uClinux: World's most popular embedded Linux distro? -- This guest column by John Drabik reviews the purpose, history, current status, accomplishments, and future plans of uClinux, a Linux variant that has been optimized for embedded systems and devices having tightly constrained processor and memory resources. The article puts forward the notion that uClinux may well represent the world's first, most mature, and most commercially successful Embedded Linux distribution, and includes a photo gallery of some cool gadgets with uClinux inside, as well as a list of key resources for further uClinux info. Story
Building a Linux Minicluster using commodity components -- The Embedded Reasoning Institute of the Sandia National Laboratories recently constructed a 4-node Linux cluster based on commodity PC/104 modules and other related components. The system was designed for use in parallel programming tutorials, demonstrations, and displays, and was showcased at the Supercomputing 2001 Conference (Denver, CO) and at the Embedded Systems Conference 2002 (San Francisco, CA). This article by two key members of the project team describes the overall project and provides information on how the system was constructed. Story
Embedded Linux enables '1st Internet-connected GPS receiver' -- Thales Navigation unveiled "the industry's first direct Internet-connected GPS receiver." The Internet-enabled Continuous Geodetic Reference Station (iCGRS) contains an embedded PC running Linux. Story includes photos of the device, which is marketed under the Ashtec brand. Story
Using Flash memory with uClinux -- This whitepaper by Greg Ungerer provides a discussion of theory and methods for building uClinux systems that boot, run, and operate using Flash memory. The paper begins with a brief introduction to Flash memory technology, followed by a discussion of the different ways uClinux system components can be laid out in Flash. After that, there is a description of the process of kernel driver configuration and setup, as well as information regarding root filesystem choices. The paper wraps up with a real life example that should crystallize some of the finer details. Story
Introducing YAFFS, the first NAND-specific flash file system -- In this technical article, the originator of YAFFS introduces the open source YAFFS flash file system, which he describes as "the only file system, under any operating system, that has been designed specifically for use with NAND flash". Flash memory chips are commonly used in embedded systems and devices in place of much larger and more fragile hard drives, but they require special software, called a flash file system. YAFFS is designed to be used with low-cost NAND chips that are soldered onto a circuit board within the device or contained on SmartMedia cards, which are popular for storage memory expansion in PDAs and other mobile devices. Story
Other noteworthy news items and announcements from the past week . . .
Read them here: Sep. 19, 2002, Sep. 12, 2002, Sep. 5, 2002, Aug. 29, 2002, Aug. 22, 2002, Aug. 15, 2002, Aug. 8, 2002, Aug. 1, 2002, Jul. 25, 2002, Jul. 18, 2002, Jul. 11, 2002, Jul. 4, 2002, Jun. 27, 2002, Jun. 20, 2002, Jun. 13, 2002, Jun. 6, 2002, May 30, 2002, May 23, 2002, May 16, 2002, May 9, 2002, May 2, 2002, Apr. 25, 2002, Apr. 18, 2002, Apr. 11, 2002, Apr. 4, 2002, Mar. 28, 2002, Mar. 21, 2002, Mar. 14, 2002, Mar. 7, 2002, Feb. 28, 2002, Feb. 21, 2002, Feb. 14, 2002, Feb. 7, 2002, Jan. 31, 2002, Jan. 24, 2002, Jan. 17, 2002, Jan. 10, 2002, Jan. 3, 2002
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