Development Package Eases Customizing Linux Systems For Embedded Apps

Release 2 of the company's Linux development package for its line of PC/104, EBX and proprietary format PC boards is designed to ease the customization of a Linux system for embedded applications. In general, a start-up Linux system is pre-loaded into a computer board and is then connected to a Red Hat Linux desktop PC via an Ethernet connection. When power is applied for the first time, the board launches Installation Wizard on the PC, with Wizard walking the user through a series of configuration questions and then generating a set of installation scripts. It next launches an automated installation process from the desktop's CD-ROM and creates a customized Linux system that will be booted onto to PC board upon its next power up. Instructions and files are included to create a desktop Linux system if one is not available. A sample system based on a 486-based embedded PC costs $890 for the first unit. In production, headless 486 systems start at $350.