Development [LWN.net]

The Gumstix Overo - a miniature X Window System platform

By Forrest Cook
November 12, 2008

Attendees at this year's Kernel Summit were treated to an early prototype version of the Gumstix Overo miniature Linux-powered cpu board on top of the Overo Buddy motherboard. The system packs all of the functions of a desktop computer onto a platform that is slightly larger than a credit card.

The Specifications for the Overo processor board include:

A 600 MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 3503 processor.
256 MB of DDR RAM.
256 MB of NAND Flash RAM.
A microSD adapter slot with a 2.0 GB memory stick.
WiFi and Bluetooth ports.
A USB 2.0 port.
Stereo Audio input and output ports.
A port for driving a graphical LCD panel.
An assortment of Analog and Digital I/O ports.

The Overo Buddy motherboard adds even more functionality including a digital video (DVI) controller and two more USB ports.

Upon receiving the Overo Buddy board, the only way to establish a connection was via an emulated serial connection over one of the USB ports using the provided USB cable, as explained here. This worked as advertised, it was possible to watch the system boot up and then log into a root shell. At this point, your author decided to try the installation of the latest software on the removable microSD memory. As directed by the instructions, the software image was downloaded and installed on the memory using another machine and the provided microSD adapter card. Again, this proceeded without any problems and the machine booted with the new image.

Running the full X environment required purchasing a USB hub, a USB keyboard and mouse, an assortment of USB cables and a Mini DVI to DVI adapter for the monitor connection. The Mini DVI adapter was a bit wide, and the strain relief around the Overo Buddy's power supply connector had to be clipped off to allow the two connectors to be plugged in at the same time.

Getting the USB cabling right was a bit of a challenge. On the first attempt, the DVI monitor showed an X login window, but the keyboard and mouse were not active. Digging through the documentation revealed the source of the problem. The OTG USB port needed a type A cable and your author was using a type B cable. The Wikipedia USB documentation was consulted, and your author used a special surface mount soldering iron to create a tiny solder jumper between pins 4 and 5 of the Overo Buddy's micro-USB jack, simulating the correct cable. Upon booting, the keyboard and mouse came to life.

When logging into the Overo's X Window System, one is presented with the simple but effective Enlightenment window manager. Applications include the typical collection of an X terminal, a file manager, a text editor (gpe_edit) the Midori web browser, a mail client, an instant messenger client, and a selection of four games. Also included are the AbiWord word processor, the Gnumeric spread sheet and basic audio record and play utilities. A large collection of GUI-based admin tools and window system configuration tools are available. Both ssh and scp are also installed on the system, so secure network connections are possible. Unfortunately, both the audio recorder and player froze up during basic tests, and their windows did not go away until the system was rebooted, this appears to be some kind of audio hardware issue.

The next step to having a functioning system would be to have some kind of networking. The Overo processor has built-in 802.11 wireless networking and Bluetooth, but neither of those systems functioned. That is a known issue with some of the early-run prototype boards. One still has the option of adding USB WiFi and Ethernet boards to the Overo, several devices are supported natively. Once networking can be established, it should be possible to use the network-based applications, transfer user data add more application packages.

Having so much functionality in something as tiny as the Overo Buddy board seems like an amazing technological feat. Gumstix has truly achieved a new milestone in the miniaturization of Linux systems. Production versions of this system are scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2008.

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