Kontron has introduced a compact “mini baseboard” meant to help developers get up and running quickly with ETX-based computer-on-module (COM) designs. The aptly named “miniBaseboard” is compatible with the recently released ETX version 3.0… specification, and provides external connections for all standard ETX peripherals, according to the company.

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At 5.1 x 6.1 inches (130 x 155 mm), the RoHS-compliant miniBaseboard only slightly larger than the ETX module itself (3.7 x 4.9 in; 95 x 125 mm). According to Kontron, the board provides the following connectors and interfaces:

• ATX power
• 2 x RJ45 Ethernet — 1 10/100; 1 gigabit
• 4 x USB
• 4 x serial (Editor's note: only one 9-pin D connector is visible. The other serial ports appear to be implemented as pin headers)
• LPT
• VGA
• LVDS “flatfoil” connectors
• dual PS/2 keyboard and mouse
• audio in/out jacks
• 2 x IDE
• 2 x SATA
• CompactFlash slot
• PCMCIA slot, supports 32-bit PC card
• PCI slot

Kontron produces a range of ETX COMs including the ETX-LX, the company's first product based on ETX 3.0, and the ETX-P3T and ETX-P3Tx, all of which support Linux-based embedded designs. Additional modules for dual-core and other processors from Intel, AMD, and Via will be introduced “during the course of this year,” Kontron says.

Price and availability of the miniBaseboard were not disclosed.

 
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