LinuxDevices.com Embedded Linux Newsletter -- November 9, 2000


Welcome to the LinuxDevices.com
Embedded Linux Newsletter
November 9, 2000

by Rick Lehrbaum -- Executive Editor
ZDNet's LinuxDevices.com


*** SPECIAL FEATURES ***

Report from the 2nd Embedded Linux Expo & Conference -- the 2nd Embedded Linux Expo & Conference was held on October 27th in Westborough, MA. Included in this report are the slide presentations from most of the technical talks, plus a review of the newly added full-day embedded Linux hands-on workshop (in which the participants learned how to create an Embedded Linux based mp3 player appliance). story

ZDNet acquires Free Software & Open Source download site! -- we are proud to welcome AppWatch, a unique site that features Free Software and Open Source announcements and download links, to the ZDNet family. Check it out! story

Opinion: Free software is NOT free! -- in this editorial, Rick Lehrbaum points out that open source software doesn't simply grow on trees. Lots of individuals and companies invest lots of hours -- and sweat -- in creating, testing, and maintaining that so-called "free" software. So, free software is not cost free. In that case, who pays for it? And who owns it? story

*** LATEST DEVICE PROFILES ***

Device Profile: Filanet Internet service appliance -- the InterJak 100 aims to provide small and medium sized businesses with "big company networking capabilities," through a low cost and easily installed appliance-like device. The device is based on a custom ARM 940T system-on-chip processor running uClinux. story

Square D embeds Linux in power control thinserver device -- the device, called the POWERLOGIC Thin Server, contains a PC-like ('X86') embedded computer that makes use of Linux and other open source software as its internal operating system environment. story

Device profile: PhatNoise PhatBox car mp3 player -- here's a profile of the PhatNoise PhatBox, an car mp3 player powered by an internal embedded Linux computer. The article examines how the device works and what's inside -- from both a hardware and software perspective. story

*** OTHER NEWS ***

First Linux Trace Toolkit for PowerPC -- MontaVista Software announced availability of the Linux Trace Toolkit for PowerPC developers. The Linux Trace Toolkit is a suite of tools designed to extract and interpret execution details of multiple programs from the Linux operating system. story

Real-time and Embedded Systems Forum materials online -- the Open Group submitted this report on the results of the Real-time and Embedded Systems Forum held recently in Washington DC. story

Embedded Linux supports high-speed IP router reference design --MontaVista Software has announced software support for MMC Networks' high-speed Internet Protocol (IP) router reference design based completely on off-the-shelf network processing hardware and open-source Linux-based software. story

New BSP supports embedded Linux based MIPS/PCI apps -- V3 Semiconductor announced a Board Support Package (BSP) that supports V3's Hurricane Platform, which features the RM5231 Embedded MIPS Processor from PMC-Sierra and the V320USC Universal PCI System Controller from V3 Semiconductor. story

ELC launches Embedded Linux discussion lists -- the Embedded Linux Consortium has kicked off a pair of majordomo discussion lists; one is for members only, and the other is for anyone interested in embedded Linux. story

Embedded Linux Journal & ZF Linux announce computer giveaway/contest -- 100 PC/104 modules containing ZF's MachZ chip will be awarded to the entrants with the most 100 promising or interesting project ideas. If you win a board, you are then eligible for the grand prize competition which gives you the opportunity to win an all expense paid trip to Costa Rica. story

Small step for IBM; giant leap for Linux -- though not an embedded Linux story, this news item is significant in that it indicates the growing commitment of major industry giants to Linux. ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley reports that IBM has announced what it calls the biggest Linux deal ever. story

Upgraded RISC system-on-chip adds MMU and USB -- Axis Communications has announced that a new version of the ETRAX system-on-chip will go into production next April. The new version adds an MMU, USB, and SDRAM support. story

New Cirrus high-integration system-on-chip targets VoIP apps -- the CS89712 combines a low power, high-performance 74MHz ARM720TDMI Core, 10Mbps Ethernet connectivity (MAC and PHY), built-in LCD controller, plus a wide array of internal peripherals. story

Agenda launches "developer program" for new Linux PDA -- a limited pre-production build of several hundred VR3 PDAs will be made available at a highly discounted price to developers who want to be in the forefront of creating apps for the new Linux PDA. Sign up before they're all allocated! story

Lineo adds MIPS-32 ISA processor support to Embedix OS -- Embedix now supports IDT's RC32334 32-bit MIPS-32 based integrated processor. The RC32334 includes built-in interrupt, DMA, timing, and memory controllers, plus a dual-channel UART and a built-in PCI bus bridge. story

*** LINKS OF THE WEEK ***

TinyLogin -- a small footprint login tool for Embedded Linux -- an embedded tool for handling authentication, changing passwords, and similar tasks, and which nicely complements BusyBox. story

Comedi -- linux COntrol and MEasurement Device Interface -- Comedi is a collection of drivers for a variety of common data acquisition plug-in boards. The drivers are implemented as a core Linux kernel module providing common functionality and individual low-level driver modules. story

GNU GRUB -- the GRand Unified Bootloader -- GNU GRUB is a Multiboot boot loader. It was derived from GRUB, GRand Unified Bootloader. story

Open-source embedded Linux web server software -- Developers from all over the world have downloaded, evaluated, and made improvements that have made GoAhead WebServer one of the top embedded Web servers on the market. story

*** FREQUENTLY UPDATED QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES ***

*** DO YOUR CIVIC DUTY -- VOTE! ***

Have you voted yet?   Participate in LinuxDevices.com's ongoing surveys of the Embedded Linux Market . . .

Missed a previous LinuxDevices.com Embedded Linux Weekly Newsletter?   No problem!   Read them here . . .

Nov 2,   Oct 26,   Oct 19,   Oct 12,   Oct 5,   Sep 28,   Sep 21,   Sep 14,   Sep 7,   Aug 31,   Aug 24,   Aug 17,   Aug 10,   Aug 3,   Jul 27,   Jul 20,   Jul 13,   Jul 6,   Jun 30,   Jun 15,   Jun 1,   May 1,   Apr 1,   Mar 1

Want to subscribe, unsubscribe, change your address . . . ?    use this tool

Be sure stop by www.linuxdevices.com -- "the Embedded Linux Portal" -- for the latest news, articles, forums, products, companies, jobs, and buzz in the fast-moving "post-PC" world of Linux-based intelligent devices, Internet appliances, and embedded systems.

You can contact us here.