LinuxDevices.com Embedded Linux Newsletter -- February 15, 2001


Welcome to the LinuxDevices.com
Embedded Linux Newsletter
February 15, 2001

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


*** FEATURE ARTICLES ***

A developer's perspective on the RTLinux patent -- this guest editorial by Jerry Epplin takes a look at the recently unveiled RTLinux patent, including a summary of what the patent says, the implications of the patent to the GPL status of RTLinux, and some of the issues and concerns that may arise when developing applications that incorporate RTLinux. story

About the built-in Flash memory support in kernel 2.4.x -- Rick Lehrbaum catches up with David Woodhouse, leader of the open source Memory Device Technology project, to learn more about the "bigger picture" of 2.4.0's built-in support for memory-based storage media such as the M-Systems DiskOnChip. story

Device profile: a Linux-based home TV Internet appliance -- this LinuxDevices.com Device Profile previews the Embedded Linux based "Aries Integrated Server" -- an easy-to-use resource sharing and Internet access device for the SOHO (small-office home-office) market. story

Device profile: a Linux-based SOHO Integrated Server device -- this LinuxDevices.com Device Profile describes a tiny Embedded Linux based consumer set-top box Internet appliance that will hit retail shelves in Japan in the next few months. story

*** OTHER NEWS ***

PC Engines releases embedded-PC BIOS as open source -- PC Engines released its tinyBIOS embedded PC BIOS core as open source software. tinyBIOS was designed from the ground up for embedded PC applications such as network appliances. story

New mobile-device SOC family to support Embedded Linux -- Sharp Microelectronics has licensed Parthus Technologies' InfoStream mobile computing platform for use in future system-on-chip (SOC) products. The resulting SOCs will target mobile computing devices with the equivalent processing capability of a desktop PC, but with the exceptionally low power consumption required for mobile devices. story

Gap between design and code-level testing shrinks -- I-Logix announced Rhapsody 3.0, which provides new capabilities that help developers to automatically generate code from system-level actors which can both monitor and stimulate the system under design. Rhapsody supports Embedded Linux. story

Lineo adds Java-based database to Embedix -- Lineo and PointBase announced a strategic partnership to target the embedded systems market with Lineo's embedded Linux operating system and PointBase's Java-based database management software. Lineo will incorporate PointBase into its Embedix OS. story

Microsoft CEO acknowledges rise of Embedded Linux -- Microsoft's CEO is well aware of the growing acceptance of Embedded Linux, as indicated by these excerpts from an interview published by eWEEK. story

DiskOnChip support announced for TASTE Embedded Linux -- M-Systems and Tuxia announced DiskOnChip support for Tuxia's TASTE Embedded Linux OS. The new support is targeted at newly developed Internet appliances such as personal access devices, TV set-top boxes, screen phones, information terminals, and thin client computers. story

New uClinux / DragonBall system development kit -- Lineo announced the uCdimm, a new microcontroller module based on a DragonBall VZ microcontroller, and uCevolution, a new development platform which gives developers a quick way to cross port to a variety of processors. These two new products will be part of a new Lineo uClinux Development Kit. story

Linux BIOS/bootloader for AMD Elan now released under GPL -- telos announced the release of a Linux boot loader called "alios" under the terms of the open source GPL license. alios is designed to eliminate the need for a BIOS and to load the Linux kernel image from solid state memory such as Flash. story

LAN-WAN board manufacturer selects Hard Hat Linux -- Interface Concept will use MontaVista's Hard Hat Linux to run its new high performance LAN-WAN remote access communications server and Ethernet switches. The company manufacturers high performance communications boards and systems for integrated voice and data transmission systems and remote access and routing equipment. story

HP unveils micro edition of Java ChaiVM -- Hewlett-Packard Company introduced HP MicrochaiVM, the micro edition of HP ChaiVM, a Java application environment for intelligent appliances. MicrochaiVM, which supports Embedded Linux, was developed for use in extremely resource-constrained devices such as cell phones, pagers, personal digital assistants and point-of-sale terminals. story

From the floor of LinuxWorld -- CNET's Todd Volz describes some of the more interesting exhibits he saw at LinuxWorld Expo in New York City. story

*** LINKS OF THE WEEK ***

ROM-o-Matic.net -- instant EtherBoot ROMs -- This unique website automatically and instantly generates downloadable EtherBoot ROMs for several dozen different Ethernet controller (NIC) cards, based on several dozen specifiable parameters. story

JFFS -- a GPL Journaling Flash File System -- JFFS is the Journaling Flash File System developed by Axis Communications in Sweden, aimed at providing a crash/powerdown-safe filesystem for diskless embedded devices. It is released under the GPL, and the current version works for the Linux 2.0 kernel series and memory mapped industry standard flash memories (NOR flash). story

elinux -- the Axis Linux/ETRAX port -- the source code to Axis' Linux port for ETRAX 100 is available for public download. The kernel includes the Axis Journaling Flash File System (JFFS) as well as the Axis Bluetooth stack. story

Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL) -- a free multimedia API -- a free cross-platform multimedia development API/library designed to provide fast access to the graphics framebuffer and audio device. SDL can be useful in embedded Linux based systems. story

*** FREQUENTLY UPDATED QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES ***

*** THE 2001 EMBEDDED LINUX MARKET SURVEY ***

As part of our continuing efforts to support the rapidly growing Embedded Linux Market, we are pleased to announce the online 2001 Embedded Linux Market Survey. The survey, which is structured in three parts, asks developers of Linux-based embedded systems and intelligent devices to anonymously provide information about their applications, their embedded Linux OS requirements and preferences, and the perceived advantages and disadvantages of using Linux in embedded applications.

Note: Please participate in this new survey, even if you already did so in 2000. Thank you!

VOTE HERE!

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