Database development

Andrew_Huskinson · January 5, 2009, 11:17am

Hi,

I am looking to learn Ubuntu on an ARM platform and I have come across Beagleboard and Pandora.

I feel once faster ARM processors are available, Snapdragon, there will be a lot of webbooks powered by the ARM.

I will be using MySQL for development and it seems it will fit in 256MB so REVC will do me.

Also I want to use Amazons EB2 data storage platform.

I want to build my own ‘laptop’ in a standard silver case.

If I get a powered USB hub can I run the Beagleboard, 5v flatpanel and one or more 2.5” hard disks off it?

Cheers. Andrew.

Koen_Kooi · January 5, 2009, 11:32am

Is snapdragon actually faster than omap3? Last I heard it lacked NEON and it also lacks a DSP.

regards,

Koen, who is quite interested in seeing something faster than OMAP3

Laurent_Desnogues · January 5, 2009, 11:46am

According to this:

http://www.insidedsp.com/Articles/tabid/64/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/238/Qualcomm-Reveals-Details-on-Scorpion-Core.aspx

Snapdragon has NEON (with 128-bit datapaths).

And:

http://www.qctconnect.com/products/snapdragon.html#TechnicalFeatures

mentions a DSP.

But no Snapdragon based device is available that I know of.

Laurent

Viral_Sachde · January 5, 2009, 11:47am

Hi

A Quick look at http://www.qualcomm.com/products_services/chipsets/snapdragon.html

Says, Technical Features

1GHz CPU
600MHz DSP
Support for Linux® and Windows Mobile®
WWAN, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
Seventh-generation gpsOne® engine for Standalone-GPS and Assisted-GPS modes, as well as gpsOneXTRA^TM Assistance
High definition video decode (720P)
3D graphics with up to 22M triangles/sec and 133M 3D pixels/sec
High resolution XGA display support
12-megapixel camera
Support for multiple video codecs
Audio codecs: (AAC+, eAAC+, AMR, FR, EFR, HR, WB-AMR, G.729a, G.711 , AAC stereo encode)
Support for Broadcast TV (MediaFLO^TM , DVB-H and ISDB-T)
Fully tested, highly-integrated solution including baseband, software, RF, PMIC, Bluetooth, Broadcast & Wi-Fi
But, I am not sure, How open it is ?

Any day, OMAP3530 has fairly good architecture.

rgrds,

Viral Sachde

Laurent_Desnogues · January 5, 2009, 11:48am

According to this:

http://www.insidedsp.com/Articles/tabid/64/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/238/Qualcomm-Reveals-Details-on-Scorpion-Core.aspx

Snapdragon has NEON (with 128-bit datapaths).

And:

http://www.qctconnect.com/products/snapdragon.html#TechnicalFeatures

mentions a DSP.

But no Snapdragon based device is available that I know of.

Laurent

Andrew_Huskinson · January 6, 2009, 12:21pm

Hi,

I was only using Snapdragon as an example of a future possible ARM
powered netbook. I assume at the moment a REVC board and some DIY
would get me on the platform I am looking at soonest.

My main query was:
If I get a powered USB hub can I run the Beagleboard, 5v flatpanel and
one
or more 2.5" hard disks off it?

I am interested in having at least 2 hard disks for compiles/swap
files and some file backup should one disk fail. (RAID would be nice
Can I run hard disks off the Beagleboard or do I need some interface?
I would be prepared to buy a second Beagleboard to run a NAS cluster
of disks if need be.

My background is Physics and mainframe IT. I am not an engineer. I
have built a Mullard pre-amp on Veroboard and a Linsley-Hood kit
amplifier and worked in an electronics workshop in the past so I can
solder and follow circuit diagrams. I wouild need help to get a
'laptop' Beagleboard goimg.

I live in Birmingham in the UK not far from a Maplin electronics shop.

Thanks for your replies. Andrew.

jkridner · January 6, 2009, 3:04pm

A typical powered hub will provide 500mA to each port. As long as you are using USB-powered devices, they will work off of the power being supplied to the hub.

Andrew_Huskinson · January 6, 2009, 4:07pm

Hi,

Do you know:

A supplier of a suitable USB powered display.

Will a USB 2.5" HDD run straight off the Beagleboard, or via a cable
or adapter?

Cheers. Andrew.

Hunyue_Yau1 · January 6, 2009, 4:18pm

Hi,

Do you know:

A supplier of a suitable USB powered display.

Depends on what you need to show, there are simple alpha numeric
LCD displays that can be assembled to work off the USB port.
For a full speed, full graphics display, I am not aware of any
simple solution.

Will a USB 2.5" HDD run straight off the Beagleboard, or via a cable
or adapter?

All the 2.5" HDD drives I have seen pull more then 500mA peak so you
will need a self powered hub and maybe a Y cable unless you want to
cheat and violate the USB spec on the EHCI port. Even the smaller 1"
Microdrive pull up to 500mA. Up to 500mA might be doable with the EHCI
port directly but for the OTG port, you will still need a self powered hub.

(Note: EHCI is RevC or later; OTG is available now.)

Andrew_Huskinson · January 6, 2009, 5:47pm

Hi,

What are people using for the display on the videos of Beagleboard
demos?
I thought I had seen a small USB powered flat screen in a video.

I am happy to have the 'laptop' mains powered only.
I would prefer to keep all the bits powered off a USB hub as it seems
the simplest solution.
Otherwise I need a power supply to run the flat panel display and/or
HDD(s).
If HDDs are a problem I would want to use 2 SD cards.

What are OTG and EHCI?

I was assuming I would need to power a 2.5" HDD off a powered USB hub
at least, not off the Beagleboard directly.
Would a powered HUB run one 2.5" HDD off one powered USB socket? Can
a capacitor and/or small battery be used for power spikes?
Can the HDD data cable be plugged into the Beagleboard, via a cable or
adapter, and seen by Ubuntu?

I have no engineering knowledge. I have assembled my own PC's from
the large components but thats it.

I have an external USB hard drive and external USB DVD/CD drive which
I assume can be plugged into the Beagleboard via a socket on my case
for loading data and backup.

Cheers. Andrew.

Soren_Steen_CHriste2 · January 6, 2009, 7:35pm

Hi Andy,

If HDDs are a problem I would want to use 2 SD cards.
Can the HDD data cable be plugged into the Beagleboard

In order to connect a Hard Drive to the BeagleBoard, you need to do it
through the USB link with a "USB-to-PATA" or "USB-to-SATA" converter. (As
you would connect an external USB hard drive to you normal PC)

What are OTG and EHCI?

OTG = On the Go
EHCI = Enhanched Host Controller Interface

Basically two different HS-USB controllers in OMAP - Seen from an
application/"upper level" point of view there should as such be no
difference if the OTG port is configured in Host-mode - See more info at:

Best regards
Søren

Andrew_Huskinson · January 6, 2009, 8:22pm

Hi,

Is this what I can do?

REVC board and case with spacers

A digital monitor. I assume I will have to buy a new LCD monitor.

7 port powered USB Hub

I have got:
USB SD card reader
Powered Speakers or headphones
Microphone
USB Keyboard
USB Mouse
USB HDD
USB DVD/CD
USB Belkin Wireless G ???

I need:
Digital Monitor cable
(TV cable - Can I use a TV instead of a the monitor or is it for Video
output?)
USB Power cable to Beagleboard
USB data cable from Beagleboard to Hub
Null Modem cable to PC
A second USB SD card reader if I want 2 data stores without carting
the external HDD or DVD/CD drive around

Cheers. Andrew.

Jose_J_Rodriguez · January 6, 2009, 10:16pm

HandyAndy wrote:

Hi,

What are people using for the display on the videos of Beagleboard
demos?
I thought I had seen a small USB powered flat screen in a video.

I saw this a month or so ago:

Regards,
Joe1962

Andrew_Huskinson · January 9, 2009, 9:59am

Hi,

Having looked at the Beagleboard presentation I noticed a small SD
card hanging out of the board.
I had not realised one could be plugged straight in.
Whats the maximum capacity which is supported?

Cheers. Andrew.

mansr · January 9, 2009, 10:46am

HandyAndy wrote:

Hi,

Having looked at the Beagleboard presentation I noticed a small SD
card hanging out of the board.
I had not realised one could be plugged straight in.
Whats the maximum capacity which is supported?

Whatever is the maximum for the SDHC interface should be supported.
I'm using 8GB cards without problems.

Soren_Steen_CHriste2 · January 17, 2009, 12:10am

Hi Andy,

Maximum size for a SDHC card is 32GB according to the SD specification...
The next step is SDXC, which supports from 64GB to 2TB

More information with respect to SD in general can be found at: http://www.sdcard.org/developers/tech/

Last, but not least it's actually possible to connect a card to the BeagleBoard Expansion Connector as well. In this way you can have two SD cards connected without using any card-reader... I however haven't heard about anyone trying this yet, but in theory it's supposed to work - Give it a try...

Best regards
Søren

HandyAndy wrote:

Hi,

Having looked at the Beagleboard presentation I noticed a small SD
card hanging out of the board.
I had not realised one could be plugged straight in.
Whats the maximum capacity which is supported?

Whatever is the maximum for the SDHC interface should be supported.
I'm using 8GB cards without problems.