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Re: cheapest platform yet?



You can start doing that yourself: The technology that put linux-lp on a
diskette is in the PD and I am dealing PRECISELY with microcontroller apps
using Linux now. Basically if you use a flash floppy (1.44MB) then you can
already run Linux on any 386++ single board controller (NOT a crippled
version). The only restriction seems to be 8MB of ram or more for
off-the-shelf kernels (or nearly so). The hardware cost is hilarious. You
can have something super with less money than buying an off-the-shelf 8031
or 68HC11 system. The only problem remains the power consumption as 386
relatives love to drain amps (even the so-called 'low power' versions).

The smallest Linux system I got going is a 386sx board with 8MB ram and
AMI BIOS with a multi-IO card ($10), a floppy drive ($25) and a mono card
(optional, for setup). You can 'fly by wire' via serial port or PLIP. The
joysick ports on the IO card are used as low-cost analog inputs. Works
perfectly :) Gives 4 channel 8-bit A/D (nearly 8 bit), 8 digital outputs
(parallel data bus), 4 digital I/O ports (parallel again), and one RS232
(two if no controller is used). Power drain (40 MHz 386dx) is about 3 Amps
at 5Vdc. The floppy runs on 5V only and a low power dc/dc converter
supplies the +/-12V rails required by the RS232 ports. Cool. I'll never
use an 8031 again.

regards, Peter

On Mon, 30 Jun 1997, Ira Abramov wrote:

> 
> nope, not a gift 486, nor a used old 386... Linux can run on a 64bit MIPS
> CPU, but only 4 megs of RAM on... a Nintendo PlayStation :-)))
> 
> http://www.heise.de/ix/artikel/E/1997/04/036/
> 
> (Thanks to Dan Peri that forwarded me this URL)
> 
> Navio's job is to port Netscape's navigation technologies to all kinds of
> weird plaforms, but it seems like Nintendo's 64bit box is too powerfull
> for a crippled version, SCO wouldn't take it, and so the coolest port
> yet for Linux was made... I hope this helps linux gain the interest of
> some companies as an embeded system... the next fuel injection system in
> your car may run on Linux :-)
> 
> btw, guys, I'm going to the San Jose LUG meeting this Wednesday, I'll tell
> you all about it when I get back (if you really want me to...)
> 
> 
>  ------------------------------------------------------
>  Ira Abramov                         <ira@interHDL.com>
>  Webmaster @ interHDL Inc. - The HDL Technology Company
>  Tel: (415) 428-4200           4984 El Camino Real #210
>  Fax: (415) 428-4201           Los Altos CA, 94022-1433
> 
> 
> 

Peter Lorand Peres
------------------
plp@actcom.co.il
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/plp


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