Marvell's SheevaPlug Linux PC (really small)

Post by **Pieterpaul** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:15 pm

Marvell Semiconductor is shipping a hardware/software development kit suitable for always-on home automation devices and service gateways. Resembling a "wall-wart" power adapter, the SheevaPlug draws 5 Watts, comes with Linux, and boasts completely open hardware and software designs, Marvell says.

In typical use, the SheevaPlug draws about as much power as a night-light. Yet, with 512MB each of RAM and Flash, and a 1.2GHz CPU, the unobtrusive device approaches the computing power found in the servers of only a decade ago.

Furthermore, the platform is available in single quantities, and is priced within reach of students, hobbyists, and tinkerers. Its hardware design is completely open -- everything from schematics to Gerber files will be available on a website, Marvell said. For those that do wish to build products on the platform, volume pricing could fall to $50, Marvell expects.

On the software side, the company says ARM ports of several popular Linux distributions are already running, and included. More importantly, Marvell has committed to do everything it can to ensure the best Linux support for SheevaPlug going forward. Raja Mukhopadhyay, product marketing manager, commented, "Whatever the community needs to facilitate development, we will provide the critical resources needed to facilitate that."

Mukhopadhyay calls the SheevaPlug an "ideal platform for in-home service delivery," and adds that he is looking forward to seeing what kinds of products and services are built on top of the device. He said, "We believe that for the consumer and the service provider in the home, it's the right time for some disruptive application delivery. We believe that having a completely open hardware platform will be key in letting people productize it however they want."

http://linuxdevices.com/News/NS9634061300.html
http://tweakers.net/nieuws/58647/marvel ... puter.html

Post by **Pieterpaul** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:38 pm

Ideal for a HA server?

Post by **Niknik** » Wed May 13, 2009 2:58 pm

Sorry if someone already posted this one before (I haven't been able to be around much lately.)

Have a look at this "mini-computer".

http://www.globalscaletechnologies.com/ ... v-kit.aspx

Fits perfectly into a power socket, has a 1.2Ghz Cpu, 512MB Ram + 512 Flash, USB 2.0, Gigabit ethernet. Uses just 19W.

And best of all, costs only $99.

Might be good for some projects.

Post by **Lempens** » Wed May 13, 2009 3:16 pm

Looks nice, only the webpage has some troubles.
Is it posible to run Windows XP on it. Or does it only run services ?

Post by **Niknik** » Wed May 13, 2009 3:20 pm

Don't think it will run standard XP (thought it might be possible to have XP Embedded running on it.)

It's mostly geared towards the developer/linux users.

It would make for a nice "home automation" daemon always running and providing a web interface (among running other services as well.)

Post by **mo046** » Wed May 13, 2009 3:23 pm

Niknik,

it was already posted here http://www.domoticaforum.eu/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2292 and here http://www.domoticaforum.eu/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2291

It appears that it it for sale now, so it might be interesting for some of us who use domotics under Linux (eg. Domotiga). That might be a great an very cheap replacement for the Xanura HCB!

** Maurice **

Post by **Niknik** » Wed May 13, 2009 3:37 pm

Yes... I was almost sure someone would have talked about it before.

Post by **Willem4ever** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:59 am

Anyone has played with it ??

Post by **Bwired** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 9:02 am

Merged all topics

<hr noshade size="1"><font size="1">Pieter Knuvers
http://www.bwired.nl <i>Online House in the netherlands. Domotica, Home Automation.</i></font id="size1">