Best Embedded Linux Development Kits?

Best Embedded Linux Development Kits? 31

Posted by Cliff on Thursday November 13, 2003 @04:29PM from the what-would-you-recommend dept.

curious-embed asks: "I'm currently involved in a project which is moving towards using Linux in an embedded environment. However, I am having a lot of trouble finding a reasonably priced dev kit to tinker with and move towards something more production ready. Linuxdevices.com has a guide The Linux-friendly Embedded SBCs Quick Reference Guide but most of the listed manufacturers won't talk to you unless you are buying 100+ kits. I'm specifically looking for something ~$200 with USB/Audio/Video that is Linux friendly. Ideas anyone?"

Best Embedded Linux Development Kits?

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Build your own (Score:2)

by SpaceLifeForm ( 228190 ) writes:

Using uClibc and busybox and your own Linux kernel.
- Re:Build your own (Score:1)
  
  by CableModemSniper ( 556285 ) writes:
  
  hes asking about hardware I believe
  - Re:Build your own (Score:2)
    
    by SpaceLifeForm ( 228190 ) writes:
    
    You're correct, my bad. I don't believe he's going to have an easy time finding the hardware for around $200 in low volume. I'd like to find that also.
White Dwarf (Score:3, Interesting)

by Ranger Rick ( 197 ) writes: <slashdot@racc o o n f i n k .com> on Thursday November 13, 2003 @04:37PM (#7467618) Homepage

I've not used it myself, but tonight at our local LUG in Raleigh [trilug.org] there's going to be a presentation on White Dwarf Linux [whitedwarflinux.com]. From what I've heard they have a pretty nice embedded linux setup as well as some neat embedded hardware platforms they target out-of-the-box.

What's your intended use? (Score:2)

by toybuilder ( 161045 ) writes:

If you're just looking for an embeddable PC, just use a standard PC and then migrate to a small-form-factor PC...

If you're talking about hand-held Linux development, a PDA might be the right way to go.

If you're going to roll your own, I've personally had good experiences with an AMD Alchemy processor.

And uclibc and busybox are definitely the way to go for embedded linux.
- - Re:you are an idiot and should shut up tsarkon (Score:2)
    
    by toybuilder ( 161045 ) writes:
    
    *pffbt* to you!
    
    Seriously, it would help if the guy was more clear about what he wants to embed linux for. He says he wants USB+Video+Audio, but I don't know if he wanted something that is meant to be a large ATM/Kiosk or something hand-held.
    
    As for the AMD processor -- with a little bit of work, you can take an Au1100 and turn it into a device that will do USB + Audio + Video with a BOM cost of probably around $50 *if* he's making a bunch...
    - - AMD Processor (Score:2)
        
        by toybuilder ( 161045 ) writes:
        
        100,000 to 300,000 pps? No, unless the gigabit MAC's do a lot of hardware assist. I have no experience with gigE MAC's, so I have no idea.
minor endorsment. (Score:1, Informative)

by |/rad|/oder ( 202635 ) writes:

We use Technologic Systems [embeddedx86.com] 5300 series. It's a good little SBC, and they have expanded their line to the 5500 which has USB/PCMCIA goodies. They also have no problems selling individual dev kits.
The provide a Linux distro for their devices which one of the engineers there rolled up from LFS. It works pretty well.
just my 2 bits....
More specfic? (Score:3, Interesting)

by baka_boy ( 171146 ) writes: <<lennon> <at> <day-reynolds.com>> on Thursday November 13, 2003 @04:58PM (#7467925) Homepage

Unfortunately, "embedded" covers everything from headless PCs controlling industrial systems to system-on-chip devices that need to run on the same battery for 3 years.

On the large end, as others have suggested, you can just use a standard PC for development and prototyping. At the other extreme, you're probably going to want to just buy a packaged system like a uCdimm -- LinuxDevices has a good list.

In the middle, though, I've had good experiences with the OpenBrick; it's basically just a low-env VIA EPIA system, with onboard graphics, Ethernet, USB, etc. I actually ran one for lightweight web and MP3 serving for about a year, with it stuffed in between stacks of books on a shelf, and just the network and power cables running out the back.

Size? (Score:1)

by spreer ( 15939 ) writes:

How tiny does this need to be?

Because the mini-itx [mini-itx.com] form factor systems fit the bill technically and pricewise.

And at 17cm x 17cm, they aren't as tiny as some SBC solutions, but they are a fair sight smaller than an ATX motherboard.

spreer
- Re:Size? (Score:2)
  
  by jjshoe ( 410772 ) writes:
  
  or wait for nano itx [mini-itx.com] or check out this project [mini-itx.com]
Why not a PC (Score:2)

by wowbagger ( 69688 ) writes:

OK, I have to ask - why not just use a PC?

In other words, what will a more traditional single-board computer (SBC) get you over a PC for your development needs?

Are you wanting something with on board Flash to boot from, are you wanting something that isn't an x86, are you wanting a particular form factor?

In short, what are the needs that preclude using a PC.
Pick up the O'Reilly book (Score:2, Informative)

by raider_red ( 156642 ) writes:

O'Reilly has a book out by Karim Yaghmour called "Building Embedded Linux Systems". (ISBN number: 0-596-00222-X) I'm about half way through it now, and it has answers to most of the stupid mistakes I made early on involving tool-chain setup. The book's worth the price just for that chapter.

I'm also in the early stages of a project using Linux in an embedded system. I'll probably be going with either a PC/104 or ARM7 based solution.
- Re:Pick up the O'Reilly book (Score:1)
  
  by redog ( 574983 ) writes:
  
  For those who subscribe(like me) that book "Building Embedded Linux Systems" by Karim Yaghmour, is avalible on safari.
Hollabaugh's book also has good hardware tips. (Score:2, Informative)

by scootr1 ( 159749 ) writes:

Here it is at Amazon [amazon.com].
Try... (Score:1)

by vasqzr ( 619165 ) writes:

Arcom [arcom.com]

Or you might want to try

ZFx86 [zfmicro.com]
- Re:Try... (Score:2)
  
  by toybuilder ( 161045 ) writes:
  
  Last I heard, ZFx86 was in limbo due to a dispute with NatSemi.
  
  See this [zfmicro.com]
  
  I have not heard any news of them resuming production of the ZFx86...
Fairly small, PC architecture compatible (Score:1)

by hattmoward ( 695554 ) writes:

check out soekris engineering, I buy single units all the time: website [soekris.com]
If you need everything like that.... (Score:3, Informative)

by herrvinny ( 698679 ) writes: on Thursday November 13, 2003 @07:40PM (#7469729)

If you need USB, audio and video, just build a mini-itx [mini-itx.com] computer. Cheap, small, and it's a fully functioning computer. The VIA EPIA 5000 [mini-itx.com] is only 7 by 7 inches, pretty small, while it's bigger counterpart [mini-itx.com] is still only a few inches bigger. Plus, you can get small cases [mini-itx.com], fairly cheap memory [mini-itx.com], optical drives like CD burners, DVD, etc [mini-itx.com], thin versions of the optical drives [mini-itx.com], hard drives [mini-itx.com], and more [mini-itx.com]. If you need so much functionality, then mini-itx is better.

If you're concerned about paying SCO's license fees ($32 for embedded devices [linuxdevices.com], $699 for single CPU's [linuxdevices.com]), don't worry: that offer expired October 1. [caldera.com] You're in the same boat as the rest of us, buddy!

Eagle dev board (Score:2, Interesting)

by nmnilsson ( 549442 ) writes:

I'm programming the ARM7 Eagle dev board [excito.com] at work right now.
It's great for quick prototyping - has flash, RS232s, network and all.
They sell it for ~$400.

When the prototype is done, I just hand it over to my hardware collegues;
they trim it down to matchbox size.
Get a LART. Or, pick a CPU and go to the vendor. (Score:1)

by torpor ( 458 ) writes:

The LART is perfect - its cheap (okay, 200UKP+) and the design is completely open - including schematics - so you've got the best hardware combo for your Linux software:

The LinuxDevices page on LART [linuxdevices.com]

The LART home page [tudelft.nl]

Last I checked (2 months ago) they still had LART boards available from a 'community-production run' of boards made for other LART hackers ... so you could spend a few hundred bucks and easily get yourself a nice little board for experimenting with.

That said, I'll give you another bit of
Axis (Score:1)

by Density_Altitude ( 250074 ) * writes:

What about 299$ ? Axis 82 - Developer Board [axis.com]
http://www.soekris.com/ (Score:1)

by mdaitc ( 619734 ) writes:

This is just the basic spec
* Board size 4.85" x 5.7"
http://www.soekris.com/
$180 for 1 board.

* 100/133 Mhz AMD ElanSC520 * 16-64 Mbyte SDRAM, soldered on board * 1 Mbit BIOS/BOOT Flash * CompactFLASH Type I/II socket, 8 Mbyte FLASH to 1Gbyte IBM Microdrive * 1-3 10/100 Mbit Ethernet ports, RJ-45 * 1 Serial port, DB9. (optional 2nd serial port) * Power LED, Activity LED, Error LED * Mini-PCI type III socket. (t.ex for optional hardware encryption.) * PCI Slot, right a

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Best Embedded Linux Development Kits? 31

Best Embedded Linux Development Kits? More Login

Best Embedded Linux Development Kits?

Build your own (Score:2)

Re:Build your own (Score:1)

Re:Build your own (Score:2)

White Dwarf (Score:3, Interesting)

What's your intended use? (Score:2)

Re:you are an idiot and should shut up tsarkon (Score:2)

AMD Processor (Score:2)

minor endorsment. (Score:1, Informative)

More specfic? (Score:3, Interesting)

Size? (Score:1)

Re:Size? (Score:2)

Why not a PC (Score:2)

Pick up the O'Reilly book (Score:2, Informative)

Re:Pick up the O'Reilly book (Score:1)

Hollabaugh's book also has good hardware tips. (Score:2, Informative)

Try... (Score:1)

Re:Try... (Score:2)

Fairly small, PC architecture compatible (Score:1)

If you need everything like that.... (Score:3, Informative)

Eagle dev board (Score:2, Interesting)

Get a LART. Or, pick a CPU and go to the vendor. (Score:1)

Axis (Score:1)

http://www.soekris.com/ (Score:1)

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