Linux for embedded devices..


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Hey guys. :) I'm about to start on a project at work making a hardware device which will be controlled via a web browser (I spose a router is the best example device :)), what distro would you guys recommend? I need it to be able to run MySQL/PHP/Apache.

Atm, the plan is to use a VIA CPU on a Pico ITX board with a 1gb CF Card for storage (I think, not 100% on the specs) running Debian. Which is crazy over kill since its probably more power than we'll ever need, since the web server is only going to be used by one user occasionally to configure the device. What kind of CPU's do Routers run? ARM? Can they run a LAMP server?

Would it make more sense to assemble our own little "distro" or whatever? I spose I wouldn't need alot packages to run LAMP, which would mean we could go for the smaller CF Card as well. :)

Anyone have any experience in this area? :)

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I have played with a little PC104 SBC with a GEODE processor. They are capable of running a full standard Linux. In your case, you would not even need or want to use X, since your administration would be done via web interface (webmin?) or via command line login (ssh?).

I would recommend just using a Debian net install, and add in the very basics. apache for web serving and sshd for ssh logins (even if you plan on webmin as your primary method of maintaining, I would strongly recommend having an ssh login to make big changes.

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Every distribution may be command line only, the graphical layer is just an apps like every other, you uninstall it and you have no interface anymore. It is called xorg, xserver or x11. If you want a mouse with a X server, you can use Xvesa or xfbdev, they take 1mb of disk space and around 1.5mb or ram, not too bad, but the got poor performances (forgot 3D and HD video, but you dont want that anyway)

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Yes, they all contain the Linux kernel and GNU OS. But my question was regarding why install something that includes so much unnecessary baggage for a client system that would have to be manually removed, such as pine or mutt text email clients, links web browser and other cruft that would remain even if you removed all X and GUI items.

In that respect, recommend a full Ubuntu with Gnome, then ask the implementer to remove all of that stuff.

Just seems like it isn't the best starting point.

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there is a Slax frodo version, Nothing GUI specific install , only linux tools/utils and command line . http://www.homesopen.com/slax581/slax-frodo-5.1.8.iso (57 mb)

Otherwise, you can choose any modern distro like Fedora and when installing Simply 'Check Out' Xorg and Gnome gui related stuff and install LAMP specific apps.

there are specific commands in fedora like yum groupremove to remove Entire Xorg or gnome stuff if its already installed.

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I have played with a little PC104 SBC with a GEODE processor

I would recommend just using a Debian net install

Oooh, the Geodes, forgot about those. :) I showed a few links to the hardware peeps and they all started getting excited about volts or something, so I think they're happy. :)

As for the Debian net install, any idea how much space it will take up roughly? :)

Cheers for the replies. :)

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...

As for the Debian net install, any idea how much space it will take up roughly? :)

...

It really depends on what you are putting in there.

If you just have the Linux kernel, Apache, MySql and PHP (LAMP) and throw in ssh to manage this via a login, it seems that it would only take around 500MB, according to this Ubuntu Forum post. It's going to be fairly small if you only pick the necessary packages and nothing else.

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About 120mb for the minimal environement, more if you install other apps than nano.

But what you can do is to setup a virtualBox/VMware VirtualMachine and install Gentoo with the size optimisation flag and the -X use flag, compile everything, remove /usr/portage/[about everything], /tmp/* and /var/tmp/* like that it will be lighter and more optimised.

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