New Products

At LinuxWorld New York in January 2001, Lineo announced the SecureEdge hardware brand, a OEM development platform for fully brandable Linux-based applications and devices. SecureEdge replaces the NETtel product line. The first SecureEdge product available is a VPN Internet router that secures office-wide Internet connections. Connections can be by dial-up, ISDN, cable or ADSL modems.

The VPN router can also function as an embedded Linux platform running a uClinux kernel, enabling it to function as a thin server. Custom programs, such as firewalls or monitors, can be written, stored in Flash memory and executed inside the router/server. Features of the SecureEdge routers include:

Lineo provides the complete development environment as standard. Application development can be done independently or in conjunction with Lineo to decrease time-to-market of customized, brandable appliances.

Manufacturer: Lineo

Model: SecureEdge VPN Router

Suggested retail price: See web site

URL: http://www.lineo.com/

First in series of application-specific motherboards.

Single Board Internet Computer

Alberta Microelectronic Corporation (AMC) introduced a new family of high-performance, integrated, application-specific motherboards with its first release, the Single Board Internet Computer. The motherboard uses Celeron technology with standard embedded PC product features. Contained in 53 square inches of board space, the single module's level of integration can be used for a wide range of embedded applications.

The SBIC is based on the Intel 440BX AGPset and uses the IEEE 1394 Link Layer Controller that uses digital interface for throughput devices like digital cameras and scanners. Other features include a low power mode, a 100MHz front-side bus with L2 Cache and PC100 SDRAM performance. The mainboard attempts to eliminate add-in boards by including the Ethernet and FireWire directly onto the circuit card.

Programming the SBIC can be done with standard languages, and it is compatible with most popular operating systems. AMC provides engineering support and is available to assist developing and supporting software for specialized applications.

Manufacturer: Alberta Microelectronic Corporation

Model: Single Board Internet Computer

Suggested retail price: $400 in volume

URL: http://www.amctechcorp.com/

Generate small standards-based graphic solutions for embedded applications.

BSDI logo

In January 2001, Metro Link announced that all future eBSD operating systems sold will include Metro-X for host development and a demo of Micro-X, a scalable embedded X server. Developers will be able to use the demo to simulate the X server and run it on a set-top box, web-pad or other next generation internet appliance design.

Micro-X can be configured to as little as 570K resulting in small memory footprints. Additionally, host and target embedded systems can use the same platform, aiding application development. Developers will be able to display embedded 2-D and 3-D graphics, video-in-a-window and MPEG playback on internet appliances, consumer electronic devices or multimedia devices running eBSD on multiple architectures.

Manufacturer: Metro Link, Inc. and BSDi

Model: eBSD with Metro-X and Micro-X

Suggested retail price: See web site for pricing

URL: http://www.metrolink.com/ and http://www.bsdi.com/