Ready to run embedded Linux development kit

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 30, 2001

Arcom's new SBC-GX1 Development Kit saves time and money by eliminating the need for embedded systems developers to create their own flavour of Embedded Linux and purchase drivers from a third party

Arcom Control Systems has announced the latest Development Kit for Embedded Linux, including the operating system and all necessary drivers.

The new SBC-GX1 Development Kit saves time and money by eliminating the need for the embedded systems developer to create their own flavour of Embedded Linux and purchase drivers from a third-party supplier.

It includes a pre-defined build of Linux based on the Red Hat distribution that has been optimized for use on Arcom hardware and is pre-loaded and configured into the embedded flash.

Up to now, Embedded Linux development has required the user to obtain the operating system and drivers from a standard distribution or third party vendor.

Paring down a standard distribution by eliminating unneeded modules while maintaining a working configuration can involve a considerable amount of time and effort.

The Arcom kit, on the other hand, contains a complete set of components to enable the rapid development of Embedded Linux based applications.

It also includes the software drivers, cables and documentation to support all on-board features of Arcom's SBC-GX1.

The Development Kit CD includes a utility offering several installation options along with copies of the technical manual, Quickstart tutorial guide, sample code and complete product information.

Arcom Embedded Linux (AEL 2.01) is a compact, highly reliable implementation of Linux for use in embedded control and communication products.

The implementation is based on a proven 2.4.4 kernel distribution that offers a standardized file-system hierarchy, shell and text utilities combined with a rugged compressed journaling flash filing system (JFFS2) to achieve maximum system integrity for truly embedded applications.

Embedded Linux drivers are included for the graphics controller, serial ports, parallel port, PS/2 keyboard adaptor, PS/2 mouse, watchdog timer, audio, 10/100 BaseTx Ethernet controller, Compact Flash and IDE drive.

An embedded Web server supports both static and, via CGI, dynamic HTML pages.

The kit also includes an X Window system for running and displaying X applications on the local or remote display.

This complete set of functionality has been optimized into an image, which provides for an equivalent user application space of approximately 12MBytes.

The kit includes an Arcom SBC-GX1 processor board that is based on the Pentium performance National Semiconductor GeodeT GX1 300MHz processor.

The board has 64MB DRAM and 16MB Flash EPROM.

It can be expanded to up to 256MB DRAM, giving the embedded systems designer plenty of headroom.

A 5V power supply module includes adaptors for US, UK and European sockets.

Peripherals include Compact Flash socket, 4 high speed serial ports, parallel port, keyboard adaptor, PCI slot, PS/2 mouse, watchdog timer, on-board 10/100 BaseTx Ethernet controller and IDE drive controller.

An optional 6.5" colour LCD is available.