Marcin Juszkiewicz

On Thursday I got package from DHL courier (one note for future: if you need to send me something by courier service avoid Fedex). Inside was nice box with BugLabs logo.

After unpacking I got BUG, or to be more precise:

• BUGbase
• BUGview module
• BUGmotion module
• VonHippel module
• BUGlocate module
• external antenna for BUGlocate GPS
• power supply
• SD->microSD adapter
• 2GB microSD card

This is how modules look:

VonHippel is interesting module as it gives access to I²C, serial, I²S, DAC, ADC, GPIO, SPI, power signals. It is named after MIT professor Eric von Hippel (because he thought of it!) author of “Democratizing Innovation”. This module allows to connect just about anything electronic to the BUG. Interview with professor can be seen on BUG Blogger website.

Size is comparable with Nokia N810 tablet. Would be nice to get 800x480 screen for BUG (i.mx31 has OpenGL acceleration).

This is usual configuration when I work with device (just screen and VonHippel):

There is 64MB of flash in device but by default it boots from microSD card (2GB one was in package). This allows for easy rootfs tweaking/updating. Kernel flashing takes lot of time but we plan to work on other methods of booting kernel.

With all modules plugged in it starts to be thick… You can notice 4 function keys on left side, joystick and button on right and monochrome screen between. By default it shows clock and icons of plugged modules but with joystick some system menu can be used.

Whole device is powered by BUG Linux which is based on Poky ‘pinky’ release with some updates. Access to all modules is only from Java at that moment. But that not mean that it is closed device — everything in BUG and its modules is open and free. There is a WiFi module (not released yet) which uses chipset from “libertas” family (same family as the one in OLPC).

I am curious what will future bring for this tool.

Today my workplace was invaded by beavers. But they are not normal beavers but Poky Linux ones.

At the beginning there was just one of them — he came and checked clock to know which timezone is in use here:

Few minutes later his companies arrived and synchronized clocks:

After few minutes they invaded my working place…

Good that they are friendly and came to help me support Poky Linux based systems :)

Today I got case for Alix.1c mainboard. For reminding: this is PC Engines board in mini-ITX format, powered by AMD Geode LX800.

Package arrived from Koan Software and contained one of their products: MiniPC 2PCI case.

Package contents

There were many addons in the box:

• 60W 12V AC adapter
• 2.5” ATA -> Slim DVD/CD adapter
• PCI riser for 2 slots
• wall mounting elements
• 2.5” ATA 3.5” ATA adapters
• bracket for 3 DB9 connectors (additional serials anyone?)

AC adapter is added because case contains small PSU with few connectors. I do not use it because Alix.1c mainboard consists similar one already (and lack ATX power connector).

Inside view

Inside case there is a lot of space available:

There are mounting places for 3.5” HDD, 2.5” HDD and slim DVD/CD drive (signal adapter attached). There are also 2 fans (60mm each) but I left them not connected (Alix does not require cooling and lack sockets for fans).

Front panel

Front panel has 2 USB sockets, HDD and power leds and power button. As usual in mini-ITX cases there is no Reset button. Not present in my case (but available as option) is CompactFlash slot accessible from front. I did not ordered it because Alix has such one integrated.

Summary

Case is very high quality made — no sharp edges, easy access to all peripherals. And all those addons which are in a box makes overall cost smaller. If someone is searching for good mini-ITX case then MiniPC ones are good choice (and there is smaller version without place for PCI cards).

PCI 3.3V :(

As I wrote before I plan to make router based on Alix.1c — but after putting it into case I discovered one problem with board itself. It has 3.3V PCI slot so I have no use of PCI riser which was added to case. Will search for VIA one because it is universal (3.3V/5V) so I will get slots (but have to remember that cards have to accept 3.3V signals).

Few months ago I decided that after 2 years of “HaeRWu Marcin Juszkiewicz” company it is good time to drop first part. The reason was simple — “HaeRWu” is hard to pronounce for English speaking people (and not only them). And I think that I am more known as Marcin Juszkiewicz in community then by my company name.

As next step I bought “juszkiewicz.com.pl” domain for all of my private and company things. And today moved this website to new address. Old ones will work of course — they redirect to proper one.

All email addresses will work too.

I already bought tickets for bus to/from Berlin, planes tickets and booked room in Astrid hotel.

The plan starts on Thursday with Berlinia bus from Szczecin to Berlin Schoenefeld (SXF) airport. Then Easyjet flight number 4701 (16:00) to Brussels (BRU) and from there to Astrid hotel. I will do return trip on Sunday — Easyjet flight number 4702 (20:50), then bus to Szczecin.

So if you want to meet me before FOSDEM crazy time you can catch me on Thursday evening or Friday (rather morning as I plan to do walk around a bit to see something other then hotel and conference).

Since few months I have 10/1Mbps network connection (downlink/uplink). Recently it was downgraded to 1/1Mbps and I had no idea why. Finally it appeared that my router was the problem…

Exact reason was QoS which I enabled few days ago. It looks like DD-WRT which I use now can not handle it on WRT54GS without degrading network speed. For now I disabled this but it is not an option because I plan to use VoIP more in next months so I need warranty that it will get all bandwidth it needs never mind what else would be running.

Current plans are to make use of Alix 1.c which I have from PC Engines. Soon I will have nice case for it so the only things to buy will be miniPCI WiFi card (friends suggested getting one of Atheros based ones) and 1GbE network card. I already have 2GB CompactFlash for rootfs and spare 2.5” hdd which will be used for storage.

This configuration should be fast enough to have more functions then just router/AP. I plan to make it also printer/scanner server and probably there will be some more to add.

After 691 days of not using Progear I unpacked it and got it running again. Why “691 days”? It was written by fsck during booting.

Progear support in OpenEmbedded is a bit updated now. New kernel (2.6.27) gives VESA frame buffer which finally utilize XGA resolution (in 2.6.19-rc5 it was VGA centered on screen). It still lack good AC/Battery support anyway. External modules which were used (progear-ac, progear-battery) do not build with current kernels (not strange as they were hacked ACPI modules) so I tried to write driver to get at least AC status. It works more or less.

I currently do not have any plans for this machine. Will use it to learn how to write ugly kernel drivers which probably no one will use (how many Progear users plays with current kernels?) and sooner or later it will go back to basement as other toys will need space on desk.

Month ago I ended work for OpenedHand. Some people asked me what I am doing now, who is my client etc. Now I can write a bit about it.

I am working as contractor with Bug Labs Inc. to help them with their development of BUG Linux (which is based on OpenedHand’s Poky). Target device is BUG device which consists of BUGbase and BUGmodules (more on their website). Hardware is quite interesting (information copied from website):

• ARM1136JF-S-based microprocessor
• 1 USB 2.0 HS host interface/4 hub port connections
• 1 USB OTG HS interface
• 4 UART serial links
• 4 channel SPI interface
• I2C (400 kbits) interface/4 channels
• I2S interface/2 channels
• Smart LCD interface
• Camera sensor interface
• Micro memory card interface
• MPEG4 hardware encoding/decoding
• Hardware graphic acceleration
• 10/100 Ethernet MAC
• Base unit LCD module interface
• Base unit 128MB on-board memory (FLASH/DDR SDRAM)
• JTAG/ICE support
• Serial debug port
• Power system
• AC operation
• Battery operation/up to 4 external batteries
• Fast battery charging/simultaneous of internal and external batteries
• Smart power management support
• Battery-backed real-time clock
• Audio out via on-board piezo speaker

And BUGbase has 4 slots for additional BUGmodules which can be hotplugged during use. Currently there are screen (with touchscreen), GPS, accelerometer + motion detector and 2Mpix camera modules. As i.mx31 cpu, which they use, supports two framebuffers two screens can be used at same time — I hope that will have occasion to play wit such setup ;D

Software side is other thing as it is Java based. Under it is normal GNU/Linux system (Poky based) but access to hardware is now based on Java components. Does it works with normal languages? No idea yet — will check when will get hardware to play with.

Generally it is interesting project and I hope that it will get more popularity as most of informations is open so (in theory) anyone can make own BUGmodule.