Appendix 1. The Arcom VIPER-Lite Development Kit
All of the examples in this book have been written for and tested on an embedded platform called the VIPER-Lite. This board is a high-speed embedded controller that is designed, manufactured, and sold by Arcom. The following paragraphs contain information about the hardware, software development tools, and instructions for ordering a board for yourself.
The VIPER-Lite hardware includes the following:
Processor: PXA255 XScale (based on the ARM v.5TE architecture) (200 MHz)
RAM: 64 MB of SDRAM
ROM: 16 MB of flash and 1 MB boot ROM
Three RS232-compatible serial ports (with external DB9 connectors)
10/100baseTx Ethernet port
USB v1.1 client port
CompactFlash slot
Four programmable timer/counters
Sixteen-channel DMA controller
Watchdog timer
Real-time clock
Eight buffered digital inputs
Eight buffered digital outputs
RedBoot debug monitor program resident in boot ROM
Embedded Linux (based on kernel version 2.6) resident in flash[1]
JTAG port for system debugging
Arcom has also built an add-on module ideal for learning embedded software. The add-on board was designed specifically for the examples shown in this book and is included with a book-specific version of the VIPER-Lite development kit. The VIPER-Lite add-on module includes the following:
Three LEDs
Four buttons and jumpers
Four opto-isolated inputs
Four opto-isolated outputs
Two relay outputs
A buzzer
A small prototyping area
The VIPER-Lite development kit includes all of the necessary cables for interfacing to the board and a power supply. A photograph of the complete VIPER-Lite development kit in its blue case is shown in Figure A-1.
The CD-ROM that comes with the Arcom development kit includes all VIPER-Lite manuals and reference documents, datasheets for all components on the board, source code for RedBoot, embedded Linux packages with source code, and binary images for RedBoot and embedded Linux.
The software development tools for the Arcom board are located on the book’s web site. We built these tools ourselves for the ARM processor by following the instructions shown in Appendix C. The software tools include the GNU C compiler (gcc), assembler (as), linker (ld), and debugger (gdb). We encourage you to investigate the other GNU tools included in the development kit. All programs in this book were built using the tools contained on the book’s web site.
For readers of this book, the VIPER-Lite development kit is available at a special discount price of $295 (plus shipping). Use one of the following order codes when contacting Arcom, depending on the operating system you want:
VIPER-Lite Embedded Linux Development Kit
VIPER-Lite Windows CE Development Kit
Make sure you mention the book so that you receive the add-on module. Here is Arcom’s contact information:
Arcom
7500 West 161st Street
Overland Park, KS 66085
Web: http://www.arcom.com
America and Asia: +1 913-549-1000 or [email protected]
EMEA: +44 (0)1223-403410 or [email protected]
[1] The Windows CE operating system can be specified instead when ordering the VIPER-Lite board. There is an additional cost for the VIPER-Lite with the Windows CE operating system. Examples in the book target the embedded Linux operating system version of the board.