A new open source programmable logic controller (PLC) project plans to create PLCs based on Linux and its realtime variants. http://www.puffinplc.org

"Linux and Windows square off over devices" contemplates the looming battle between Linux and Windows over which OS will be the platform of choice in thousands of new "intelligent interconnected devices" -- and offers ten reasons why Linux will win. http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles

Axis Communications (in Sweden) has announced an open-source Journaling Flash File System (JFFS) that provides a crash/powerdown-safe filesystem for Linux-based diskless embedded devices. http://www.developer.axis.com/software/jffs

ISDCorp announced that it joined the MIPS Alliance Program and that it is porting its Royal Linux distribution to MIPS32 and other MIPS RISC processors. http://www.isdcorp.com

Lynx Real-Time Systems announced that it has received an investment from Intel, to advance embedded Linux support for Intel processor based telecommunications, consumer appliances, and networking equipment. www.lynx.com

Install Linux on the $99 NetPliance Iopener and use it as a Thin Client computer. It includes a 10" flat panel display, 200Mhz WinChip CPU, 32MB RAM, 16MB Flash disk, parallel port, 56K modem, and USB. http://www.ltsp.org

KURT (KU Real-Time Linux) is a real-time version of Linux with real-time event resolutions in the 10's of microseconds. It's from University of Kansas and you can get it at http://www.ittc.ukans.edu/kurt/

A new Linux based entertainment console from Indrema integrates the new Gecko browser, 3D games, MP3 storage and playback, personal TV, HDTV, and Internet Video. Expect it in stores by the holiday season. http://www.indrema.com

M-Systems says its DiskOnChip flash disk is being used in a new Universal Internet Box (UIB) from 3iLinux. The device, which will serve as the basis for a variety of Internet appliances, contains a 386 CPU, 8MB RAM, 8MB DiskOnChip, 2x16 LCD, push buttons, and a modem or LAN interface. http://www.3inet.com

Digi International released a free Linux driver development kit for their wide area network (WAN) adapters that support server-based telecommunications. http://www.digi.com

New open source Perl bindings from Zentropix simplify using RTAI to create "soft real-time" Linux systems. Support for "hard real-time" will follow. http://www.zentropix.com, http://www.rtai.org

Heard about Sweden's talking clock? Cendio Systems, the Swedish National Testing and Research Institute, and Guide/Communicator have created the Linux-based "Fröken Ur" system for giving time over the phone. http://www.cendio.se

Speaking of talking computers, ZipSpeak is a talking mini-distribution of Linux created for visually impaired people. It should be useful for making embedded systems talk. ftp://ftp.braille.uwo.ca/pub/speakup/disks/slackware/zipspeak/

Interphase announced Linux drivers for their Fiber Channel Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) for storage-area networks (SANs). http://www.iphase.com

Want a free open-source design package for a small-but-powerful Linux-based embedded computer? Holland's Delft University what you need! "LART" boasts a 250 MIPS StrongARM CPU, 32MB DRAM, 4MB Flash, and consumes under 1W. Linux for LART is included. http://www.lart.tudelft.nl

smartBridges offers an open source Linux driver for their USB-to-Ethernet adapter. The driver brings USB "hot Plug & Play" simplicity to Linux based systems. http://www.smartbridges.com

Troll Tech announced a Linux GUI targeting embedded systems. Qt/Embedded offers many of the features of desktop GUIs but in a smaller footprint and with better performance. http://www.trolltech.com

Lineo acquired another embedded Linux company -- Moreton Bay (Brisbane, Australia). They are a specialist in Internet appliance systems and the Motorola ColdFire CPU. http://www.lineo.com, http://www.moretonbay.com

deepLinux, a newly founded embedded Linux company, plans to support the OEM market for embedded systems, game systems, and network appliances. http://www.deeplinux.com

Moreton Bay and Progressive Systems co-announced a Linux-based firewall appliance, aimed at countering the growing security concerns associated with cable and DSL modems. http://www.moretonbay.com, http://www.progressive-systems.com

LinuxDevices.com and the RTC Group co-announced the world's Embedded Linux first conference series. The first such event is June 22nd in San Jose, Ca. http://www.rtcgroup.com, http://www.linuxdevices.com

PacketPort.com and Georgia Tech are developing a Linux based "voice-over-DSL" Internet appliance that reduces long distance phone bills while simultaneously carrying voice, fax, and data. http://www.packetport.com

VillageWorld.Com has begun deploying an inexpensive Linux-based set-top-box that provides Internet access plus basic PC functions through a TV. The device boasts an easy-to-use user interface and a large, easy-to-read screen format. http://www.villageworld.com

GoAhead Software announced a software solution that can facilitates Internet-based field upgrades to systems incorporating Xilinx programmable logic devices. Now, your Linux based microwave oven can receive factory updates right there in your kitchen! http://www.goahead.com

GoAhead Software also announced a free, downloadable WebServer for embedded Linux applications. Now, you can explore what's going on within your microwave oven without leaving your keyboard. http://www.goahead.com

Lineo acquired United System Engineers (Nagano, Japan), a specialist in embedded Linux system development using MIPS, Hitachi, SPARC, Motorola, and Intel processors. http://www.lineo.com

NewMonics announced its latest real-time Java for Linux-based embedded systems. Embedded PERC 2.2 claims to offer dependable, cost-effective, and efficient real-time Java for industrial, telecommunications, transportation, and consumer applications. http://www.newmonics.com

Representatives from 50 embedded technology companies launched the Embedded Linux Consortium, a non-profit trade association dedicated to the advancement of Linux-based solutions in embedded applications. http://www.embedded-linux.org

2net Limited rolled out an Embedded Control Server for Linux, designed for embedded systems and including real-time control capabilities. At only 70 Kb it's one of the smallest Linux web servers around. http://www.2net.co.uk

Wind River Systems founder Jerry Fiddler, in an interview at LinuxDevices.com, discusses his company's views on Linux including the possibility of offering it in certain market and customer situations. http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles

1.3 million? That's how many "thin clients" (of various types) International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts will be manufactured in 2000. That's 80% growth over 1999, which grew 90% over 1998. Definitely good news for embedded Linux! http://www.idc.com

FSMLabs announced an Alpha AXP port of the RTLinux "hard real-time" extension for Linux, for Compaq's Alpha-based product line. http://www.fsmlabs.com

Telecommunications and the Internet edged ever closer, as Intel subsidiary Dialogic announced Linux support for their board-level telecommunications devices. Functions include voice, analog and digital network interfaces, fax, conferencing, station set, and speech. http://www.dialogic.com

Motorola Computer Group announced plans to meet the 99.999% up-time requirements of the telecom industry with "High Availability Linux" (HA Linux). That means less than 5 minutes down-time per year! http://www.motorola.com/linux

Accelent Systems unveiled a reference design for Linux-based portable wireless Internet appliances. The design can be adapted to a wide variety of embedded applications and includes an Intel StrongARM or LinkUp Systems ARM CPU, built-in LCD, touch screen, pop-up keyboard, and speaker. http://www.accelent.com

Lynx Real-Time Systems added HP's ChaiVM embedded virtual-machine technology as an option for BlueCat Linux. The result: "soft real-time" Java-based applications, running on Linux. http://www.lynx.com

Axis Communications released an open-source Bluetooth driver for Linux. Bluetooth is a new short-range wireless standard that lets embedded devices communicate with each other. http://developer.axis.com

Procom released an open-source Linux NetBEUI stack. NetBEUI is the Windows protocol for simple peer-to-peer networking. http://www.procom.com

Embedded Linux distributor MontaVista Software landed venture capital funding of over $9M. http://www.mvista.com

Architek announced a high availability cluster software solution for Linux. Felis Server supports storage, firewall, transparent IP gateway, and customized embedded/OEM requirements. http://www.architek.com

Centura Software released db.linux, an open source data management solution for information appliances and embedded systems. www.openavenue.com/db.linux.

TimeSys entered the real-time Linux market with Linux/RT, a distribution that offers performance predictability through allocating every process a preset percentage of system bandwidth. http://www.timesys.com

Coming soon: open source microprocessors. OpenRISC 1000, from OpenCores.org, is a 32-bit RISC processor IP core that comes with a matching C compiler. http://www.opencores.org

Lynx Real-Time Systems added PacketStream's Synchronous Packet Streaming (SPS) solution as an option to BlueCat Linux for embedded systems. SPS provides classification, policing, and dynamic bandwidth management of voice, video, data, and multimedia traffic over Internet. http://www.lynx.com

I-Logix says their new Rhapsody software development environment for Linux can reduce embedded software development time by over 30%, while improving the quality and reusability of the resulting code. http://www.ilogix.com

Lineo added Insignia Solutions' Jeode JAVA platform to their Embedix embedded Linux software development kit. Jeode is an accelerated implementation of Sun's PersonalJava and EmbeddedJava specs, tailored for Internet appliances and embedded devices. http://www.lineo.com

MontaVista launched the Linux Real-Time Characterization Project, to provide embedded developers a set of open-source tools for describing and measuring the real-time responsiveness of Linux based embedded systems. http://www.mvista.com

Computer I/O Corporation released Easy I/O Server, a Linux-based network I/O server. The server is a hardware/software solution that simplifies remote data acquisition, control, and storage tasks across a network, by transparently making the remote resource emulate a local device. http://www.computerio.com

For the latest news, information, and buzz on Embedded Linux, stop by the Embedded Linux Portal, at http://www.linuxdevices.com. Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. This column, written by Rick Lehrbaum, is copyright (c) 2000 LinuxDevices.com and reproduced with permission. You can reach contact us here.