[ILUG] Embedded vs PC version

[kevin lyda]

On Thu, Jun 27, 2002 at 02:29:15PM +0100, Carlos Luna wrote:
> I've been thrown onto a project at work which involves a mini PC (Intel chip
> on a miniturized motherboard, RAM, USB port, etc) and have been given the
> task of finding a suitable OS for it.  They want to go with Linux and I see

good luck.  no chance it's a credit card terminal, is there?

> Question 1: Is a normal distribution of Linux able to handle the possibility
> of being turned on and off frequently without ruining the OS?

seems simple enough.  you could mount most of the system in read only
mode.  for any data you need to store, mount that on filesystems that can
handle power downs.  ext3 might be a choice.  or depending on the data you
could write to a raw "partiton" (disk or flash) and just manage the data
you put down such that it could deal with poweroffs like you describe.

> Question 2: Is the embedded version of Linux designed for a PC?  Or does the
> device have to be some weird, proprietary type?

linux runs on lot's of chips.  the embedded world seems to like arm.

> Question 3: Is there a way to boot Linux QUICKLY and load the software
> necessary immediately?

if the os is stored on flash ram, then it should boot very quickly.
a desktop system has to probe for hardware (because that can change)
it runs shell scrips to start up a slew of daemons...  all that can be
reduced on an embedded system.

kevin

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