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I'd like to make a single board computer capable of booting Linux, with my low-tech garage tools (2 sided PCBs, reflow skillet, no plating through holes).

What's the simplest hardware design I could choose?

Are there any microcontrollers with enough onboard flash/RAM to run Linux/uCLinux?

Toby Jaffey
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  • I agree that it is certainly cheaper/easier to buy one than to build one. There are a variety of solutions out there... Here are a few that I'm aware of: - [Gumstix](http://www.gumstix.com/) - [BeagleBoard](http://beagleboard.org/) - [Chumby](http://www.chumby.com/) (easily hack-able) - Plug Computers ([SheevaPlug](http://www.plugcomputer.org/), [GuruPlug](http://www.globalscaletechnologies.com/t-guruplugdetails.aspx), etc -- Check out http://www.plugapps.com/) – Nate Jul 01 '10 at 23:53
  • Personally, I think it would be simpler to buy one rather than make one. A [BeagleBoard](http://beagleboard.org/) is a pretty popular solution at $149. – semaj Mar 05 '10 at 00:00
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    I absolutely agree. But, I *want* to make one :-) – Toby Jaffey Mar 05 '10 at 00:10
  • +1 for having the ambition for such an undertaking. Best of luck. – semaj Mar 05 '10 at 00:56

5 Answers5

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I'd like to see this too, but my gut instinct is to say "maybe, but it's a lot of work". Even the smallest Linux distro is going to need around a megabyte of RAM to run. This means at least 30 or so additional pins for the RAM controller in the microcontroller, and a couple of big RAM chips.

One of the simplest architectures I know that has Linux for it is the Atmel AVR32 series of parts. The smallest, the AT32UC3A0128 comes in a relatively hacker-friendly 100-pin TQFP package. This is at least amenable to hand-soldering, unlike most of the OS-capable embedded microcontrollers that come in BGA packages. (the chips that have the little solder balls underneath them) You can get an idea as to the complexity of a circuit using that chip by examining the EVK1100 eval board.

todbot
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  • That EVK1100 is a lot more complicated than is strictly necessary. Those kinds of eval boards usually have a lot of extra peripherals - things like LCDs, buttons and such that are there to give you a leg up on getting output from the chip. Making your own board you'll only include the things you care about and usually end up with a much simpler design. – edebill Mar 05 '10 at 17:58
  • Most eval boards, definitely. The EVK1100 looks a bit better than many in by separating out those parts that are core and those that are peripherals. At least it seems like that from the pics, I don't have one. :) – todbot Mar 06 '10 at 08:56
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Linuxstamp is probably your best bet. It's open and has the PCB drawings, schematics, etc available. But as far as doing it at home - probably not. There's some very fine pitches on some of the parts. You're welcome to try, but it seems like a fair bit of consternation to me.

AngryEE
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The Nintendo DS is capable of running uCLinux. You can get a used one for cheap, the only peripheral you need to run Linux on it is a microSD adapter (can be had for $15 from dealextreme.com) and a microSD (small ones are basically free these days)

davr
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You pretty much need a decent size piece of RAM and flash outside the MCU/MPU. If I was going to make a bare bones Linux system, I think I would go with simple cheap ARM with a serial port. You could make a tiny PCB with 4MB of RAM, 2MB of FLASH, RS-232 transceiver, COM port, and the ARM. You could get real fancy by adding ethernet, but that won't add too much real estate to the PCB.

Jay Atkinson
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I believe you are looking for something like the following http://hforsten.com/making-embedded-linux-computer.html

Denis
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    Nice project. However while that can be assembled and soldered at home, it needs a professionally made PCB, while the question asks about making the PCB at home also. – Ben Voigt Nov 12 '16 at 04:25
  • hmmm yes. I guess thats going to be a little tough.. – Denis Dec 06 '16 at 16:06