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FreeBSD/embedded wishlist 2011
Assume we have $1k to provide better NetPerf cluster infrastructure for testing the existing support of FreeBSD/arm, FreeBSD/mips and FreeBSD/powerpc ports. This premise may or may not be true, but assume, however, that it's there.
We're talking about the existing support. In other words, about a situation where a commiter wants to test his/her patch on ARM/MIPS and verify that FreeBSD is still booting.
Which boards would be the most beneficial for the project's developers?
While pondering the boards which we would want to buy, please consider:
1) UART availability – This must be either the normal UART port or USB-based port that works with FreeBSD. (The USB cable hooked up between the board and the FreeBSD PC must provide a valid working UART.)
2) Ethernet – similar to UART availability, the Ethernet port must work. The Ideal candidate has U-boot with Ethernet support, which can fetch the FreeBSD kernel over the TFTP and a FreeBSD port that can perform booting over NFS. (FreeBSD must support the board's Ethernet controller.)
Current candidates
This is not a list yet. These are only Candidates for now.
| Architecture | CPU | Name | Link | Notes | Price | Power consumption (W) | Ethernet ports |
| ARM | Marvell Kirkwood 6281 1.2Ghz | GuruPlug Server | http://www.globalscaletechnologies.com/t-guruplugdetails.aspx | OUT-OF-STOCK / Prone to overheating? | $130 | ?? | 2 |
| ARM | Marvell Kirkwood 6281 1.2Ghz | DreamPlug | http://www.globalscaletechnologies.com/c-5-dreamplugs.aspx | $160 | ?? | 2? | |
| ARM | Marvell Kirkwood 6281 1.2Ghz | OpenRD-Ultimate | http://www.globalscaletechnologies.com/p-35-openrd-ultimate.aspx# | Port could be fully tested | $250? | ?? | 2 |
| ARM | TI DiVinci TMS320DM6446 800Mhz? | Rincon GW2361 MultiMedia Platform | http://www.gateworks.com/products/rincon/gw2361.php | optional item (port in P4), expensive | $425 | ?? | 1? |
| ARM | ARM AT91RM2100 200Mhz | KB9202 | http://www.kwikbyte.com/KB9202.html | slow, but popular; out of stock? | ?? | ?? | 1 |
| MIPS | Atheros AR7161 MIPS 24K 680MHz(800MHz possible) | Ubiquiti RouterStation Pro | http://ubnt.com/rspro | $80 | ?? | 2? | |
| MIPS | RaLink RT3052F | Fonera 2.0N | https://shop.fon.com/FonShop/shop/US/ShopController?view=product&product=PRD-022 | ?? | 1? | ||
| PowerPC | Freescale MPC8544 | RouterBoard RB800 | http://routerboard.com/RB800 | Somewhat expensive | $359 | ?? | 1? |
List
The list will go here once I obtain feedback from enough people.