TimeSys is shipping Linux 2.6-based development kits for four storage-oriented Intel I/O processors (IOPs). TimeStorm Linux Development Kits (LDKs) are now available for Intel's IOP321, IOP331, IOP332, and 80219 XScale IOPs, which target storage, telmatics, security, print/imaging, iSCSI, control-plane processing, and CPE (customer premises equipment).

Intel's IOP3xx and 80219 chips

Intel has offered XScale-based storage processors since launching its fifth-generation storage SoC (system-on-chip), the IOP321, in February of 2002. The IOP321 is based on a 400MHz or 600MHz core, and integrates a 133MHz, 64-bit PCI-X Interface, along with a 200MHz DDR memory bus, 32-bit local bus up to 100MHz, 1KB DMA buffer, 4KB ATU buffer, XOR application accelerator, and an I2C bus. The IOP321 is also supported by LynuxWorks BlueCat Linux, MontaVista Linux, and Wasabi NetBSD, but today's announcement from TimeSys marks the first available 2.6 kernel support.

The sixth-generation IOP331 I/O processor supports clock speeds up to 800MHz, and adds a dual-ported DDR 333/DDRII 400MHz memory bus, along with hardware-based CRC32C check, two 4-pin (16550) UARTs, an arbiter, and support for 12 external interrupts (the IOP321 supports four). TimeSys vowed in December, 2003, to support the IOP331 as soon as it reached availability.

Intel describes the IOP332 as its “next-generation” I/O processor. The chip adds a PCI Express to PCI-X bridge, and supports up to 16 external interrupts.

Intel calls the 80219 a general-purpose PCI processor. It is based on a 400MHz or 600MHz XScale core, and integrates a 133MHz PCI-X interface as well as a 64-bit PCI 2.2 interface. It also offers a 200MHz bus supporting up to 1GB of DDR SDRAM. Additional on-chip peripheral interfaces include 32-bit Local Bus, eight GPIOs, four SDRAM output clocks, and two programmable timers.

In addition to LDKs, TimeSys also supports all four chips mentioned above with free Linux 2.4-based BSPs.

TimeSys LDKs

TimeSys says its TimeStorm LDKs include processor-optimized embedded Linux distributions, including pre-built kernel and root file system images. They also include TimeStorm Linux Development Suite (LDS), a graphical cross-platform IDE (integrated development environment) based on Eclipse 3.0 that supports application, kernel, and root filesystem development on Linux or Windows hosts.

Additional features touted by TimeSys include:

• Support for external buses
• Device drivers for supported on-chip peripheral interfaces
• Network protocol stacks
• Support for a variety of embedded filesystems
• GNU toolchains
• Royalty-free runtime for commercial deployment

“TimeSys is pleased to further our long-standing relationship with Intel with the availability of this latest group of certified and supported 2.6-based Kits for developers of products based on Intel's advanced XScale I/O processors,” said TimeSys president and CEO Larry Weidman.

 
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