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Single-Chip Linux Computer
goombah99 writes "Axis Computer has announced a single-chip Linux-based computer that integrates 2MB Flash, 8MB SDRAM and an Ethernet transceiver into a single chip with a 27mm x 27mm footprint. 'Just add power to the chip and you have a Linux computer with network connection.' It runs the Linux 2.4 kernel without any patches. The announcement says the chip is 'available' but the tech specs are labeled as preliminary, and the order form on the web site is broken, so it's hard to confirm if it is out yet or not. Some specifications in html and pdf are available at the company's web site."
ETRAX 100LX has almost everything you need included
...
* 32 bit RISC CPU core
* 10/100 MBit Ethernet controller
* 4 asynchronous serial ports
* 2 synchronous serial ports
* 2 USB ports
* 2 Parallel ports
* 4 ATA (IDE) ports
* 2 Narrow SCSI ports (or 1 Wide)
* Support for SDRAM, Flash, EEPROM, SRAM,
this is a great technology that would probably be really usefull in laptop/notebook computers or even really small desktop (entire computer into the flatpanel display!
but really, serial ports? parallel ports? i'm not too sure that the scsi is going to win them any points either, but what the hell. they might have well integrated a video controler, an audio controler, and a 9600 baud modem to boot!
This comment is guaranteed*
*not guaranteed
Wouldn't it be better if they cloned a penguin and then inserted the uber linux brainchip?
"A terrorist is someone who has a bomb but doesn't have an air force." -William Blum
Folks,
This Axis announcement is GREAT news!! This isn't motherboard announcement, nor a single board computer announcement. This chip running Linux is about a square inch!! I've spoken to the product manager about this MCM (multichip module) and decided to teach a seminar in March using it. See my website for specific information on January 2nd.
Why a seminar?? OEM pricing for this chip and future generations (more flash and RAM) will be less than $50 US. Probably around $35 after production is going. When developers get the power of Linux with a simple hardware interface to the real world, there will be an explosion of embedded Linux devices. This chips makes it simple: add power, an clock and you're off. I'm teaching a seminar so that I'll become familiar with the chip and let others in on this great new product.
Where's my toaster??
Hey do you want to ski, snowboard, ice climb and learn about the power of this Axis chip? Contact me.
Craig
Dr. Craig Hollabaugh
craig@hollabaugh.com
Author of Embedded Linux, www.embeddedlinuxinterfacing.com
I read 1.2 watts - where did you see .3 watts? At .3 watts I'm much more interested. Although 1.2 is still fairly good. Note however that this is a MCM (*) and traditionally MCM's are very expensive. If they have solved the expense problem I can't wait to see these in Digikey!
(*) MCM - multi chip module, bunch of silicon dice glued to a substrate and wired together.
90% of the wealth is in 2% of the pockets. Bummer to be in the majority.
For a project I worked on at Keio Univ. in Japan, we ordered some of the Axis web cams, which use an older
version of the same chip, as well as some of the developer boards.
The system works as advertised; developing software and
deploying it is very easy, you just do a "make" in the source directory on your host, and it builds the flash rom image, and you download it via ethernet with a single command. You can ftp over to the board to upload binaries or other files, and there's a telnet client.
The only problems I had with the dev board were that it doesn't really have much useful I/O on it.
It has three serial ports and 16 bit parallel port, which can be used as an IDE drive or USB port, but at the time we got the system, you had to kind of roll your own interface. And at the time the drivers for the parallel port weren't
shipping standard so I had to write my own kernel
driver for it.
This is the chip that I have been looking at for the last year and trying to get several systems built around it. Skip all the extra stuff.
All should have Power Over Ethernet (POE) and skip the different connectors.
All Systems: POE, CPU, Ram. 1'st System: 2 Compact Fash slots. This allows for either 2 disk drives or different devices. Howabout a CF ethernet so that it can become a firewall. Or a CF modem, so that it becomes a Fax Server, ppp server, or simply an interface to POTS. Or add the convertors for CF to IDE and run 2 2.5" HD (it will all fit inside the required 15 watts) or with extra power use it for network CD or DVD player.
2'nd system: provide a USB or Firewire interface. Skip the serial connectors. By providing 4-8 USB ports (with plugin power), this becomes a convertor of USB to TCP. This also allows for network Print serving, etc.
3'rd system: provide a small LCD screen, video chip and possibly Touch Screen input. Can be used for display Pixs, or small input around the house. Combine with the above, it can be used for irrigation, House temp controller, etc.
There are a number of interesting things that this chip can be used for. This is just a few.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.