Embedded Linux Newsletter

      WELCOME TO LINUXDEVICES.COM'S EMBEDDED LINUX NEWSLETTER 
                         September 26, 2002
                by Rick Lehrbaum -- Executive Editor

                       (online html version)
     http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/sep26-02.html


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_____________________ * * * TOP STORIES * * * ____________________


UCLINUX: WORLD'S MOST POPULAR EMBEDDED LINUX DISTRO?
This guest column by John Drabik reviews the purpose, history,
current status, accomplishments, and future plans of uClinux, a
Linux variant that has been optimized for embedded systems and
devices having tightly constrained processor and memory resources.
The article puts forward the notion that uClinux may well represent
the world's first, most mature, and most commercially successful
Embedded Linux distribution, and includes a photo gallery of some
cool gadgets with uClinux inside, as well as a list of key resources
for further uClinux info.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT3267251481.html


BUILDING A LINUX MINICLUSTER USING COMMODITY COMPONENTS
The Embedded Reasoning Institute of the Sandia National Laboratories
recently constructed a 4-node Linux cluster based on commodity
PC/104 modules and other related components. The system was designed
for use in parallel programming tutorials, demonstrations, and
displays, and was showcased at the Supercomputing 2001 Conference
and at the Embedded Systems Conference 2002. This article by two key
members of the project team describes the overall project and
provides information on how the system was constructed.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2143783710.html


EMBEDDED LINUX ENABLES '1ST INTERNET-CONNECTED GPS RECEIVER'
Thales Navigation unveiled "the industry's first direct
Internet-connected GPS receiver."  The Internet-enabled Continuous
Geodetic Reference Station (iCGRS) contains an embedded PC running
Linux.  Story includes photos of the device, which is marketed under
the Ashtec brand.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7381039148.html


USING FLASH MEMORY WITH UCLINUX
This whitepaper by Greg Ungerer provides a discussion of theory and
methods for building uClinux systems that boot, run, and operate
using Flash memory. The paper begins with a brief introduction to
Flash memory technology, followed by a discussion of the different
ways uClinux system components can be laid out in Flash. After that,
there is a description of the process of kernel driver configuration
and setup, as well as information regarding root filesystem choices.
The paper wraps up with a real life example that should crystallize
some of the finer details.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT6850006074.html


INTRODUCING YAFFS, THE FIRST NAND-SPECIFIC FLASH FILE SYSTEM
In this technical article, the originator of YAFFS introduces the
open source YAFFS flash file system, which he describes as "the only
file system, under any operating system, that has been designed
specifically for use with NAND flash". Flash memory chips are
commonly used in embedded systems and devices in place of much
larger and more fragile hard drives, but they require special
software, called a flash file system. YAFFS is designed to be used
with low-cost NAND chips that are soldered onto a circuit board
within the device or contained on SmartMedia cards, which are
popular for storage memory expansion in PDAs and other mobile
devices.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT9680239525.html


OTHER NOTEWORTHY NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE PAST WEEK . . .

*  RTAI project announces 'huge' release
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5195716278.html

*  Fourth Real-Time Linux Workshop is announced
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6275873783.html

*  'Fast-start' ARM-based uCLinux training coming to Toronto
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7354938983.html

*  'Real' embedded Linux and embedded GNU training announced
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7608595262.html

*  Broadcom dual-MIPS multiprocessor chip gains Linux support
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS1996013131.html

*  New Mot CompactPCI packet processor boasts Linux support
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7777859491.html

*  Apple open-sources device discovery/connection technology
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6995561803.html

*  First DIMM form-factor XScale-based embedded SBC
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8021775204.html

*  J2ME Personal Profile spec approved by Java Community Process
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7246957353.html

*  Multidimensional data clustering for Linux, UNIX, and Windows
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6273968412.html

*  AMD Developer Symposium underscores growing Linux role
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3301593521.html

*  Tool helps port C/C++ apps from Solaris to Linux
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8037442360.html


______ * * * FREQUENTLY UPDATED QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES * * * _____

*  EMBEDDED LINUX INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW ("start here")
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT9888936014.html

*  EMBEDDED LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2760742655.html

*  REAL-TIME LINUX
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8073314981.html

*  EMBEDDED LINUX GUI/WINDOWING SOFTWARE
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT9202043619.html

*  JAVA TECHNOLOGIES FOR EMBEDDED LINUX SYSTEMS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8918758707.html

*  LINUX-FRIENDLY SYSTEM-ON-CHIP PROCESSORS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT4313418436.html

*  LINUX-FRIENDLY EMBEDDED SINGLE BOARD COMPUTERS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2614444132.html

*  LITTLE LINUX SYSTEMS FOR PROJECTS & PRODUCTS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2016997232.html

*  EMBEDDED LINUX "COOL DEVICES"
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT4936596231.html

*  LINUX-BASED PDAs
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8728350077.html

*  EMBEDDED LINUX MARKET
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT5991623822.html


____________________* * * BACK ISSUES * * * ____________________

Missed a previous LinuxDevices.com Embedded Linux Newsletter?
No problem!  Here are back issues for the past month . . . 

  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/sep19-02.html
  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/sep12-02.html
  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/sep05-02.html
  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/aug29-02.html
  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/aug22-02.html


______________ * * * VISIT LINUXDEVICES.COM * * * _______________

Be sure to stop by LinuxDevices.com (http://www.linuxdevices.com)
-- "the Embedded Linux Portal" -- for the latest news, articles,
forums, companies, products, jobs, and buzz in the fast-moving 
"post-PC" world of Linux-based intelligent devices, Internet 
appliances, and embedded systems.


_________ * * * QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS? * * * _________

     You can reach Rick Lehrbaum at:  rick@linuxdevices.com
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