Linux Server using Galileo

Projects General Guidance
1

Dear all,

I'm evaluating the possibility of installing a basic Ubuntu server on Arduino Galileo.
The machine should be assembled using:

Arduino Galileo
Arduino Ethernet Shield (with PoE module) for LAN and power (to power the machine through the POE switch)
16GB MicroSD
802.11 a/b/g/n 2T2R Mini PCI Module + pigtails and Antennas

Ubuntu server + openwrt

I will take control of the machine using ethernet and console (using the RS232 - mini-jack cable)

Do you think I will find any difficulties?..

thanks,

Paolo

2

The Intel Galileo (there is no Arduino Galileo) is already equipped with Ethernet, so you don't need the Ethernet shield and you'll be probably disappointed by the performance that the Ethernet shield would offer on the Galileo (no, it's not just another Ethernet interface under Linux).
With 512kB of RAM you'll have bigger problems running a standard Ubuntu server setup, OpenWRT is more of an option but I'm not aware of pre-compiled version of OpenWRT for the x86 platform.

I guess you'll find better platforms than the Galileo for your project but to give you hints on that you should describe what you want to achieve.

3

For what I see on the specs it has a built-in 256mb of RAM.
512k is the cache memory.

Regarding the ethernet shield, i need it for the POE , feature not included onboard.

Thanks

Paolo

4

You're right with the memory, the Intel page is more exact on that.

The solution is relatively expensive compared to solutions like this one:

There you get everything on one board, it's cheaper than the Galileo only and smaller as well as faster.

5

It is possible to rig up your own PoE. For a 10/100 device only four of the eight wires in the ethernet cable are used (blues and browns are unused). The only real question is how much current and how far you can throw 5V down it.

6

Chagrin:
The only real question is how much current and how far you can throw 5V down it.

Normally, you don't. Higher voltage, lower current, more forgiving of long runs of thin wire. You'll need a far-end regulator though.

pylon:
you'll be probably disappointed by the performance that the Ethernet shield would offer on the Galileo (no, it's not just another Ethernet interface under Linux).

I have seen a WizNet driver in the Linux kernel. Never used it, so I'm not sure how it works (what's between the IC and the computer, that is) or what performance is like. Probably not great. Still, it was an interesting find.

geewiznet.png

7

I have seen a WizNet driver in the Linux kernel. Never used it, so I'm not sure how it works (what's between the IC and the computer, that is) or what performance is like. Probably not great. Still, it was an interesting find.

Yes, there is a driver for the chip in more or less recent versions of the Linux kernel but that one won't work with the Ethernet shield because it's accessing the chip by IO memory mapping and not by the SPI interface but that's the only available on the shield. But if you rewrite the routines to use the SPI interface instead you get it to run with not so much effort.
I still think, though, that you won't get an acceptable performance from that interface as you would expect from a standard Linux Ethernet port.