Embedded Systems News Briefs

GoAhead Software announced a “high availability” (HA) Linux solution for telecommunications and Internet infrastructure equipment. The goal is the reliability “holy grail” of HA: 99.999% (“5NINES”) up time. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8938608255)

The Embedded Linux Consortium (ELC) unveiled its shiny new web site at http://www.embedded-linux.org/. See which companies are members, become a member and learn more about the organization. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5228213053)

Protectix, Inc. and Lynx Real-Time Systems are collaborating on Linux network security enhancements. Protectix had previously developed ApplianceOS, a security-focused embedded Linux that fits within 20MB of Flash memory. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7042363749)

ZDNet announced the acquisition of LinuxDevices.com. This embedded Linux portal site is being incorporated “as is” into ZDNet's Linux Resource Center. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7268795633)

DIPARM (Italy) released version 1.3 of RTAI, the popular open-source real-time Linux add-on. The new version adds dynamic memory allocation, /proc interface, enhanced LXRT-Informed module and Perl bindings to simplify “soft real-time” programming. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7090394754)

QNX Software Systems is making its QNX real-time OS more “Linux-like”. QNX development software is now free to developers, as is source to most QNX drivers and utilities. Also, a new Linux compatibility layer lets you run Linux binaries on QNX. QNX kernel source remains secret. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3407445841)

Before building that Linux supercomputer, visit www.PileofPCs.org/—the new web site devoted to proliferating cluster-based supercomputing. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7489101114)

Adomo Inc. says it is developing a Linux-based server, thin-client terminals, information applications and web-based services for the home. The products will provide fast and easy access to information by all family members from anywhere in the home. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3866190958)

Century Software unveiled a duo of technologies that capture data from large systems, translate it into XML format, then display it on embedded devices with limited display capabilities. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2915863199)

The list of post-PC processors supported by Linux lengthened, as Rt-Control released the latest version of uClinux. uClinux now supports ARM7TDMI and i960 in addition to Motorola 68K. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8108603067)

10,000? That's how many Linux-based Webplayer Internet Appliances will be shipped by Virginconnect, according to Merinta—the company that supplies the Internet Appliance software suite used within the device. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8068168802)

K-Team (Switzerland) is releasing GPL “Video for Linux” (V4L) drivers for video capture in robot vision applications. K-Team builds miniature mobile robots. Robotic penguins? (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6964926004)

MINIX author Andy Tanenbaum reports release of MINIX under terms equivalent to the BSD license. Andy claims MINIX is much smaller than Linux, and might be a suitable OS for tiny embedded systems like watches, cameras or transistor radios. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2755841532)

MontaVista Software announced Hard Hat Linux for the IBM PowerPC 405GP. The 405GP is a 200MHz 32-bit RISC-based “system-on-chip” with built-in 100MBps Ethernet, serial/parallel ports, memory controllers and more. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2088063517)

Software tools vendor VioSoft announced Linux support for NEC's VR4121, VR5432 and VR5000 64-bit MIPS RISC system-on-chip processors. The VR4141, together with the VRC4171A companion chip, implement all the functions of a typical hand-held PC. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2020182962)

Get a free design package for an MC68EZ328-based SIMM-sized SBC that runs uClinux. To manufacture it in quantity, you'll need a license. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7598641214)

Applied Data Systems unveiled a 4x6-inch single-board computer for Linux-based embedded control and graphical user interface. The board contains an onboard StrongARM CPU, plus a hearty complement of I/O. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7736362772)

Coollogic launched the e-Pilot 7000, a Linux-based Internet appliance for ISPs and Vertical Market Integrators. e-Pilot comes with Coollinux, Coollogic's embedded Linux OS. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3600550089)

A new open-source programmable logic controller (PLC) project plans to create PLCs based on Linux and its real-time variants. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8228680582)

Axis Communications (in Sweden) announced an open-source Journaling Flash File System (JFFS) that provides a crash/powerdown-safe file system for Linux-based diskless embedded devices. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3252080240)

ISDCorp joined the MIPS Alliance Program and plans to port its Royal Linux distribution to MIPS32 and other MIPS RISC processors. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3859329386)

KURT (KU Real-Time Linux) is a real-time version of Linux with real-time event resolutions in the tens of microseconds. It's from the University of Kansas. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9486308756)

A new Linux-based entertainment console from Indrema integrates the new Gecko browser, 3-D games, MP3 storage and playback, personal TV, HDTV and Internet video. Expect it in stores by the holiday season. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4185499125)

M-Systems reports that the DiskOnChip flash disk is designed into a new Universal Internet Box from 3iLinux. The 3iLinux device contains a 386 CPU, 8MB RAM, 8MB DiskOnChip, 2x16 LCD, pushbuttons and a modem or LAN connection. (www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6480449991)