AbsoluteValue Systems (AVS) is shipping a hardware/software reference design for wireless access points based on embedded Linux. The “WPD3” design includes a Linux implementation with source, development tools, one of three hardware reference boards, one or more mini-PCI wireless LAN cards, and documentation.

The WPD3 (WLAN development platform, version 3) design includes AVS's FoundationLinux reference Linux implementation, along with its dot11Linux, a collection of Linux-based development tools for wireless devices. According to AVS, dot11Linux includes “production-ready” implementations of remote, secure, customizable Web-based management and remote firmware upgrade capabilities, along with AVS's 802.11 wireless LAN protocol stack and drivers, and essential WLAN application software such as linux-wlan, a popular open source wireless toolkit maintained by AVS.

According to AVS, the reference design includes an embedded codebase that can be configured to operate in many modes, including AP Router, AP Bridge, AP Masquerade (gateway), Station Bridge, and Station Masquerade. Special-purpose modes include Ethernet Station, in which any device with an ethernet port can join the wireless network, and AP Repeater, which allows the placement of APs that are not attached to wired networks.

Available reference board options include:

• Tierra, based on a 133MHz Toshiba TX3927 MIPS CPU with 16MB of RAM, 4MB of Flash, a 4-port Ethernet switch, and 2 mini-PCI slots
• AMD's Bosporus, based on a 400MHz AMD Au1500 MIPS CPU with integrated security processor, with 64MB of RAM, 16MB of Flash, 4-port Ethernet switch, 1 mini-PCI slot, and 1 PCI slot
• Intrinsyc's CerfCube (pictured above), based on a 233MHz IBM 405EP PowerPC CPU, with 32MB of RAM, 32MB of Flash, 1 mini-PCI slot, and a single Ethernet port on a very small board.

Available wireless cards include:

• Prism2/2.3/3
• TI TNETW1100(ACX100)
• PrismGT/Duette
• PrismJavelin/Crossbow

“WDP3 [gives] engineers all the hooks they need to rapidly develop products leveraging the advanced capabilities of 802.11. This package provides access to an unprecedented amount of low level 802.11 protocol information that simply isn't available with any other solution,” says President Mark. S. Mathews.

AVS shipped version 2 of its WDP in September, 2003. Version 3 will be available in two weeks.

 
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