Update 5/25/2010 - 4 weeks and counting and still no plug computer. Several emails to GlobalScale Technologies and still no response. Think twice before ordering your plug computer from GlobalScale. Perhaps try New IT instead.
I have been doing a lot of work with Linux lately. For those of you who read my blog then you know that this is new territory for me. Most of my career has been spent on the Windows platform. Of course, over the years I have tried various Linux distributions just out of curiosity. However, a recent project at work will now require to support an application that runs entirely on Linux. In order to feel comfortable supporting a production Linux environment I want to make sure that my skills are sharp and up-to-date.
Most of my experience with Linux has been with a small fileserver that I have at home. About five years ago I bought a NSLU2 NAS device from Linksys. The NSLU2 was a small device that had two USB ports where you could attach external storage and share files on your network using Samba. At the time I discovered the device, I did not have a Windows Home Server and I really need somewhere to centrally store my files. Inside the NSLU2 was a 266 MHZ processor and 32 MB of memory and it was just enough to run Samba efficiently. Although the NSLU2 booted from a firmware chip, hackers got a hold of it and figured out how to modify the boot loader to look at an external USB device. This opened up the door for people to take complete control of the device and load other Linux distributions on it. Therefore when I got my Windows Home Server a couple years ago I immediately converted my NSLU2 device to a LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL and PHP) server which runs Debian Linux.
Recently, I have discovered some new applications that I would like to run on my NSLU2 device. Unfortunately, the 32 MB or RAM and 266 MHZ processor just don’t cut it. Of course, I could build a Frankenstein computer out of old parts that I have laying around the house but I was hoping that I could find another device like the NSLU2 to play around with. One of the things I like most about the NSLU2 was its simplicity. There are very few working parts. You simply plugged it in and it worked. Therefore, I was hoping to find the next generation NSLU2 device. After a bit of searching I discovered the Plug Computer A.K.A the SheevaPlug.
As you can tell, the name fits. The SheevaPlug is a fully functionally computer in the form factor of a plug. When I got around to looking at the technical specifications I was surprised that the device touted a 1.2 GHZ processor and 512 MB of RAM. Both of these areas are big improvements when compared to my NSLU2 device. Here are the complete technical specifications:
Sheeva CPU Core
- 1.2 GHz operation
- L1 Cache: 16K Instruction + 16K Data
- L2 Cache: 256KB
Memory
- DDR2 400MHz, 16-bit bus
- 512MB DDR2: 1Gb x8, 4 devices
- Power efficient Samsung devices
- NAND FLASH Controller, 8-bit bus
- 512MB NAND FLASH: 4Gb x8, direct boot
- 128-bit eFuse Memory
Power
- Power input: 100-240VAC/50-60Hz 19W
DC Consumption: 5V/3.0A
- High efficiency POL DC-DC converters
Development Interface
- System Development Board
- JTAG and Console Interface via USB
- SDIO expansion
- JTAG OpenOCD support via USB
High speed I/O & Peripherals
- GE, USB 2.0 Host
- RTC w/ Battery
You have to admit, this device is really cool and surprisingly powerful for its size. A full linux environment running on only 5 watts of power. One of my favorite derivations of the SheevaPlug is named the GuruPlug Server Plus from Global Scale Technologies. The GuruPlug has Wifi, eSata, USB 2.0, Bluetooth and Home automation features. If you are a developer, the possibilities of what you can do with a plug computer are endless. Common uses of the plug computer are:
- PBX systems
- NAS servers
- Apache Web Servers running MySQL, PHP etcetera
- Routers
- Streaming Media Servers
The possibilities for this device are endless and are only limited by your imagination. One programmer hooked the SheevaPlug to his automobile and used it to record RPM’s and gas mileage in his daily trek to work. He then uses the data collected to figure out the most efficient route. The video explains it all:
If you are like me, you were probably expecting this little device to carry a big price tag. Would you believe that you can get this device for only $99! Of course, you can spend a little more if you need want deluxe features like HDMI output. I plan on buying one of these plugs to run a Ubuntu LAMP server. The best part about it is that I can leave it plugged in all day long without worrying about wasting too much power. Finally, the device can be tucked away in a closet or behind the couch in the living room. Since it has Wifi, I do not need to run any cables to it!
