Linux

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on The RISC-V Platform Specification aims to ensure RISC-V hardware and software compatibility

The RISC-V Platform Specification aims to ensure RISC-V hardware and software compatibility

RISC-V platform specification

The RISC-V platform specification aims to define a set of rules to make sure operating systems like Linux or the Zephyr Project can boot properly on all RISC-V hardware compliant with the specs. If you’ve ever worked with the Arm Linux kernel over ten years ago, you may remember board files, which were replaced by device tree bindings, and eventually, Arm defined several standards culminating with Arm SystemReady certifications allowing compliant Arm platforms to boot off-the-shelf OS images like in the x86 world. While we are probably a long way from a “RISC-V SystemReady” platform certification program, the RISC-V platform specification is currently being worked on to define requirements for two types of platforms with optional extensions: OS-A Platform: This specifies a rich-OS platform for Linux/FreeBSD/Windows…​flavors that run on enterprise and embedded class application processors. Current extension: Server Extension M Platform – This specifies an RTOS platform for bare-metal applications […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments on Intel Core i5-1135G7 Tiger Lake mini PC with 12GB RAM sells for $700 and up

Intel Core i5-1135G7 Tiger Lake mini PC with 12GB RAM sells for $700 and up

MINISFORUM TL50

Minisforum TL50 is a mini PC based on Intel Core i5-1135G7 Tiger Lake quad-core/octa-thread processor that ships with 12GB RAM, and optional 256GB and 512GB SSD preloaded with Windows 10 Pro. The mini PC also features two 2.5 Gbps Gigabit Ethernet ports, two 2.5-inch SATA drives, one M.2 slot for NVMe SSD,  and supports 8K and 4K monitor setups through HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C video outputs. It was announced a few months ago, but it’s now available for sale for $699.99 and more on Banggood depending on storage options. MINISFORUM TL50 specifications: SoC – Intel Core i5-1135G7 4 cores/8 threads Tiger Lake processor @ 2.4 GHz / 4.20 GHz (Turbo) with 8MB cache, 80 EU Intel Iris Xe Graphics @  up to 1.30GHz; TDP: 12 to 28W System Memory – 12GB LPDDR4 soldered on board Storage M.2 2280 socket for NVMe PCIe SSD optionally fitted with a 256GB or 512GB […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on Congatec COM-HPC & COM Express Xeon modules target high-end IoT gateways, medical edge applications

Congatec COM-HPC & COM Express Xeon modules target high-end IoT gateways, medical edge applications

Tiger Lake-H COM-HPC & COM Express CPU modules

Yesterday, we wrote about ADLink Express-TL COM Express Basic Size Type 6 module powered by the latest Intel Tiger Lake-H Xeon, Core, and Celeron processors designed for high-end industrial & embedded systems. But as one would expect more such modules are coming to market, and Congatec announced both COM-HPC and COM Express CPU modules based on Intel Tiger Lake-H processors with target applications include high-end IoT gateways and medical edge applications. Let’s check out both conga-HPC/cTLH COM-HPC Client Size B modules (120mm x 120mm), as well as the conga-TS570 COM Express Basic Type 6 modules (125mm x 95mm). conga-HPC/cTLH COM-HPC module Key features and specifications: SoC – Choice of ten Intel Xeon, Core i3/i5i/7, or Celeron 6600HE processors with Intel Xe Gen12 graphics part of Tiger Lake-H family System Memory – Up to 4 SO-DIMM sockets for DDR4 ECC memory modules up to 32 GB each (128 GB total) with […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments on $23 N6110E NVR supports AI features, 10TB SATA drive, up to 10 video channels

$23 N6110E NVR supports AI features, 10TB SATA drive, up to 10 video channels

N6110E SigmaStar SSR621Q network video recorder

Network video recorders (NRV) typically cost a couple of hundred dollars, but in the past, we noted a low-cost, entry-level NVR with a single Ethernet port may sell for under $50. But now, I’ve been made aware that $20 Linux-based NVR’s had shown up on Aliexpress either based on XM8536D processor, or SigmaStar SSR621Q dual-core Cortex-A7 processor.  I’ll look at the N6110E model with the latter that sells for $22.99 plus shipping as it includes an enclosure and is said to support up to 10 channels, as well as AI features such as face & human body detection, “auto tracking” (vehicle tracking?), and mixed-traffic detection. N6110E NVR specifications: SoC – SigmaStar SSR621Q processor/DSP with two Cortex-A7 cores, 256MB DDR3 RAM according to linux-chenxing Video decoding – H.265 , H.264 up to 1x 8MP @ 30 fps, 1x 5MP @ 30 fps, 2x 4MP @ 30fps, 4x 3MP @ 20 fps, […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments on Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 mini router keeps cool with aluminum alloy cover

Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 mini router keeps cool with aluminum alloy cover

Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 mini router

There are many hardware platforms based on Raspberry Pi CM4 system-on-module, but in most instances, only the baseboard is provided, and you have to handle mounting and/or make an enclosure by yourself. One of those boards was Seeed Studio’s “Dual Gigabit Ethernet Carrier Board for Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4”, which as the name implies, offers two Gigabit Ethernet ports, as well as two USB 3.0 ports, and a micro HDMI port for video output. I say “was” because the company has now designed a PC/ABS case with an aluminum alloy cover acting as a heatsink to keep the RPi CM4 module cool. Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 mini router’s specifications: SoM – Raspberry Pi CM4 with up to 8GB RAM, 32GB eMMC flash, dual-band WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 module; replaceable by any Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 Storage – MicroSD card slot (only accessible with RPi CM4Lite module) […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 15 Comments on Jupiter Nano – Tiny Cortex-A5 board runs Linux or NuttX RTOS (Crowdfunding)

Jupiter Nano – Tiny Cortex-A5 board runs Linux or NuttX RTOS (Crowdfunding)

Jupiter Nano

Jupiter Nano looks like one of those small MCU boards, but instead of a microcontroller, it packs a 500 MHz Microchip SAMA5 Cortex-A5 processor with 128MB RAM capable of running Linux or NuttX operating systems. The board reminds me of the Adafruit Feather compatible Giant Board made by Groboards, with the same system-in-package, but Juniper Nano offers more I/Os via 48 through holes, and its size is said to be similar to Teensy 4.1 board (but not quite). Jupiter Nano specifications: SiP – Microchip SAMA5D27C-LD1G with Cortex-A5 processor running at 498 MHz, 128MB LPDDR2 DRAM Storage – MicroSD card socket (bootable) USB – 1x Micro USB 2.0 host/device port, 1x USB 2.0 host on header Expansion – 2x 24-pin headers with GPIOs, USB, SPI, I2C, up to 4x Flexcom interfaces configurable as SPI, UART or I2C Programming – JTAG port, Micro USB 2.0 FS debug console via MCP2200 USB-UART converter […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments on 25-45W Intel Tiger Lake-H Xeon, Core, and Celeron embedded processors coming soon

25-45W Intel Tiger Lake-H Xeon, Core, and Celeron embedded processors coming soon

Intel Tiger Lake-H module block diagram

While doing some research, I noticed an Intel Core i7-11850HE “Tiger Lake-H” processor on the OpenVino Toolkit website. Parts that end with “E” are usually processors designed for the embedded market. I had never heard about the Tiger Lake-H embedded family, so I looked for “i7-11850HE” processor, and it’s not in Intel Ark, or much anywhere else except on a page in Google Cache, about a COM-HPC module “with the 11th Gen Intel® Xeon® W-11000E Series, Core™ vPro® and Celeron® processors (formerly Tiger Lake-H) for FuSa application”. There we have a list of Xeon, Core, and Celeron 11th generation processors that I don’t think have ever been announced: Intel Celeron 6600HE dual-core processor @ 2.6GHz with 8MB L3 Cache, 35W TDP Intel Core i3-11100HE processor with 4 cores / 8 threads @ 2.4GHz (up to 4.4GHz in Turbo Boost) with 8MB L3 Cache, 45/35W cTDP Intel Core vPRO i5-11500HE processor […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments on Upcoming events about RISC-V, RT-Thread IoT OS, and Embedded Linux

Upcoming events about RISC-V, RT-Thread IoT OS, and Embedded Linux

Embedded Linux Conference 2021

Three events about open/open-source technologies have been recently announced with namely the RT-Thread IoT OS Tech Conference, the jointly organized Open Source Summit and Embedded Linux Conference 2021, and the 2021 RISC-V Summit. Let’s have a quick look at what each will have to offer with the list in chronological order. RT-Thread IoT OS Global Tech Conference 2021 The first-ever RT-Thread IoT OS Global Tech Conference will take place online on September 16–17,2021, be free to attend, and feature talks about embedded technologies, new projects showcase, community contributors track mostly related to RT-Thread open-source real-time operating system, but also IoT development in general. The agenda has not been published just yet, as the call for speakers is still open until August 8th. People just wanting to attend can register through a Google Docs form. Somehow there’s no landing page on the main page, and instead, they’ve decided to publish information […]