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Linux Computer in USB Key Form-Factor
PMBjornerud writes "A start-up located in the French Alps near Grenoble is readying a tiny ARM-based Linux single-board computer (SBC) in a USB key form-factor. Calao's USB-9260 USB key-sized SBC measures 3.3 x 1.4 inches (85 x 36 mm). It is based on an Atmel AT91SAM9260 processor, an SoC (system-on-chip) powered by an ARM926EJ-S core clocked at 190MHz. The SoC targets "advanced applications such as GPS application processors," according to Atmel. Here is a Spec sheet PDF. With a 10/100 Ethernet port, firewall usage springs to mind. Other interfaces are 2 USB host ports and room for an expansion card. Which should allow some creative uses. "
a beowulf cluster of these!
Slashdot, come for the goatse, stay for the trolls.
Should be a bit more useful than the Windows-only USB "firewall" dongle that was posted here a while back.
Run Windows Vista?
A Beowulf cluster that fits in my pocket!
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Form-Factor Keys Linux Computer in USB Key.
Just imagine a beowolf cluster of these... Seriously!
The SBC had TWO usb host slots into which TWO of these could be plugged (back-to-back) and EACH of these could have TWO more! And so on and so on. Sure there'd be power considerations (duh).
So, more realistically, plug a multiport USB hub into your PC, and plug one of these into each of the ports... instant cluster!
Yes, I know, there's probably has no _practical_ use like this (190 MHz; 64MB SDRAM), but just for the geekiness of it, I'd love to see someone DO it!
With Ethernet on one end, USB2 on the other and stacks of ARM9 power?
I bet that security researchers turn it into some kind of network analysis tool before I can say "whippit".
And then the hackers get their hands on it.....
I bet your there are waaay more uses for a sexy little gizmo like this then the manufacturers realize.
Opensolaris? No... seriously, does it?
These guys have inherited the old BlackDog & K9 platforms. Rather than ARM, it uses a PowerPC core. New models coming soon:
http://echoidentity.com/
There is a right way, and a wrong way to do a beowulf post.
First of all, you do not put the word "imagine", or "beowulf" in the subject line. Your subject line MUST pertain directly to the subject at hand. In this case, the subject is a USB key computer that runs LINUX. It is also important to use the word "these" instead of the word "those".
I have taken the opportunity to display a properly formatted beowulf post, conveniently reproduced below:
Subject: USB Key form factor computer
Imagine a beowulf cluster of these!
Many Israeli companies have been making computer-on-a-stick for quiet a while now. For example, Yoggie has been making some running linux to be used for security applications. I pick up a regular computer-on-a-stick for about $40USD 3 years ago in Tel Aviv.
"With a 10/100 Ethernet port, firewall usage springs to mind."
Maybe if you're retarded. How effective is a 190 MHz computer with a single 10/100 interface?
"Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
Imagine a beowulf cluster of these!
Linked here a few weeks ago...
(a) How much will it cost? If it's cheap, I want one!!! :-))
(b) This is darn similar to the recently announced Yoggie Pico, which is only $40--though the Pico doesn't have USB host capability or ethernet (but could probably be hacked to provide such
My bicyles
After seeing this and a few other things tagged with 'hardhack' I decided to find out just what a 'hardhack' is. Turns out that it's a shrub http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardhack. Who knew?
I'd imagine it would be possible to make it at least desktop firewall by using the USB ports to connect the device to a workstation; making the device more of a USB network card with an integrated firewall.
If you connect a few together through usb you would have more ethernet ports. Also, you could use it as a usb network adapter with a built-in firewall.
easy, put vmware server or xen on it and add several virtual network cards... oh wait
HTML is obsolete. It's time for a new, simpler and richer markup language.
It can be done. Good luck doing rule based routing with tk though.
Anyhow, I was checking this out when it came out on Linux Devices the other day and it's intriguing but it's still more of an embedded device and they don't give you much access to the IO without an additional module that sort of detracts from the small form factor sexiness. I'd like to see something like a DIY Arduino type board based on the chip though.
Hey Organic User, where did you find them in Tel Aviv? I have friends who live there and I would love to find some embedded linux platforms for less than what gumstix charges.
Let's see. A computer that can easily be hidden inside your pocket. With a network interface.
All you need now is a UPS uniform and a target.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
what versions of Windows will it run?
Do you have ESP?
Assuming your switch supports it, you could use 802.11q packet tagging and vlans.
Never mind what OS it runs. What I want to know is if it will include a bottle opener and corkscrew.
A man's gotta have his priorities.
What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?
and all you need to use it is another computer to plug it into. (insert giant rolling eyes emoticon here) The Linux world still isn't getting it... Here's your chance to start working on the other stuff like the projection keyboard, 3D sensor for hand movements and gestures, voice recognition, and heads-up displays. Wait, that's all hardware techie stuff and works with Windows as well as Linux. Which means in the next ten years we'll be getting /. stories about how Windows (Whatever) based pocket computers with all of the above are now being made to run Linux.
If my grammar and spelling are off, I am [distracted/tired/careless] (take your pick)
You seem to be confusing physical and logical networks...
At least, the picture of their office is nice !
I'd like to be able to see a mountain like that when looking at the window.
wtf.n0x.org
The cheapest on the site is $180. I don't see cheaper yet.
If this thing has a usb connection , they will have my money. I will buy at least 4. Plug them into a usb hub and run the usb cord to a rs232 serial adapter and I have myself an easy little terminal server , with enough pop to help me upgrade firmware from across the country. And no need to buy a sun ILOM equipped box.
This package Does Not Contain a Winner
I'm afraid I don't know much about small form factor computers, so bear with me on this one...
Does anyone know if I'd be able to connect a USB hard drive and a USB soundcard and run musicpd on it? I just had to replace my MPD box with a big, ugly, old, but 10 dollar, dell. I really wouldn't mind a small quiet solution.
The snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches. -- ee cummings
With both a host and client USB port would not this device work as a bridge between two USB hosts? How about a Quick and dirty USB network?
The other thought is to attach it to a portable (cheap) picture viewer that reads a usb flash drive, and download "newspaper" like material... I need something to read PDF's on the go.
"Put this in a car as the on-board computer"
Just as long as it doesn't control anything important.
I've been wanting to buy an SBC for some time now, but they are very high. Why buy and SBC when I can get a microATX for a lot cheaper and still be somewhat small.
You could build a beowulf cluster of these and build a multi-port firewall...
You just made the top of my "all time funniest posts ever" list.
Seriously, THAT was hilarious!
"I'm just here to regulate funkiness."
Is it possible to have a computer on a 2 GB USB key?I move a lot and i dont want to carry a laptop for my personal use. The main reason i want a usb computer is to use the internet and avoid having to carry /remember a load of logins/Passwords and have my browser set just so.I wondered if i could have something like ubuntu's live CD but with my tweaks and modifications.
So the questions i have are this:
Do most modern BIOS support USB booting?
Is it possible to fit one on a key that size?
Which Linux should i install?
Wanted : A Signature.
Use Ethernet over USB, so the device is used like a USB network card, sitting between you and the network, perhaps?
I am TheRaven on Soylent News
Exactly what I was thinking. However, if you use the USB ports you could daisy chain these, allowing as many connections as you would like. Unfortunately, the total throughput would be limited to 480 Mbit/s.
The first application I though of would be for unobtrusive debugging/profiling, without the need for a whole separate computer (great for laptop use). The data gathering software could be fairly easily written to run on the dongle.
Other than that, diagnostics and security are the only applications I can think of.
You are truly a nerd among nerds.
Patrick Doyle
I mod down every jackass who puts his moderation policy in his sig. Oh, wait a sec....
Any one ever heard of gumstix? http://www.gumstix.com
Pre-load this with a rootkit, seeing as how the average computer user don't know more than where to find the Internet Explorer icon and have to call tech support to create a folder this means that all your little logs and upgrades to your rootkit have a safe haven to process any data that it captures and can store it temporarily until it is ready to zip out through the internet connection, it will also survive a reformat.
But then again... you could just install the software manually, since you are doing this as research on computers that you have the right to do this on... right?
Need to type accents and special characters in Windows? Use FrKeys
Is this thing on? [tap tap]
"I'm just here to regulate funkiness."
Oh wait a minute, that's been done.
check out damnsmalllinux. You can set a single usb memory stick to both boot off the stick or run (in emulation) in either Linux or Windows. You can customize it to run all sorts of packages. Running in emulation isn't speedy, but it gets the job done (eventually).
It's pretty sweet.
ceci n'est pas un sig.
A Beowulf cluster! Seriously, set it up to communicate over the USB-2 protocol, then just plug it into a hub with as many of these as you can. Then that's plugged into a hub, that's set up the same way, and so on and so forth. Low cooling costs, and you could hypothetically build one in a standard desktop case with room to spare.
Just because you can mod me down, doesn't mean you're right. Shoes for industry!
I think he might mean that he would like to see if he can integrate a modified iPhone as a front end to this as the back end or develoment server (in relationship.)
I hope that is what he means. I am really curious to see somebody put BSD or Linux on an iPhone, heck I'd chuck $5 to that project if I could find someone with a good track record. Anybody planning to purchase $500 worth of "pretty" and then replace the OS?
I think it would be awesome to have a server/client system with a stick like this and a modded iPhone. Maybe you could put a demo webserver on the gumstick and use the iPhone as the client, try different servers when you're pitching a development contract... I dunno, I dont care why you do it, just as long as somebody does it.
iBeowulf anyone?
B) Eliminate all the stupid users. This is frowned upon by society.
I'd like to see one with ethernet jacks on both ends... then it could be an inline analysis tool.
Analysis is better done with a tap than a pass though. Why waste processor time duplicating packets when you could spend time analyzing, storing and reporting the results from a tap? You only need a tap to listen.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
All the power of a WinCE or Palm in a tiny little board. They are missing USB hosting and video for the complete package.
All the power of Palm and then some. With 64MB RAM, you can easily run X and forward your programs to yourself from the device if you want images. It would be better to use the device as a data collector and make graphs on your laptop from the results.
As for a Beowulf cluster, if the power to flops ratio is good that can work.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
It's already been done: http://www.yoggie.com/
I'm thinking it'd make a fantastic low-power transparent 50Mbit (remember the slow CPU) firewall if not for the lack of memory for state tables.
We used to do it a fair bit where I used to work. One machine functions as a DHCP server and NAT gateway. Since DHCP tells the computer to connect through the NAT box, all connections go in - and out - the same NIC.
Better yet, you could buty the processing in modules and plug in as many as you need/can afford.
Engineering is the art of compromise.
Yes, I was thinking of the USB & Network combo, for lightweight, single-computer use. As opposed to the USB firewall posted some week ago that relied on redirecting all network traffic through the USB.
I lost my sig.
Vista is running on the Ballmer 2000. The best chair throwing machine ever created.
Welcome our new USB Beowulf Overlords!
Of course, this will eventually lead us, interestingly enough, full circle, back to a dumb terminal on our desk. You sit down at the LCD screen and plug your computer into the USB/Firewire/etc(whatever they develop next) port. And then take it with you when you are done. They already have software that does this(Mojopac and others), but moving it all to hardware would be much better. The I/O port on it could handle the wireless adaptor to hook into the hotspot, of course.
So I wonder if a device like this will eventually become the standard to replace smart cards, fingerprint readers, etc. Store your crypto material on this device, and present a crypto API via the USB port. No longer will you need to shuffle sensitive crypto material around on your desktop box very carefully lest it be written to swap in cleartext.
Now all you need is that alpha source and a USB Gieger counter...
Perhaps this can be used to create a cheap and not-so-power-hungry NAS?
Wake me up when I can stick 10 of them in my ear, still hear, use speech recognition and voice synth to interface, and be on wireless ultrabroadband at a carrier frequency the won't give me head cancer... That will be cool.
"I hope you like Guinness, Sir. I find it a refreshing substitute for, er... food." Col. Jack O'Neil, SG-1
You realize that USB is the most CPU-intensive bus around?
You would be better off assigning two IP addresses to two aliases on the device and using the one ethernet jack.
For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
It was enough to surf the web with before all websites came with 30 minute flash intros.
If they'd take the flash stuff off web sites you could use this for web surfing, text-based chat, voip, basic email, the occasional simple letter/word processing, ordering off Amazon and listening to a few mp3s and save a lot of electricity for those who don't have an interest in games or all the various more dubious web-based activities. I would bet that most people would be happy with something that did those 7 basic functions.
Let's face it, a lot of phones can do these things now, it is just that with a tiny screen and no keyboard it's like painting a house with a brush pushed through the letterbox. With some PDA-phones you can get enough peripherals to connect to video, wifi, keyboard, etc and have the computing power of a laptop from 2000 which would be enough for many. In fact not being able to run 3D games could be seen as an advantage to parents wanting to get their brats, I mean little darlings, outside to get some fresh air and exercise.
cluster up two of them ;)
--- I am known for the ones who want to find me on the net. Is that a privacy risk or a privilege? One might wonder..