[Updated Apr. 2] — Atmel is shipping the least expensive hardware/software Linux development kit we've come across in LinuxDevices.com's seven-year history. The $70 “Atmel Network Gateway Kit 100”, based on Atmel's “AVR32” RISC architecture, includes a tiny SBC (single-board computer), a full… Linux port/toolchain, and supports “most serial communication protocols.”

(Click for larger view of ATNGW100 board)

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According to Atmel, the Atmel Network Gateway Kit 100 (ATNGW100) is suitable for routers, POS (point-of-sales/service), navigation, multimedia, and printers.

The company claims its next-generation “AVR32” architecture processes thrice the instructions per clock cycle of its closest competitor, thanks to super-efficient “DSP-like” instructions, and highly dense 16-bit code with 32-bit extensions. The company launched the AVR32 architecture nearly a year ago; however, the company's first AV32-based chip, the AT32AP7000, gained its first real Linux distribution support earlier this month, when the T2 SDE cross-development tools project added AVR32 architecture support.

Previously, Atmel has supported its AT32AP7000 chips with an STK1000 development kit, comprised of a processor module powered by a 140MHz AT32AP7000 processor, together with a fairly large carrier board. The STK1000 was said to be capable of MP3 playback at only 30 percent processor utilization, when clocked at 140MHz, and running Linux binaries compiled using T2 SDE tools.

Now, Atmel is shipping a smaller, less expensive AVR32 evaluation board. The Atmel Network Gateway Kit 100 (ATNGW100) is based on a 140MHz AT32AP7000 processor, and has 32MB of SDRAM and 16MB of flash, expandable via an SD-card slot. The board also features Atmel's ATtiny24 board controller interface, and has a pair of general expansion headers supporting access to the AP7000 chip's various timers, audio interfaces, USARTs, and so on.

Atmel ATNGW100 board features
(Click to enlarge)
Additional ATNGW100 board features, according to the company, include:

• Serial interfaces include RS232, USART, I2S, AC97, TWI/I2C, SPI, PS/2, and several synchronous serial modules (SSC)
• 16-bit stereo audio DAC
• 2048×2048 pixel TFT/STN LCD controller
• high-speed USB 2.0 “B” client port with on-chip transceivers (PHY)
• two 10/100 Ethernet MACs

The ATNGW100 comes with a “full port” of Linux and a complete Linux development and debug toolchain. The kit's kernel is based on Linux 2.6.18, with royalty-free peripheral drivers; protocol stacks for FTP, SNMP, HTTP, DNS, DHCP, SSH, Telnet, and SAMBA; and communications applications. The port offers a web-based configuration and documentation interface.

Atmel says the kit demonstrates how well the AVR32 architecture and embedded Linux can handle high-speed serial communications, including:

• Bridging between interfaces that run incompatible serial protocols
• Routing/filtering of traffic between two TCP/IP networks
• Routing/filtering data between TCP/IP, USB, and SD cards

According to Atmel marketing director Haakon Skar, “Linux is the dominant OS for embedded systems in many market segments, and we believe the AVR32 with full Linux support is a very attractive solution. With a price of $69 the Network Gateway kit is an affordable tool for engineers looking to evaluate Atmel's solutions.”

Availability

The ATNGW100 kit is immediately available now, according to Atmel. However, some readers have reported being told mid-May by distributors. A JTAGICE mkII on-chip debug adapter is also available or expected.

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