Linux Computer in USB Key Form-Factor 149
PMBjornerud writes "A start-up located in the French Alps near Grenoble is readying a tiny ARM-based Linux single-board computer (SBC) in a USB key form-factor. Calao's USB-9260 USB key-sized SBC measures 3.3 x 1.4 inches (85 x 36 mm). It is based on an Atmel AT91SAM9260 processor, an SoC (system-on-chip) powered by an ARM926EJ-S core clocked at 190MHz. The SoC targets "advanced applications such as GPS application processors," according to Atmel. Here is a Spec sheet PDF. With a 10/100 Ethernet port, firewall usage springs to mind. Other interfaces are 2 USB host ports and room for an expansion card. Which should allow some creative uses. "
imagine (Score:3, Funny)
Re:imagine (Score:5, Funny)
Re:imagine (Score:2)
Re:imagine (Score:4, Funny)
Actually could really be useful (Score:2)
Better yet, you could buty the processing in modules and plug in as many as you need/can afford.
Re:imagine (Score:5, Funny)
Layne
Re:imagine (Score:5, Funny)
It would be missing an ARM.
Unbelievable. (Score:2)
Seriously, THAT was hilarious!
Interesting (Score:4, Funny)
Is this thing on? [tap tap]
Re:imagine (Score:2)
Re:imagine (Score:2)
And you wouldn't want to meet it's mother...board.
Re:imagine (Score:4, Informative)
a couple things I wonder (Score:2)
(b) This is darn similar to the recently announced Yoggie Pico [linuxdevices.com], which is only $40--though the Pico doesn't have USB host capability or ethernet (but could probably be hacked to provide such
Re:a couple things I wonder (Score:3, Informative)
Re:a couple things I wonder (Score:2)
On the other hand, when I want a cheap and versatile embedded system, I just get a wireless router! I bought a discontinued model of NETGEAR wireless router with 32 MiB of SDRAM, 16 MiB of flash, USB 2.0, and a 200 MHz MIPS processor for about $30. Lots of fun to play around with!!
Re:a couple things I wonder (Score:2)
Re:imagine (Score:2, Interesting)
1 7-port self powered USB hub
7 of these keys
7 ethernet cables
1 8-port switch
Connect the keys to the USB hub for power
Connect the ethernet cables from the keys to the switch
Connect your workstation to the switch
Not sure which Beowulf supporting OS runs on ARM though.
Firewall (Score:1)
Re:Firewall (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Firewall (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Firewall (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Firewall (Score:1)
Re:Firewall/iPhone (Score:2)
I think he might mean that he would like to see if he can integrate a modified iPhone as a front end to this as the back end or develoment server (in relationship.)
I hope that is what he means. I am really curious to see somebody put BSD or Linux on an iPhone, heck I'd chuck $5 to that project if I could find someone with a good track record. Anybody planning to purchase $500 worth of "pretty" and then replace the OS?
I think it would be awesome to have a server/client system with a stick like this and a modded iPhone. Maybe you could put a demo webserver on the gumstick and use the iPhone as the client, try different servers when you're pitching a development contract... I dunno, I dont care why you do it, just as long as somebody does it.
iBeowulf anyone?
Re:Firewall (Score:4, Interesting)
This thing still uses an RJ45 connector which means it still can't be used in such a severe environment in its off-the-shelf form, but it's much easier to desolder a connector and solder a jumper cable to something like a MIL-C-38999 and pot the whole thing in epoxy than try to ruggedize those Hirose connectors (hopeless).
Re:Firewall (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Firewall (Score:2)
But does it.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:But does it.. (Score:1)
Honestly... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Honestly... (Score:2, Funny)
The simple truth is that a computer capable of running Windows Vista will not fit into the human imagination.
There, I fixed it for you :)
Re:But does it.. (Score:3, Funny)
Sure! You just have to plug it into one of the MSFT-recommended expansion packs [alienware.com]...
Swiss Army Key? (Score:2)
A man's gotta have his priorities.
More Realistically (Score:2)
Does anyone know if I'd be able to connect a USB hard drive and a USB soundcard and run musicpd [musicpd.org] on it? I just had to replace my MPD box with a big, ugly, old, but 10 dollar, dell. I really wouldn't mind a small quiet solution.
Re:More Realistically (Score:2)
Probabaly not. Yes it has the plugs to connect a USB hdd and a USB sound device, and yes you could get power in through the USB plug fairly easy. But this device is clocked a wee bit slow (and has no FPU) to make OGG or FLAC playback very likely. Don't know about AAC. MP3 would probably be good to go though.
You need to climb the power curve just a wee bit. Go take a look at what gumstix.com has to offer. They can set you up wuth a wee little thing that clocks at up to 600Mhz and can attach a stereo audio output directly. It still doesn't have floating point but at up to 600Mhz and enough ram to waste on optimization out the wazoo you can probably power your way through OGG/FLAC/AAC anyway.
Although I do like the idea of this new device. Just need to think of a job it can handle.
Re:More Realistically (Score:2)
I also used nflushd (probably kflushd these days) to spin down the hard disk.
I ended up with a silent P90 in the back of my car.
Re:But does it.. (Score:2)
Have you ported Windows Vista to the ARM CPU?
At last! (Score:1, Redundant)
A Beowulf cluster that fits in my pocket!
Re:At last! (Score:3, Funny)
OBLIG: Imagine a beowolf... (Score:4, Funny)
Just imagine a beowolf cluster of these... Seriously!
The SBC had TWO usb host slots into which TWO of these could be plugged (back-to-back) and EACH of these could have TWO more! And so on and so on. Sure there'd be power considerations (duh).
So, more realistically, plug a multiport USB hub into your PC, and plug one of these into each of the ports... instant cluster!
Yes, I know, there's probably has no _practical_ use like this (190 MHz; 64MB SDRAM), but just for the geekiness of it, I'd love to see someone DO it!
Re:OBLIG: Imagine a beowolf... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:OBLIG: Imagine a beowolf... (Score:2)
Who needs video? (Score:2)
All the power of a WinCE or Palm in a tiny little board. They are missing USB hosting and video for the complete package.
All the power of Palm and then some. With 64MB RAM, you can easily run X and forward your programs to yourself from the device if you want images. It would be better to use the device as a data collector and make graphs on your laptop from the results.
As for a Beowulf cluster, if the power to flops ratio is good that can work.
Re:OBLIG: Imagine a beowolf... (Score:2)
Re:OBLIG: Imagine a beowolf... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:OBLIG: Imagine a beowolf... (Score:2)
Re:OBLIG: Imagine a beowolf... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:OBLIG: Imagine a beowolf... (Score:2)
Re:OBLIG: Imagine a beowolf... (Score:2)
Re:OBLIG: Imagine a beowolf... (Score:2)
Re:OBLIG: Imagine a beowolf... (Score:2)
Re:OBLIG: Imagine a beowolf... (Score:2)
network analysis tool? (Score:5, Interesting)
I bet that security researchers turn it into some kind of network analysis tool before I can say "whippit".
And then the hackers get their hands on it.....
I bet your there are waaay more uses for a sexy little gizmo like this then the manufacturers realize.
Re:network analysis tool? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:network analysis tool? (Score:2)
Or you could put a USB network adapter and a USB wifi adapter.
Or you could put a USB network adapter and USB bluetooth adapter.
Or you cuuld put a USB network adapter and a USB drive for logging.
Yep you could use it as an inline analysis tool with no problem.
That's a filter. (Score:2)
I'd like to see one with ethernet jacks on both ends... then it could be an inline analysis tool.
Analysis is better done with a tap than a pass though. Why waste processor time duplicating packets when you could spend time analyzing, storing and reporting the results from a tap? You only need a tap to listen.
Re:network analysis tool? (Score:2)
but does it run... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:but does it run... (Score:2, Informative)
I can't see how it does, considering there's no Opensolaris for ARM that I know of.
Re:but does it run... (Score:2)
Coming soon (Score:3, Interesting)
http://echoidentity.com/ [echoidentity.com]
Re:Coming soon (Score:2)
Re:Coming soon (Score:2)
beowulf posters take note (Score:5, Funny)
First of all, you do not put the word "imagine", or "beowulf" in the subject line. Your subject line MUST pertain directly to the subject at hand. In this case, the subject is a USB key computer that runs LINUX. It is also important to use the word "these" instead of the word "those".
I have taken the opportunity to display a properly formatted beowulf post, conveniently reproduced below:
Subject: USB Key form factor computer
Imagine a beowulf cluster of these!
USB Key form factor computer (Score:1, Informative)
Re:beowulf posters take note (Score:3, Funny)
Israeli companies have been making them for years (Score:5, Informative)
firewall? duh? (Score:5, Funny)
Maybe if you're retarded. How effective is a 190 MHz computer with a single 10/100 interface?
Re:firewall? duh? (Score:1, Informative)
Re:firewall? duh? (Score:1)
Re:firewall? duh? (Score:3, Interesting)
You would be better off assigning two IP addresses to two aliases on the device and using the one ethernet jack.
Google for "one nic nat" (Score:2)
Anyhow, I was checking this out when it came out on Linux Devices the other day and it's intriguing but it's still more of an embedded device and they don't give you much access to the IO without an additional module that sort of detracts from the small form factor sexiness. I'd like to see something like a DIY Arduino type board based on the chip though.
Re:firewall? 802.11q. (Score:2)
Re:firewall? 802.11q. (Score:2)
Re:firewall? 802.11q. (Score:2)
Re:firewall? duh? (Score:2)
Re:firewall? duh? (Score:2)
Re:firewall? duh? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:firewall? duh? (Score:2)
easy solution ! (Score:2)
Hardhack? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Hardhack? (Score:2)
Re:Hardhack? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Hardhack? (Score:2)
A few more (less legal) appliactions come to mind (Score:5, Insightful)
All you need now is a UPS uniform and a target.
That's really cool, but (Score:2)
That's right, a Linux computer in a USB drive (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:That's right, a Linux computer in a USB drive (Score:3, Informative)
Re:That's right, a Linux computer in a USB drive (Score:2)
Or a router with USB, hell, a television set with USB. You could probably also use the USB port just to power the device. So then you would have a mini PC with a network interface.
Re:That's right, a Linux computer in a USB drive (Score:2)
Just what is the Linux world? Are you referring to Linux developers? Users? Supporters?
This is just a company making a product that just happens to run Linux. Stupid troll.
Full Circle? (Score:2)
nice office ! (Score:2)
I'd like to be able to see a mountain like that when looking at the window.
How much though. (Score:2)
A Linux Computer on a bootable USB disk? (Score:2)
So the questions i have are this:
Do most modern BIOS support USB booting?
Is it possible to fit one on a key that size?
Which Linux should i install?
Re:A Linux Computer on a bootable USB disk? (Score:5, Interesting)
Appears as a drive to the system and launches a full-screen window displaying its own X server's screen buffer when plugged in (to a Windows, BSD, or Linux box).
Has enough power storage in a capacitor to automatically save state when suddenly unplugged - so you can just pull it out, take it somewhere else, plug it into another box (perhaps with a different underlying op system), and pick up right where you left off (cursor position, keystroke, and all).
Was intended to be licensed to manufacturers and to sell for $100 for kids to carry between school, library, and home. I think they eventually got a model to market for $125 with a flash drive.
Don't recall the name right now (a somewhat simian word) but there have been a number of stories about it on Slashdot.
The one in THIS article isn't it. Doesn't seem to have any mass storage onboard.
Re:A Linux Computer on a bootable USB disk? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:A Linux Computer on a bootable USB disk? (Score:2)
Another option is to use something like Knoppix with the union mount stuff, so you boot from the Knoppix DVD and then just store the deltas on the USB drive, although this will save less state between migrations.
Re:A Linux Computer on a bootable USB disk? (Score:2)
absolutely (Score:2)
It's pretty sweet.
Re:A Linux Computer on a bootable USB disk? (Score:2)
You can carry the USB drive around with you, and plug it into a specially prepared computer, and you have linux. (See screenshots, below) For starters, you get Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.4, Opera and Flock for web browsers. Details are in the Getting Started Guide. [geocities.com]
The files you need for the computer are here. [rapidweather.com]
There is a Readme packaged in the tarball.
Also, you will need a copy of the CD, obtainable here. [rapidweather.com]
Rapidweather
Something like this would truly ROCK in: (Score:2)