Linux For Devices Articles

HMI module targets renewable energy —

German embedded firm SSV announced a touchscreen control unit designed for HMI industrial applications. The EUI/57V is equipped with an x86-based Vortex86DX processor clocked to 800MHz, a 5.7-inch VGA touchscreen, and HMI (human machine interface) connections that include Ethernet, serial, USB, CAN, GPIO, and SPI, SSV says. ...

An interview with LiMo's Morgan Gillis —

LinuxDevices.com spoke with LiMo Foundation executive director Morgan Gillis about LiMo's upcoming R2 release and a slate of new LiMo phones due this year. Gillis discusses why LiMo is different than other mobile Linux platforms and offers insights on Intel's Wind River acquisition, Android, Chrome, Symbian, and more. ...

Ten years after: An Interview with MontaVista's Jim Ready —

Embedded Linux pioneer and MontaVista CTO and founder Jim Ready recently spoke with LinuxDevices about how the industry has changed over the last decade. The interview arrives on the heels of MontaVista's 10th anniversary. ...

Deploying Linux Embedded Systems — Foreword -- This article concludes a series of tutorials on embedded Linux system development by noted ARM Linux kernel hackers Vincent Sanders and Daniel Silverstone. Initial installments described how to build a simple embedded system, add a simple web server, build an embedded web kiosk, and further improve a system. ...

Tutorial: Improving an embedded Linux system — Foreword -- This article continues a series of tutorials on embedded Linux system development by noted ARM Linux kernel hackers Vincent Sanders and Daniel Silverstone. The initial installments described how to build a simple embedded system, adding a simple web server, and how to build an embedded Linux web kiosk. ...

Tutorial: An ARM-based web kiosk system — Foreword -- This article continues a series of tutorials on embedded Linux system development by noted ARM Linux kernel hackers Vincent Sanders and Daniel Silverstone. The initial installments described how to build a simple embedded system, adding a simple web server, and how to build an embedded Linux web kiosk. ...

Tutorial: A web kiosk embedded system — Foreword -- This article continues a series of tutorials on embedded Linux system development contributed by noted ARM Linux kernel hackers Vincent Sanders and Daniel Silverstone. In the initial installments, the Simtec engineers first described how to build a simple embedded system, then how to add a simple web server. ...

Intro to V4L2 (Part 2) — Foreword -- This is the second of two articles describing the V4L2 (Video for Linux 2) interface, along with the first steps toward developing a device driver that uses the interface. It is based on Linux 2.6.28, and may not apply to other kernel versions. ...

Tutorial: Building an embedded Linux system with a web server — Foreword -- This article continues a series of tutorials on embedded Linux system development contributed by noted ARM Linux kernel hackers Vincent Sanders and Daniel Silverstone. In the initial installment, the Simtec engineers described how embedded devices differ from other computers, and how to build "the most basic system possible." This second installment now covers the construction of a... ...

Tutorial: A simple embedded Linux system — Foreword -- This article begins a series of tutorials on embedded Linux system development contributed by noted ARM Linux kernel hackers Vincent Sanders and Daniel Silverstone. In the initial installment, the Simtec engineers describe how embedded devices differ from other computers, and how to build "the most basic system possible." ...

Guest opinion: LiMo should go back to the drawing board — Foreword: This paper examines the Linux Mobile Foundation (LiMo), a well-funded industry group aiming to standardize Linux on phones, but facing marginalization from free stacks like Android, Qt, and even Open Symbian. After in-depth analysis of LiMo and the phone market, author Andreas Constantinou concludes that LiMo must re-invent itself. ...

Intro to V4L2 — Foreword -- This article describes the V4L2 (Video for Linux 2) interface, along with the first steps toward developing a device driver that uses the interface. It is based on Linux 2.6.28, and may not apply to other kernel versions. ...

CEO Interview: Roman Pakholkov of Promwad —

Foreword -- Roman Pakholkov is founder and CEO of Promwad, a fast-growing independent product design center in Eastern Europe. In this fascinating interview, Pakholkov describes Promwad's history and early successes, with a special focus on the role of embedded Linux in the company's past and future. ...

CEO Interview: Glenda Dorchak of VirtualLogix —

Foreword -- Glenda Dorchak joined embedded and real-time virtualization specialist VirtualLogix in January, taking over the CEO role. Dorchak has 30 years of tech industry management experience, most recently at Windows Mobile device specialist Intrinsyc, and plans to focus the company on high-growth... ...

Elphel camera under the hood: from Verilog to PHP — Foreword: -- This paper describes the recent imaging advances by Elphel, supplier of open source (hardware and software) cameras to customers that include Google (for select Street View and book scanning projects). It should interest imaging engineers, fans of open source, and those curious about open source hardware. ...

Linux leader on Microsoft woes — Foreword -- Microsoft today laid off 1,400 workers, with another 3,600 on the block within 18 months. We asked Linux Foundation Director Jim Zemlin what if any role Linux played in Microsoft's misfortunes, how Microsoft will react, and what it could mean for Linux and the open source community. Enjoy . . . ! ...

Mobile World Congress "opens" up —

Mobile veteran Jason Whitmire (pictured) has written an editorial previewing the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Whitmire, who is Wind River's GM of Mobile Solutions, says the show will be more Linux- and open-source flavored than ever, with LiMo, Android, and Moblin all vying for attention. ...

Getting started with an embedded Linux system emulator —

Foreword -- This article describes setting up an embedded Linux cross-development environment targeting a virtual machine running on the development host. It covers installing Qemu and using it to debug applications and kernels, both with supplied test-images and with custom kernel/filesystem images... ...

Linux camera launched at Lunar X PRIZE —

Foreword -- This article describes an all-volunteer science project's use of a donated Linux camera for the Jaluro rover it hopes to field in Google's Lunar X PRIZE competition. It discusses several advantages that patent-free Open Source software like Linux and Theora offer for scientific research projects. ...

Android app offers remote medical diagnostics —

An open source project at MIT has developed a Linux- and Android-based remote medical diagnostics application aimed at developing nations. The "Moca" software integrates an Android app for remote diagnostics, a back-end Linux server application, and the OpenMRS medical records database, says the group. ...

Jim Zemlin on Moblin and the well-hedged OS —

In an interview with the Linux Foundation's Jim Zemlin, the group's executive director explains why Moblin is "the project you want to watch." Zemlin (pictured) also touts Linux for being ideally "well hedged" to survive the recession, but points to a future obstacle for the OS. ...

How SCOPE creates tomorrow's Linux — Foreword -- This brief paper explains the forward-looking work done by the SCOPE Alliance in identifying the advanced features needed in tomorrow's Linux kernels. Though focused on "carrier grade systems" for telecom networks, the group's work results in mainline contributions that ultimately benefit any Linux developer, including device developers. ...

Porting Android to a new device —

Foreword -- This paper describes the how Android 1.0 was first ported to Nokia's N810 Internet tablet. A fascinating, well-told tale in its own right, it may also help others with similar porting projects to gauge the time and resources that may be required. ...

Mapping open source into mobile: who, where and how — Foreword -- Open source has flourished in the mobile phone market this year, says Andreas Constantinou. In this paper, the VisionMobile research director discusses the emergence of Android, Symbian Foundation, Maemo, Qt Software, Purple Labs, ALP, Wind River, WebKit, Funambol, and a dozen other mobile open source projects and companies. ...

HOT TOPIC: Moblin —

[Updated Nov. 26] -- Mobile Internet devices (MIDs) and other small form-factor systems based on Intel Atom processors and the Intel-sponsored Moblin.org Linux stack are finally starting to arrive. ...

IPv6 in Linux — Foreword -- This article discusses the advantages of IPv6, which in addition to a larger address space promises to increase standby time in devices, and improve performance in routers. It discusses IPv6 technology, as well as how IPv6 has been implemented in the Linux kernel. ...

Review: Motorola U9 —

Motorola's U9 approaches what the Rokr2 should have been all along -- a sequel both familiar AND refreshing. Better late than never, the low-cost phone is good enough despite glitches to show that the largest U.S. ...

Updated review of robotics software platforms — Foreword -- Today's nascent robotics market has engendered nearly two dozen general-purpose software development frameworks, nearly all of which run on Linux. This article reviews ten, and briefly describes a few others, before concluding with an analysis of which platforms are best-suited to which uses. ...

Benchmarking boot latency on x86 — Foreword -- In this tutorial whitepaper, the co-founder, CTO, and "chief coffee drinker" of Isreali development firm Codefidence explains how to instrument x86-based systems to measure boot latency. Author Gilad Ben-Yossef supplies helpful code snippets and great advice to help any x86 device or PC boot faster. ...

An electronic 'LEGO' for embedded systems — Foreword -- This article describes the development of an interesting uClinux-based embedded computing platform that uses the CompactFlash form-factor. Envisioned as a way to exploit CompactFlash cards as COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) peripherals, C Data Solutions products target rapid prototyping of handhelds, industrial, and networking gear. ...

Open source camera records geotagged video to SATA HDD — Foreword: This paper describes a small, Utah-based company overcoming several hardware and software challenges to create an advanced Linux-based camera. Based on an 200MHz Axis ETRAX FS and an FPGA, Elphel's modular 353 camera, combined with several new expansion modules, can now capture geo-tagged video to CompactFlash or 1.8-inch drives. ...

Guest opinion: Symbian + Nokia = Love — Foreword -- This detailed, fact-filled editorial lays out the facts surrounding Nokia's announced intention to buy out its partners and release Symbian to open source. Author Andreas Constantinou, one of the smartest new voices commenting on the wireless market, then looks at what the news really means for the industry. Enjoy . . . ! ...

Device Profile: Fiire whole-house media distribution system —

A company called Fiire is shipping a home automation, media control, and security system based on the open source LinuxMCE distro. Built around a dual-core AMD Athlon X2-based box called the Fiire Engine, the Fiire system also includes FiireStation thin clients and a Z-Wave-based FiireChief controller. ...

Demystifying embedded code storage — Foreword -- This whitepaper compares four approaches to storing program code on flash memory, including eXecute-in-place (XIP), fully shadowed, demand paging, and "balanced" XIP. It concludes that the latter approach can save Flash and RAM while lowering launch time, especially when used with the AXFS (advanced XIP filing system). ...

Rapid time-to-evaluation -- a key goal for silicon providers — Foreword: This article was contributed by an embedded product development consulting firm that often works with Linux. It outlines the role that chip vendor-supplied evaluation kits play in determining time-to-evaluation and ultimately time-to-market, with a candid appraisal of the kits available from three specific chip vendors. ...

Device Profile: AlertMe's Zigbee-based home security system —

AlertMe.com is shipping a ZigBee-based security system centered on a Linux-driven Hub. The AlertMe system includes a variety of sensors, fobs, and other devices that link up via wireless ZigBee connections to the Hub, which in turn reports back to AlertMe.Com's servers and the customer. ...

Review: Zonbu Zonbook and gOS Cloudbook —

Foreword -- This hands-on review compares and contrasts two computing appliances that run Linux on Via C7-M processors. The Zonbu Zonbook and the gOS Cloudbook are both manufactured by Everex, and cost about the same up-front, but that's where the resemblances end, our reviewer found. ...

Executive Interview: John Bruggeman, CMO of Wind River —

In an interview about two weeks ago with LinuxDevices, Wind River CMO John Bruggeman sounded positively cocky about his company's fortunes. And as usual, the veteran marketer shared plenty of interesting real-world observations -- along with healthy helpings of the expected marketing spin. ...

Executive Interview: Rusty Harris, CEO of MontaVista —

In an interview with LinuxDevices, MontaVista's new president and CEO Russell "Rusty" Harris said the company expects growth in a diverse array of markets, not only carrier-grade and mobile segments. ...

Review: DM&P/Icop eBox 4300 —

This hands-on review looks at a small, silent, inexpensive PC based Via's slowest, lowest-powered chip. The Icop eBox-4300 is small enough to piggyback on VESA-compliant monitors, yet actually performs well enough under Linux for desktop use, says reviewer and small-PC enthusiast Eric House. ...

More Linux For Devices Articles ...

FUEL Database on MontaVista Linux
Whether building a mobile handset, a car navigation system, a package tracking device, or a home entertainment console, developers need capable software systems, including an operating system, development tools, and supporting libraries, to gain maximum benefit from their hardware platform and to meet aggressive time-to-market goals.

Breaking New Ground: The Evolution of Linux Clustering
With a platform comprising a complete Linux distribution, enhanced for clustering, and tailored for HPC, Penguin Computing¿s Scyld Software provides the building blocks for organizations from enterprises to workgroups to deploy, manage, and maintain Linux clusters, regardless of their size.

Data Monitoring with NightStar LX
Unlike ordinary debuggers, NightStar LX doesn¿t leave you stranded in the dark. It¿s more than just a debugger, it¿s a whole suite of integrated diagnostic tools designed for time-critical Linux applications to reduce test time, increase productivity and lower costs. You can debug, monitor, analyze and tune with minimal intrusion, so you see real execution behavior. And that¿s positively illuminating.

Virtualizing Service Provider Networks with Vyatta
This paper highlights Vyatta's unique ability to virtualize networking functions using Vyatta's secure routing software in service provider environments.

High Availability Messaging Solution Using AXIGEN, Heartbeat and DRBD
This white paper discusses a high-availability messaging solution relying on the AXIGEN Mail Server, Heartbeat and DRBD. Solution architecture and implementation, as well as benefits of using AXIGEN for this setup are all presented in detail.

Understanding the Financial Benefits of Open Source
Will open source pay off? Open source is becoming standard within enterprises, often because of cost savings. Find out how much of a financial impact it can have on your organization. Get this methodology and calculator now, compliments of JBoss.

Embedded Hardware and OS Technology Empower PC-Based Platforms
The modern embedded computer is the jack of all trades appearing in many forms.

Data Management for Real-Time Distributed Systems
This paper provides an overview of the network-centric computing model, data distribution services, and distributed data management. It then describes how the SkyBoard integration and synchronization service, coupled with an implementation of the OMG¿s Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard, can be used to create an efficient data distribution, storage, and retrieval system.

7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.