Gumstix
Encyclopedia
Gumstix is a company founded in 2003 by Gordon Kruberg that produces small single-board computer
s. The name Gumstix refers to the size of the first such computer being the approximate size of a stick of gum.
While the design of the main computer boards has always been proprietary, designs for expansion boards are published under a Creative Commons
Share-alike
license. The software stack is Linux
based, built using the OpenEmbedded
framework.
Gumstix currently has two product lines: the Texas Instruments OMAP-based Overo series and the Marvell XScale
-based Verdex Pro series. The tiny Gumstix Overo COM
s are 17 mm x 58 mm x 4.2 mm (0.67 in. x 2.28 in. x 0.16 in.) while the slightly larger Verdex Pro series COM
s, about the size of a stick of gum, measure 80 mm x 20 mm x 5.3 mm (3.15 in. x 0.79 in. x 0.21 in.). Gumstix products offer a wide range of functions including OMAP, PXA, microSD, Bluetooth
and 802.11g
wireless interfaces, synchronous
and asynchronous serial, USB
, 10/100 Ethernet
, RS-232 and more in a very small form factor. The company provides Linux
for the OpenEmbedded build environment.
Gumstix products have been used in various commercial, educational and hobbyist projects such as power management metering devices, medical devices, security and personnel management products, wireless and hand-held products, unmanned aerial vehicle
s (UAV) and robotics.
Gumstix products have no printed documentation but are supported instead through several different forms of online documentation, such as articles, FAQ
lists, a user-maintained wiki
and a mailing list archive.
Gumstix motherboards are single-board computers which come in two different configurations. The brand names for these are Overo Earth and Verdex Pro. The Overo Earth uses a TI OMAP 3503 processor running at 600 MHz and have 256 MB of SDRAM
, while the Verdex Pro motherboards use a Marvell XScale PXA270 processor running at 400 MHz or 600 MHz with up to 128 MB of SDRAM
. Both boards run Linux 2.6 with the BusyBox
utilities, and use the OpenEmbedded
build environment to provide a full-blown Linux environment and a large range of Linux applications.
Additional features can be added to all motherboards with expansion cards connected via one or both on-board buses. The motherboards draw less than 250 mA @4V at 400 MHz without Bluetooth and less than 50 mA while idling, waiting for input.
It provides improvements over the previous designs, including upgraded memory (it has 256 MB of flash and 256 MB of SDRAM), use of a new processor (a 600 MHz TI OMAP 3503 processor), and a new connector system employing two connectors to the daughtercard, allowing for more reliable board stacks.
It provides improvements over the previous designs, including upgraded memory (it has 256 MB of flash and 256 MB of SDRAM), using a completely new processor than its counter part (Overo Earth). It, instead, uses the Texas Instruments OMAP 3530 720 MHz processor.
up to 32 MB, an onboard 60-pin Hirose
I/O header, a 80-pin Molex connector
for connecting additional expansion cards. The boards can be ordered with Infineon Bluetooth
as an option.
In volume, Verdex Pro motherboards may be ordered with processor speeds of 300 MHz, 400 MHz, 500 MHz and 600 MHz with any combination of RAM, flash and expansion board connectors.
. The motherboards could connect to a variety of expansion boards via a 60-pin Hirose
connector. Basix boards had an MMC
slot, while the Connex had an additional 92-pin expansion connector. The -bt version included an onboard Bluetooth
module.
Verdex motherboards, upgraded to the XScale PXA270, were again available in three models (XM4, XM4-bt and XL6P).
Verdex motherboards have up to 128 MB RAM, up to 32 MB of on-board StrataFlash
, an on-board 60-pin Hirose
I/O header, a 120-pin Molex connector for connecting expansion cards and an optional Bluetooth
module. The Verdex was an upgrade from the Basix and Connex motherboards, adding a second expansion bus via a 120-pin Molex connector, USB host capability (12 megabit/second), and higher capacity RAM and flash memory options.
Basix and Connex boards were discontinued in May 2009. The Verdex is currently being phased-out (as of May 2009), replaced by the Verdex Pro.
Instead of connecting input devices such as keyboards or mice directly, users access the device through a serial port, using the keyboard and monitor from a host PC running a terminal emulator.
(CF) for storage.
(MMC) read/write device, and can read and write to external memory via this interface.
software framework to track and fetch dependencies, cross-compile packages and build complete images by using BitBake
. After building, the rootfs image and the kernel are transferred to the Gumstix through a serial connection, using compact flash or MMC type cards or through Ethernet
network (depending on the system configuration and what expansion boards are used)
Additional software can be downloaded prebuilt directly from the Gumstix repositories or compiled using BitBake. Software is installed and managed using ipkg
packages.
Single-board computer
A single-board computer is a complete computer built on a single circuit board, with microprocessor, memory, input/output and other features required of a functional computer. Unlike a typical personal computer, an SBC may not include slots into which accessory cards may be plugged...
s. The name Gumstix refers to the size of the first such computer being the approximate size of a stick of gum.
While the design of the main computer boards has always been proprietary, designs for expansion boards are published under a Creative Commons
Creative Commons
Creative Commons is a non-profit organization headquartered in Mountain View, California, United States devoted to expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. The organization has released several copyright-licenses known as Creative Commons...
Share-alike
Share-alike
Share-Alike is a descriptive term used in the Creative Commons project for copyright licenses which include certain copyleft provisions. The Share-Alike license comes in two varieties, CC-BY-SA and CC-BY-NC-SA.-Share-alike license types:...
license. The software stack is Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
based, built using the OpenEmbedded
OpenEmbedded
OpenEmbedded is a software framework to create Linux distributions aimed for, but not restricted to, embedded devices. The build system is based on BitBake recipes, which behave similar to Gentoo's ebuilds....
framework.
Gumstix currently has two product lines: the Texas Instruments OMAP-based Overo series and the Marvell XScale
XScale
The XScale, a microprocessor core, is Intel's and Marvell's implementation of the ARMv5 architecture, and consists of several distinct families: IXP, IXC, IOP, PXA and CE . Intel sold the PXA family to Marvell Technology Group in June 2006....
-based Verdex Pro series. The tiny Gumstix Overo COM
Computer-on-module
A computer-on-module or System on Module is a type of single-board computer , a subtype of an embedded computer system. An extension of the concept of System on Chip , COM lies between a full-up computer and a microcontroller in nature.- Design :Today's COM modules are complete embedded computers...
s are 17 mm x 58 mm x 4.2 mm (0.67 in. x 2.28 in. x 0.16 in.) while the slightly larger Verdex Pro series COM
Computer-on-module
A computer-on-module or System on Module is a type of single-board computer , a subtype of an embedded computer system. An extension of the concept of System on Chip , COM lies between a full-up computer and a microcontroller in nature.- Design :Today's COM modules are complete embedded computers...
s, about the size of a stick of gum, measure 80 mm x 20 mm x 5.3 mm (3.15 in. x 0.79 in. x 0.21 in.). Gumstix products offer a wide range of functions including OMAP, PXA, microSD, Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
and 802.11g
WIFI
WIFI is a radio station broadcasting a brokered format. Licensed to Florence, New Jersey, USA, the station is currently operated by Florence Broadcasting Partners, LLC.This station was previously owned by Real Life Broadcasting...
wireless interfaces, synchronous
Synchronization
Synchronization is timekeeping which requires the coordination of events to operate a system in unison. The familiar conductor of an orchestra serves to keep the orchestra in time....
and asynchronous serial, USB
Universal Serial Bus
USB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
, 10/100 Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
, RS-232 and more in a very small form factor. The company provides Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
for the OpenEmbedded build environment.
Gumstix products have been used in various commercial, educational and hobbyist projects such as power management metering devices, medical devices, security and personnel management products, wireless and hand-held products, unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
s (UAV) and robotics.
Gumstix products have no printed documentation but are supported instead through several different forms of online documentation, such as articles, FAQ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions are listed questions and answers, all supposed to be commonly asked in some context, and pertaining to a particular topic. "FAQ" is usually pronounced as an initialism rather than an acronym, but an acronym form does exist. Since the acronym FAQ originated in textual...
lists, a user-maintained wiki
Wiki
A wiki is a website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. Examples include...
and a mailing list archive.
Motherboards
SDRAM
Synchronous dynamic random access memory is dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus. Classic DRAM has an asynchronous interface, which means that it responds as quickly as possible to changes in control inputs...
, while the Verdex Pro motherboards use a Marvell XScale PXA270 processor running at 400 MHz or 600 MHz with up to 128 MB of SDRAM
SDRAM
Synchronous dynamic random access memory is dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus. Classic DRAM has an asynchronous interface, which means that it responds as quickly as possible to changes in control inputs...
. Both boards run Linux 2.6 with the BusyBox
BusyBox
BusyBox provides several stripped-down Unix tools in a single executable. It runs in a variety of POSIX environments such as Linux, Android, FreeBSD and others, such as proprietary kernels, although many of the tools it provides are designed to work with interfaces provided by the Linux kernel. It...
utilities, and use the OpenEmbedded
OpenEmbedded
OpenEmbedded is a software framework to create Linux distributions aimed for, but not restricted to, embedded devices. The build system is based on BitBake recipes, which behave similar to Gentoo's ebuilds....
build environment to provide a full-blown Linux environment and a large range of Linux applications.
Additional features can be added to all motherboards with expansion cards connected via one or both on-board buses. The motherboards draw less than 250 mA @4V at 400 MHz without Bluetooth and less than 50 mA while idling, waiting for input.
Overo Earth
The Overo Earth was released in July 2008.It provides improvements over the previous designs, including upgraded memory (it has 256 MB of flash and 256 MB of SDRAM), use of a new processor (a 600 MHz TI OMAP 3503 processor), and a new connector system employing two connectors to the daughtercard, allowing for more reliable board stacks.
Overo Air
The Overo Air was released in April 2009. It adds wireless networking and Bluetooth capabilities to the Overo Earth module.Overo Water
The Overo Water was released in the beginning of July 2008.It provides improvements over the previous designs, including upgraded memory (it has 256 MB of flash and 256 MB of SDRAM), using a completely new processor than its counter part (Overo Earth). It, instead, uses the Texas Instruments OMAP 3530 720 MHz processor.
Overo Fire
The Overo Fire was released in April 2009. It adds wireless networking and Bluetooth capabilities to the Overo Water module.Verdex Pro
The Verdex Pro motherboards have up to 128 MB RAM, on-board StrataFlashStrataFlash
StrataFlash is a NOR flash memory technology first developed by Intel.It stores two or more bits of information per cell rather than just one, in an architecture called Multi-Level Cell . This is accomplished by storing intermediate voltage levels instead of using only the two levels of...
up to 32 MB, an onboard 60-pin Hirose
Hirose Electric Group
Hirose Electric Group is a Japanese company specializing in the manufacturing of electric connectors. The company was founded in 1937 and started selling internationally in 1968. The annual revenue is 104 billion yen and the gross profit is 38 billion yen , the number of employees 3975, as of 2006....
I/O header, a 80-pin Molex connector
Molex connector
Molex connector is the vernacular term for a two-piece pin and socket interconnection, most frequently disk drive connectors. Pioneered by Molex Connector Company, the two-piece design became an early electronic standard. Molex developed and patented the first examples of this connector style in...
for connecting additional expansion cards. The boards can be ordered with Infineon Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
as an option.
In volume, Verdex Pro motherboards may be ordered with processor speeds of 300 MHz, 400 MHz, 500 MHz and 600 MHz with any combination of RAM, flash and expansion board connectors.
Discontinued motherboards
The Basix and Connex motherboards came in three versions (200, 400-xm and 400xm-bt), all based around the XScale PXA255 processor and having 64 MB of RAM and 4-16 MB of onboard FlashFlash memory
Flash memory is a non-volatile computer storage chip that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. It was developed from EEPROM and must be erased in fairly large blocks before these can be rewritten with new data...
. The motherboards could connect to a variety of expansion boards via a 60-pin Hirose
Hirose Electric Group
Hirose Electric Group is a Japanese company specializing in the manufacturing of electric connectors. The company was founded in 1937 and started selling internationally in 1968. The annual revenue is 104 billion yen and the gross profit is 38 billion yen , the number of employees 3975, as of 2006....
connector. Basix boards had an MMC
MultiMediaCard
The MultiMediaCard is a flash memory memory card standard. Unveiled in 1997 by Siemens AG and SanDisk, it is based on Toshiba's NAND-based flash memory, and is therefore much smaller than earlier systems based on Intel NOR-based memory such as CompactFlash. MMC is about the size of a postage...
slot, while the Connex had an additional 92-pin expansion connector. The -bt version included an onboard Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
module.
Verdex motherboards, upgraded to the XScale PXA270, were again available in three models (XM4, XM4-bt and XL6P).
Verdex motherboards have up to 128 MB RAM, up to 32 MB of on-board StrataFlash
StrataFlash
StrataFlash is a NOR flash memory technology first developed by Intel.It stores two or more bits of information per cell rather than just one, in an architecture called Multi-Level Cell . This is accomplished by storing intermediate voltage levels instead of using only the two levels of...
, an on-board 60-pin Hirose
Hirose Electric Group
Hirose Electric Group is a Japanese company specializing in the manufacturing of electric connectors. The company was founded in 1937 and started selling internationally in 1968. The annual revenue is 104 billion yen and the gross profit is 38 billion yen , the number of employees 3975, as of 2006....
I/O header, a 120-pin Molex connector for connecting expansion cards and an optional Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
module. The Verdex was an upgrade from the Basix and Connex motherboards, adding a second expansion bus via a 120-pin Molex connector, USB host capability (12 megabit/second), and higher capacity RAM and flash memory options.
Basix and Connex boards were discontinued in May 2009. The Verdex is currently being phased-out (as of May 2009), replaced by the Verdex Pro.
Computers
Gumstix has two encased computer products, under the brand names Netstix and Waysmall. Neither product supports connecting to a desktop monitor, although the company sells expansion boards that allow the use of a variety of small LCD touchscreen displays.Instead of connecting input devices such as keyboards or mice directly, users access the device through a serial port, using the keyboard and monitor from a host PC running a terminal emulator.
Netstix
The Netstix computers, based on the Connex motherboard, provide 10/100 Mbps Ethernet connected computers with CompactFlashCompactFlash
CompactFlash is a mass storage device format used in portable electronic devices. Most CompactFlash devices contain flash memory in a standardized enclosure. The format was first specified and produced by SanDisk in 1994...
(CF) for storage.
Waysmall
The Waysmall computer product line uses the Basix motherboard and connects to a host computer via USB using a serial connection and a terminal emulator. It has an onboard MultiMediaCardMultiMediaCard
The MultiMediaCard is a flash memory memory card standard. Unveiled in 1997 by Siemens AG and SanDisk, it is based on Toshiba's NAND-based flash memory, and is therefore much smaller than earlier systems based on Intel NOR-based memory such as CompactFlash. MMC is about the size of a postage...
(MMC) read/write device, and can read and write to external memory via this interface.
Software development kit
Gumstix uses the OpenEmbeddedOpenEmbedded
OpenEmbedded is a software framework to create Linux distributions aimed for, but not restricted to, embedded devices. The build system is based on BitBake recipes, which behave similar to Gentoo's ebuilds....
software framework to track and fetch dependencies, cross-compile packages and build complete images by using BitBake
BitBake
BitBake is a make-alike build tool with the special focus of distributions and packages for embedded Linux cross compilation even if it's not limited to only that...
. After building, the rootfs image and the kernel are transferred to the Gumstix through a serial connection, using compact flash or MMC type cards or through Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
network (depending on the system configuration and what expansion boards are used)
Additional software can be downloaded prebuilt directly from the Gumstix repositories or compiled using BitBake. Software is installed and managed using ipkg
Ipkg
ipkg, or the Itsy Package Management System, is a lightweight package management system designed for embedded devices that resembled Debian's dpkg. It was used in the Unslung operating system for the Linksys NSLU2 , in OpenWrt, Openmoko, webOS, Gumstix, the iPAQ, QNAP NASes, Synology NASes and...
packages.
Engineering and expansion
Gumstix provides product diagrams and schematics to aid customers in the design and visualization of new product enclosures and custom expansion boards.See also
- ArduinoArduinoArduino is an open-source single-board microcontroller, descendant of the open-source Wiring platform, designed to make the process of using electronics in multidisciplinary projects more accessible. The hardware consists of a simple open hardware design for the Arduino board with an Atmel AVR...
- Mobile Robot Programming ToolkitMobile Robot Programming ToolkitThe Mobile Robot Programming Toolkit is a cross-platform and open source C++ library aimed to help robotics researchers to design and implement algorithms related to Simultaneous Localization and Mapping , computer vision and motion planning...