Reference Implementation

On the issue of distributions, why not start with iMedia WRAP Linux distribution

I'm also happy that all the components have open source (and Linux) support.

Neil Cherry wrote on Jun 30, 2008 00:29:
The web address IguanaIR.net doesn't work but URL IguanaWorks does. If this is our reference design then the question of PODs is simplified. It must be 802.11g (or Ethernet) as the board has no further expandability to support anything other than USB (and there is a bandwidth limit as to how far you can go with USB). Overall I like it, we can still use our PC to do development work but our Java developers have to stop thinking of using the GUI on the server. I can't see running remote X sessions as now you're eating up precious server resources (no swap and only 256M of ram , he he, only 256M of ram ...). What's the largest compact flash card we can get? I have a 2G at home, can we get 8G now?

I've taken the 128M flash image and expanded out to 2G. I'm now putting the Java 1.6.0_02 JRE on the machine. I have 1.6G left over after installing the GRE. I'm going to drop it into /usr/jre1.6.0_02 and create a link to /usr/jre (makes it easy to upgrade).

Anyone have a suggest for a test program to see if I've got everything working correctly?

So far I've done this:

[root@orc ~]# java HelloWorld
Hello World!

I created this code:

class HelloWorld {  
    public static void main(String args[]) {
	System.out.println("Hello World!");
    }
}

I compiled the above code on my development system (cookie.uucp) running Fedora. The machine orc (orc.uucp) is the reference design. Later I need to figure out how to cross compile the drivers on cookie and then load them on orc. I attempted to load the current cm15a driver but it wouldn't load (as expected):

cm15a: version magic '2.6.18-1.2798a_FC6 mod_unload K7 REGPARM 4KSTACKS gcc-4.1' should be '2.6.20-imedia-wrap mod_unload 586 '
cm15a: no version magic, tainting kernel.
cm15a: Unknown symbol _spin_unlock_irq
cm15a: Unknown symbol _mmx_memcpy
cm15a: Unknown symbol _spin_unlock
cm15a: Unknown symbol _spin_lock_irq
cm15a: Unknown symbol __spin_lock_init
cm15a: Unknown symbol __might_sleep
cm15a: Unknown symbol _spin_lock

This is fairly typical. Looks like I finally have to learn how to cross compile code. We're going to need a development system. I really don't want to spend $449 on theirs but it may be necessary.

Neil Cherry wrote on Jun 30, 2008 03:44:
Okay, I just ordered everything except the IR and the CM15A (I have one). The site seems a little screwed up. The 'free' Linux costs $499. Someone needs to fix that.

Thanks for covering your experience with that. Interesting. MarkS designed this thing with USB so we can daisy chain these in a box. One of the potential business models is to sell the hardware pre-configured and pre-certified. Running this out of Alabama :) There is certainly a margin to that business in the HomeTech arena, with current solutions pricing at around $4k-$40k. Mark grew Digium and Asterisk out of this model in the past.

Marc Fleury wrote on Jul 05, 2008 16:49:

Neil Cherry wrote on Jun 30, 2008 03:44:
Okay, I just ordered everything except the IR and the CM15A (I have one). The site seems a little screwed up. The 'free' Linux costs $499. Someone needs to fix that.

Thanks for covering your experience with that. Interesting. MarkS designed this thing with USB so we can daisy chain these in a box. One of the potential business models is to sell the hardware pre-configured and pre-certified. Running this out of Alabama :) There is certainly a margin to that business in the HomeTech arena, with current solutions pricing at around $4k-$40k. Mark grew Digium and Asterisk out of this model in the past.

Daisy chaining these things? I don't know that sounds a little weird, it can be done. The Nokia N770 and family have support for this. That would mean you need to have one setup as a host the other as a device. There appears to be 3 USB ports though it appears only two of them have a connector pair. A quick look at the board seems to point out one more with through holes but no connector.

I manage to get mine booted and it is working fine. The case doesn't have a cut out for the USB (you need to purchase the $ 0.75 cut out plate). I'll cut the blank I have. I didn't realize that the N connector for the antenna was so large. The WiFi card has support for two antennas.

Right now I have the 2.0G cf card setup as 128M cf so I can boot. I need to change that but I'm a little busy right now. I'll figure out how to build a CF card directly from my Linux box at a later date. I found the default image and it seems to work well

Wade Wassenberg wrote on Jul 11, 2008 18:54:
So as far as the CM15A goes on this, are you planning to take the cm15a apart and embed it directly into the appliance, or are you expecting that this thing will act as a dongle hanging off of the appliance? I haven't taken mine apart, but there's a big huge compartment on it for 4aaa batteries, so I'm guessing the internal components of it probably aren't that terribly large.

Hmm, thought I answered this (???). I must have closed the tab before finishing.

I'm not sure why you ask but the CM15A will be used in it's normal method. I don't recommend taking the CM15A apart the internal ground is hot (has the live 120V AC on it).

Neil Cherry wrote on Jul 12, 2008 03:24:

Wade Wassenberg wrote on Jul 11, 2008 18:54:
So as far as the CM15A goes on this, are you planning to take the cm15a apart and embed it directly into the appliance, or are you expecting that this thing will act as a dongle hanging off of the appliance? I haven't taken mine apart, but there's a big huge compartment on it for 4aaa batteries, so I'm guessing the internal components of it probably aren't that terribly large.

Hmm, thought I answered this (???). I must have closed the tab before finishing. I'm not sure why you ask but the CM15A will be used in it's normal method. I don't recommend taking the CM15A apart the internal ground is hot (has the live 120V AC on it).

Well, the hardware list has a Box3c (whatever that is):

1 BOX3C Enclosure, Aluminum, Fits ALIX3 series boards Mini-box.com enc-box2c $12.50 $12.50

So, whether the CM15A is encased in its original plastic, or a BOX3C, seems irrelevant to me, live 120V or no live 120V. The only difference may be aesthetics.

I think 3D2 is the replacement but I still need to compare the specs for details.

Hello Andy,

I just checked and ALIX 3C2 has been superceded by 3D2 -- this should be a workable configuration but please note I haven't had a chance to try it yet!

I'm working on getting all the hardware information updated on the website.

ALIX 3D2 changes from ALIX 3C2:

• Increase USB current limit.
• Add test points at switch pins for easier console restore.
• Populate buzzer driver circuit.
• Change J4 header to COM2.
• Add optional power in header.
• Reduce conducted EMI on DC jack.
• Add second Poscap on 3.3V rail to ruggedise for high power radios.

Based on this I'd say you're good to go.