Ready-to-use and low-cost Linux embedded board

The FOX Board runs a real Linux operating system (not a uC Linux) on an ETRAX 100LX microprocessor, a 100MIPS CRIS CPU made by Axis Communications.

The FOX Board has two main field applications:

• As a standalone device to build a micro web server or other network devices such as proxy, router, firewall, etc.
• As a core engine to plug onto the PCB of an application board instead of a simple microcontroller.

Through the 10/100 Ethernet interface, it is possible to have access to the internal Web server, FTP server, SSH, Telnetd and the complete TCP/IP stack.

On each side of the Fox board, it is possible to solder two 20x2-pin strip connectors with 2.54mm (0.1") step, to attach the FOX Board to an application board (such as the FOX VHDL Board) or to move signals to another board using normal 40-pin flat cables.

Peripheral connections

Many peripherals can be connected to the FOX Board using these signals and hardware adapters when needed:

• Up to 2 parallel ports or 1 wide parallel port (*)
• Up to 4 IDE ports (8 peripherals) (*)
• Up to 2 SCSI ports or 1 wide SCSI port (*)
• I2C bus
• Up to 48 general purpose I/O (*)
• Up to 4 asynchronous serial ports (*) (**)

(*) Not all the signals on the extension sockets can be used at the same time. The peripheral signals configuration depends on Kernel setup and line assignments.
(**) The serial ports on Axis are four: 1 asynchronous port is already used as console (/dev/ttyS0) and it is not available on the extension sockets -- only on the console connector J10; 1 other port (/dev/ttyS1) is in common with the USB1 port; the remaining 2 ports are completely available (/dev/tty2 and /dev/tty3). One of these can be configured also as RS485 or synchronous.

All the signal lines on the extension sockets need mechanical and/or electrical adapters to be used.

Hardware Features

• Size: 66 x 72 mm (2.6 x 2.8 inches)
• CPU: Axis ETRAX 100LX -- 32 bit, RISC, 100MHz (100MIPS)
• Memory: 32MB RAM; 8MB Flash
• Power: Single power supply, 5V, 280mA (1 watt)
• Ports: 1x Ethernet (10/100 Mb/s), 2x USB 1.1, 1x serial console port
• Extension: 2x extension sockets with IDE, SCSI, serial lines, parallel ports, I/O lines, I2C bus interface
• Weight: 37 g

Software Features

• Kernel: Full Linux ver 2.4.31 (default) or 2.6.15
• Server: HTTP (WEB), FTP, SSH, TELNET
• Driver: USB Pen driver, FTDI and PROLIFIC USB-to-Serial Converter
• SDK: Open source SDK for Linux Systems
• Language: C
• Tools: Easy-to-use GNU C compiler

View detailed port pinouts (PDF file; 243KB)

Available Accessories