Main Page

From ComputingPlugs

Revision as of 01:18, 28 April 2010 by Ktung (Talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Current revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search

Globalscale offers the GuruPlug

Looks like the SheevaPlug was successful enough for Globalscale to continue development and offer the GuruPlug. There are 2 GuruPlug versions available right now. Both of them use the same processor as the SheevaPlug but the GuruPlugs have a build in 802.11 b/g, bluetooth and ZigBee. The 2 versions differs in their external ports.

  • GuruPlug Server - Standard
    • 1xGb Ethernet
    • 2x USB 2.0
  • GuruPlug Server - PLUS
    • 2xGb Ethernet
    • 2x USB 2.0
    • 1x eSATA
    • 1x microSD slot

The 3rd version, GuruPlug display should have been out in April but it doesn't look like you can order it just yet. This one is the most interesting, it has:

  • GuruPlug Display
    • 3x USB 2.0
    • 1x Ethernet 10/100
    • 802.11n
    • HDMI video
    • 1x mini USB
    • 1x microSD slot

Holy cow, really? A HDMI video out?! I'm a bit skeptical about the performance but I'll reserve judgment until I get a chance to see it for myself. I guess they're going after the "show your pictures on your TV" crowd and the low end video (YouTube) crowd. I do that right now with my PS3 with all my pictures stored on the SheevaPlug.

On the other hand, I'm a little interested in the GuruPlug PLUS, with 2 Gb Ethernet and 802.11. I can make the PLUS take over my D-Link wireless router's job. Yeah, I'll still need a 1Gb switch, but I would have complete control on my router so I can do QOS and traffic shaping. It would have been nice if it had 802.11n instead of 802.11b/g, but I can live with that.

Eh, or maybe I should just wait until Plug 3.0 comes out with a more powerful CPU.

Old news


Welcome to Computing Plugs.

Globalscale's Sheeva Plug
Ionics' Plug Computer

Plug Computing is a new term coined by Marvell to describe a new form of server. The idea behind plug computing is to have a small, low power, always on server that connects to the local network and provides the user access to central services. To promote the new concept, Marvell created the SheevaPlug development kit. The "computer" itself is housed in a 4"x2.5"x2" wall wart that plugs directly into any typical household AC outlet. The SheevaPlug was built with the following hardware:

  • Kirkwood series SoC with an embedded Marvell Sheeva (88F6281) CPU core running at 1.2Ghz.
  • 512 Mbytes of DDR2 memory.
  • 512 Mbytes of NAND Flash memory use for system boot and the OS filesystem.
  • USB 2.0 (480Mbps) running as HOST.
  • Gigabit ethernet connection to the cpu.
  • SDIO interface capable of using SDHC type SD memory cards.
  • Dual serial port for JTAG interface (used by openOCD and OS serial output)

The Sheeva Plug development kit comes with the following software and documentation:

  • U-Boot
  • Linux Support Package (LSP)
  • Ubuntu and Gentoo File System
  • Host Software Support Package for Linux and Windows
  • Schematics & Bill of Materials

The product brief is available here.

For some time the only place you could get a SheevaPlug is from Globalscales. I've found out that Ionics will begin to offer a plug computer at the end of July, 09. I don't know if it is still call a SheevaPlug or not, and I have no information other than their product shot.

Contents

First Impressions

Developers

Applications

Services

Retrieved from "http://computingplugs.com/index.php/Main_Page"



... ...

Did you find this page useful?
Help others find this site
by linking here.

... ...