect the USB cable from the PC.
6. Enter the following command to run the installation script:

source ./setup_pcusb

7. Reconnect the USB cable.

 

Finished

 

Reboot.  All of the software is installed and configured.  

 

# ~/start_driver.sh

# ~/start_edk

 

The Xilinx JTAG box should now have an amber light on (or green if the board is attached and powered).

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Thursday, September 13, 2007

MontaVista Vision 2007 DevCon

MontaVista is the first and largest vendors of embedded linux development tools.  They have created a devcon, named "Vision 2007."  I decided to go and check it out. 
 
Touted speakers and events include:
  • Andrew Morton, lead maintainer of the Linux kernel, on "The relationship between kernel.org development and the use of Linux for embedded applications"
  • Christopher Hallinan, author of Embedded Linux Primer, the number one-selling book on embedded Linux, on "Debugging embedded Linux: tools and strategies"
  • Jonathan Corbet, editor of LWN.net, on "The state of the kernel"
  • Dirk Hondel, CTO of Intel's Open Source Technology Center, on "Developing in open source for embedded devices"
  • Joe Rigazio, Texas Instruments general manager of DSP catalog and EEE digital signal processors, on "Driving the future of digital video"
  • Open source licensing authority Jason Wacha on "Open Source licensing review"
  • Mobilinux expert Kevin Hillman on "Dynamic power management for mobile devices"
  • A dinner performance by technical comedian Don McMillan
  • A multiplayer interactive gaming tournament powered by six Sun Ultra 20 workstations
  • A display of the 250-horsepower Intel Chopper, built by Intel and Orange County Choppers to showcase Intel embedded technology. Features "a digital dashboard, GPS navigation, wireless connectivity, fingerprint recognition for security, and digital cameras that replace rear-view mirrors," MontaVista says
Details and registration forms can be found here.
 

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