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Entry level VIPER / VIPER-Lite Development Kit for embedded Linux

Entry level VIPER / VIPER-Lite Development Kit for embedded Linux - a cost effective, ready-to-run platform for your PXA255 XScale application development.

This Development Kit offers four unbeatable value propositions:

  • Embedded Linux is already installed, you just 
    download your application
  • It saves months of engineering development effort
  • It provides all the hardware, and free support at an 
    amazingly low price 
  • You have a production-ready platform for rapid OEM 
    product integration

Development Kit for embedded Linux for PXA255 XScale application development

 

The Entry Level VIPER / VIPER-Lite Development Kit for embedded Linux features a compact implementation of the GNU/Linux operating system based on the 2.6 Linux kernel release. This has been optimised for use on Arcom hardware platforms and is pre-loaded and configured into the embedded Flash. This offers an embedded version of Linux with a proven background, combined with a high reliability Journaling Flash File system.

The Development Kit offers you an incredible range of features to enable you to create low power solutions for wired/wireless information terminals, instrumentation controllers, data acquisition systems and communication products. It is also useful as an aid for learning about RISC hardware, Linux technology and embedded systems programming. The Development Kit is available with two board options, the fully populated 400MHz VIPER PC/104 single board computer fitted with 64Mbytes of DRAM, 32Mbytes of Intel P30 StrataFlash, 5 serial ports, USB host controller, audio codec and PC/104 expansion or, the 200MHz VIPER-Lite fitted with 64Mbytes of DRAM, 16Mbytes of Intel P30 StrataFlash and 3 serial ports. The Development Kit includes the VIPER-I/O interface board and a converter module (VIPER FPIF-CRT) to drive an analogue VGA display as well as cables, connectors, power supply, software and a comprehensive information CD.

Arcom recognises that Linux is used extensively in deeply embedded solutions and that secure communications is an important part of any application involved in control and monitoring functions. Arcom uses OpenSSH to encrypt all traffic (including passwords) to effectively eliminate eavesdropping and other network-level attacks.


Technical Documentation: Arcom provides on-line access to detailed technical documentation to help you select the best product for your application. Click here to download the manual for the VIPER / VIPER-Lite Entry Level Development Kit for Embedded Linux and related products.

Design Services
If you need to optimise the operating system image, Arcom offers the technical expertise of a dedicated embedded Linux development team to work with you, either to enhance the features of the operating system or reduce the footprint to save storage space. Arcom has been offering OEM embedded Linux solutions since 1999 and has worked with many customers to develop and integrate new drivers and achieve the very best from embedded Linux and embedded Java technology.

Features
2.6 based Linux kernel release, GNU C library
Compressed Journalling Flash File System (JFFS2) offering high reliability and recovery from power interruptions
Secure Shell (OpenSSH) providing the choice of several encryption technologies between the VIPER / VIPER-Lite and other systems
Support for IEEE 802.11b Wi-Fi CompactFlash cards (infrastructure mode with 128bit WEP)
Support for USB devices (for standard VIPER only)
Embedded Web server supporting both static and, via CGI, dynamic HTML pages
System installation, recovery and update facility
 
Supplied Hardware
Arcom's VIPER 400MHz PXA255 XScale based PC/104 single board computer fitted with 64MB DRAM and 32MB Flash memory or,
Arcom's VIPER-Lite 200MHz PXA255 XScale based PC/104 single board computer fitted with 64MB DRAM and 16MB Flash memory
VIPER-I/O, a multi purpose opto-isolated digital I/O and prototyping module
VIPER FPIF-CRT, a converter module to drive a standard analogue VGA monitor
5V AC power supply module with power cords for UK, US and European power sockets
Ethernet cable and cross-over adapter
Ethernet adapter board with standard RJ45 connector
RS-232 serial port cable and Null-modem adapter
Reset switch and cable assembly
GPIO cable
 
Development Kit CD/DVD
Complete Fedora Core 5 DVD for host system installation
Development Kit CD with drivers, source code and example application
"Quickstart" tutorial guide
Board H/W Technical Manual
Complete product information for all major devices onboard
More information


View the Manual

3 Year Limited Warranty

Companion book from O’Reilly

More about OpenSSH

More about X Windows

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What is Arcom embedded Linux?

Arcom embedded Linux offers a compact, high reliability implementation of Linux for use in embedded control and communication products. The implementation is based on a proven well supported distribution offering standard file hierarchy, shell and text utilities, but is then combined with a rugged Journalling Flash File System to achieve maximum system integrity for truly embedded applications. It has been optimized for Arcom hardware and is supported directly by Arcom.

Key Features: Key Benefits:
Proven 2.6 based Linux kernel release Zero license cost
Compressed Journalling Flash File System (JFFS2) giving 40 - 50MB onboard Flash disk space approx. (based on 32MB Flash configuration) or, 30MB onboard Flash disk space (based on 16MB Flash configuration). High integrity Linux solutions
ssh for secure telnet connection Rapid application development
sftp for secure file transfer Fixed configuration for OEM machine control/communications
X Windows System (www.x.org) - uses X11R7 with a subset of packages for running the majority of X applications on the local or remote display Comprehensive communications support
HTTP server Scalable build
PPP support  
Embedded Linux source code supplied  
Device Drivers
Arcom's embedded Linux Development Kit contains drivers for the following peripherals:
400MHz VIPER 200MHz VIPER-Lite
Onboard Flash memory (JFFS2) Onboard Flash memory (JFFS2)
Onboard 10/100baseTx Ethernet controller Onboard 10/100baseTx Ethernet controller
5 x RS232/RS422 serial ports 3 x RS232 serial ports
Hot swap CompactFlash slot
- IEEE 802.11b Wi-Fi support for Intersil PRISM based cards
- 128bit WEP encryption
Hot swap CompactFlash slot
- IEEE 802.11b Wi-Fi support for Intersil PRISM based cards
- 128bit WEP encryption
USB host controller
- Support for keyboard, mouse and USB storage devices
Not available
Display controller for 320x240 and 640x480 flat panel displays Display controller for 320x240 and 640x480 flat panel displays
General purpose input and output (GPIO) access General purpose input and output (GPIO) access
Audio output Not available
PC/104 bus access Not available
256Kbytes non-volatile SRAM drive Not available
 
“Programming Embedded Systems” from O’Reilly
The Entry Level Embedded Linux Development Kit is used as supporting material for the second edition of the popular Programming Embedded Systems by Michael Barr and Anthony Massa.

The techniques and code examples presented in the book are directly applicable to real-world embedded software projects of all sorts. Examples use the free GNU software programming tools, the eCos and Linux operating systems, and the VIPER-Lite Development Kit - a low-cost Development Kit specially developed for this book. If you obtain the Development Kit along with Programming Embedded Systems, Second Edition, you'll have a full environment for exploring embedded systems in depth.

Click here to find out more.

License Issues

Arcom Embedded Linux draws upon software from a variety of sources, including software licensed under the GPL, LGPL, MIT, X11 and BSDFree and Open Source licenses. Arcom makes the source to all such software available on the Development Kit CD and where appropriate have been submitted back to the upstream development team.

Support Issues
All support issues relating to the VIPER single board computer and embedded Linux should be directed to Arcom Technical Support.
Any support issues relating to content of Programming Embedded Systems should be directed to the support web site detailed in the book.
Ordering Information
200MHz PXA255 VIPER-Lite Entry Level Embedded Linux Development Kit
400MHz PXA255 VIPER Entry Level Embedded Linux Development Kit

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