ARCOM UNVEILS LATEST EMBEDDED LINUX DEVELOPMENT KIT

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ARCOM UNVEILS LATEST EMBEDDED LINUX DEVELOPMENT KIT
02 August 2001 - Arcom

Arcom announced the latest Development Kit for Embedded Linux, including the operating system and all necessary drivers, offering engineers a simple, fully functional ready to run Development Kit.

The new SBC-GX1 Development Kit saves time and money by eliminating the need for the embedded systems developer to create their own flavor of Embedded Linux and purchase drivers from a third-party supplier. It includes a pre-defined build of Linux based on the Red Hat distribution that has been optimized for use on Arcom hardware and is pre-loaded and configured into the embedded flash.

Up to now, Embedded Linux development has required the user to obtain the operating system and drivers from a standard distribution or third party vendor. Paring down a standard distribution by eliminating unneeded modules while maintaining a working configuration can involve a considerable amount of time and effort.

The Arcom kit, on the other hand, contains a complete set of components to enable the rapid development of Embedded Linux based applications. It also includes the software drivers, cables and documentation to support all on-board features of Arcom's SBC-GX1. The Development Kit CD includes a utility offering several installation options along with copies of the technical manual, Quickstart tutorial guide, sample code and complete product information.

Arcom Embedded Linux (AEL 2.01) is a compact, highly reliable implementation of Linux for use in embedded control and communication products. The implementation is based on a proven 2.4.4 kernel distribution that offers a standardized file-system hierarchy, shell and text utilities combined with a rugged compressed journaling flash filing system (JFFS2) to achieve maximum system integrity for truly embedded applications. Embedded Linux drivers are included for the graphics controller, serial ports, parallel port, PS/2 keyboard adaptor, PS/2 mouse, watchdog timer, audio, 10/100 BaseTx Ethernet controller, Compact Flash and IDE drive. An embedded Web server supports both static and, via CGI, dynamic HTML pages. The kit also includes an X Window system for running and displaying X applications on the local or remote display. This complete set of functionality has been optimized into an image which provides for an equivalent user application space of approximately 12MBytes.

The kit includes an Arcom SBC-GX1 processor board that is based on the Pentium performance National Semiconductor Geode GX1 300MHz processor. The board has 64MB DRAM and 16MB Flash EPROM. It can be expanded to up to 256MB DRAM, giving the embedded systems designer plenty of headroom. A 5V power supply module includes adaptors for US, UK and European sockets. Peripherals include Compact Flash socket, 4 high speed serial ports, parallel port, keyboard adaptor, PCI slot, PS/2 mouse, watchdog timer, on-board 10/100 BaseTx Ethernet controller and IDE drive controller. An optional 6.5' color LCD is available.

http://www.arcom.com

About: Arcom
Founded in Cambridge in 1982, Arcom has grown to become one of the leading suppliers of embedded computer and communications processors.

Arcom's embedded software development and support capabilities are second-to-none in the industry. Our engineering and support teams in Kansas City (US) and Cambridge (UK) have an enormous depth of experience and knowledge in the field of embedded operating systems, communications protocols, and system design. We pride ourselves on being able to provide comprehensive development tools and excellent support to our OEM customers as they bring their products to the market.

Development Kits - we lead the embedded market with our strategy for new product introduction based on the 'blue-box' development kits. By combining new hardware solutions with the leading embedded operating systems we offer our customers a complete and rapid application development environment.

Embedded Boards - our range of embedded processor boards (x86 and XScale), PC/104 I/O modules, ISAbus and PCI add-on cards are all designed and manufactured by Arcom. This gives our customers fast and easy access to the highest level of technical support. All products are supported by a clearly defined life cycle and a commitment for long term availability.

PCs & Enclosures - we also recognize that customers need products to ease the integration of our embedded boards. Arcom's design team includes mechanical engineers who have developed a number of off the shelf enclosure solutions for stand alone and rack mounted systems.

Industrial Networking - since 1992, we have been actively involved in the integration and deployment of data acquisitions systems for the process control markets. Working with our key technology partners we now offer products and expertise to provide guaranteed data delivery from your field devices straight into your enterprise level applications.

Design & Build - we understand the drive to cost reduce products for high volume applications and to combine this with a 'complete technical solution'. We accept contracts to produce custom solutions which focus on the design of dedicated hardware, developing optimized operating system configurations or complete packaged system solutions.

Through a focused approach to innovative design backed by comprehensive development platforms, global marketing and low cost manufacturing, Arcom pursues an aggressive expansion of its customer base in North America, UK and France.

Arcom is a subsidiary of Spectris plc, the precision instrumentation and controls company.

Our business processes are accredited to the international QA standard ISO 9001 and our products hold all relevant certification.

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