Taiwanese IC (integrated circuit) design house DataStor used embedded Linux to create a home network-attached storage appliance reference design. The NAS Gear design is based on a 200MHz ARM9 processor, supports drives larger than 500GB, and features an integrated blue LCM (liquid-crystal module).

(Click for larger view of NAS Gear reference design)

NAS Gear features include:

• Web-based user interface
• Built-in print server for USB printers
• Supports Windows, Linux, and Apple network file exchange protocols

Additionally, the NAS Gear design has a backlit blue LCD display. During configuration, the display can show the device's IP address, NAS/USB mode, HDD usage, system temperature, and system fan speed. During use, the display serves as a digital clock that can be updated via NTP (network time protocol).

Additional features and specifications listed by DataStor include:

• Hardware
  • 200MHz ARM9-based RISC processor
  • 8MB Flash
  • 64MB DDR SDRAM
  • 10/100/1000 Ethernet
  • USB 2.0 client and USB 1.1 host (print server) interfaces
  • ATA-5 compliant UDMA 100 IDE controller
  • Single 3.5-inch hard drive bay
    • Supports FAT32 or EXT3 formats
    • Supports drives over 500GB

• Software
  • Embedded Linux OS
  • Web interface
  • User quota management
  • FTP server
  • Supports English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese
  • DHCP/static IP connection
  • Disk formating/scanning utilities
  • Firmware upgradable
  • Configuration backup and restoration
  • Optional file and system backup and restore utilities

Availability

DataStor is demonstrating its NAS Gear reference design at Computex this week in Taipei. A limited number of samples are available for testing, it says.

DataStor PMP-10 design (Click to enlarge)

The company also offers a Portable Media Player reference design with a similar design (pictured at right).

 
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