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Dutch firm ships Linux-based rack-mount ADK

Jan 23, 2008 — by Eric Brown — from the LinuxDevices Archive — 1 views

Netherlands-based systems integrator Deciso is shipping a 1U Appliance Development Kit (ADK) for routers, firewalls, and other rack-mounted network appliances. Based on PC Engines' ALIX single-board computer (SBC), the 19″ ADK comes preinstalled with Voyage Linux.

(Click for a slightly larger view of the Deciso 19″ ADK)

PC Engines' ALIX is the heir to the company's venerable WRAP board, said to be a favorite of DIY aficionados building x86-based Linux routers and firewalls. The SBC ships with either a 433MHz or 500MHz AMD Geode LX, and either 128MB or 256MB of DDR SDRAM (333/400MHz).

The ALIX offers an LPC bus for adding serial ports, ISA-style I/O, GPIO, and an I2C bus, says PC Engines. The ALIX is also equipped with a serial port console, one to three Ethernet channels (Via VT6105M), and one or two miniPCI slots.

The board supports a variety of Linux distros, including:

Deciso's ALIX implementation in the 19″ ADK includes the 433MHz processor, 128MB of RAM, and a 128MB industrial CompactFlash card. The device is equipped with three Ethernet ports and a serial console. It offers the ability to add a PCI card (using a supplied riser card), as well as a miniPCI card and a 2.5-inch hard disk. The fanless system is said to draw less than 8 Watts of power.

Specifications for Deciso's 19″ ADK include:

  • Processor — 433 MHz AMD Geode LX700
  • Memory — 128MB DDR DRAM
  • Flash — 128MB (industrial card)
  • Ethernet — 3 x 10/100Mb/s
  • Serial — 1 x console port
  • Dimensions — 19 x 1.8 x 8 inches (484 x 45.4 x 204 mm)
  • Power input — AC 100-240V 50/60Hz
  • Power output — DC 12V, 1.2A max
  • Typical power consumption — <8 W

In addition to this Voyage Linux-based version of the 19″ ADK, Deciso also sells versions for Asterisk (IP-based PBX), the FreeBSD-based Monowall (firewall), and PfSense (VPN). Linux developers can customize the appliance's set-up with development tools available at Voyage Linux.

In August, HeroLogic shipped a system called the HL-463, which appears to compete with systems based on the ALIX board, as well as its chief rival in the embedded Linux world, the Soekris net5501. The WiFi-enabled HL-463 is based on a 333MHz AMD GX466 processor.

Availability

The 19″ ADK is now available from Deciso for 279 Euros (approximately $400 U.S.). More information can be found here.


 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.



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