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Linux computer fits in USB key

linuxdevices.com — A start-up in the French Alps is readying a tiny Linux computer that fits inside a USB key form-factor. (No cheesy jokes, please!)

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  • underdog5004, on 10/11/2007, -18/+34I may be dense, but what is the point? It's like plugging in a USB wireless dongle into your wireless router.

    Can anyone tell me why I'm wrong?
    • ers35, on 10/11/2007, -13/+2Interesting point.
    • Xavier1012, on 10/11/2007, -5/+11I'm gonna mod it with dual 8800GTX's--quad-sli baby!

      *cheesy joke!
    • Roger, on 10/11/2007, -3/+45Who the hell is reading replies?
    • drgruney, on 10/11/2007, -0/+13Hardware firewall.
    • eggo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I'm not sure if this thing can act as a usb host, rather than only as a client; but I'm picturing two usb wifi adapters and this thing stuck to a magnet as a wifi repeater "throwie". Though I'm sure this little gadget is on the expensive side, judging from "Pricing was not disclosed."
    • JerMe, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Embedded systems is a huge market. The article references GPS systems, point-of-sale terminals, Ethernet-based IP cameras, and bar code readers as examples.
      • byte, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I think that they were talking about the manufacturers description of the processors used in the system

        -- /usr/bin/byte
    • db113456, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Also think of instant file server, using nfs, samba, ftp ... Or a mini web server, just plug and go.
      It is interesting, in a way, making very small computers is a way to achieving very large clusters ...
      • rdoger6424, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4so you're saying that "Imagine a beowulf cluster of these!" is actually relevant?
    • livevil, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2DoS zombies.
    • sstidman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I think the point is that you could use this device to collect information in an intelligent way, then connect it to a PC to download that information. They example they give in the article is a GPS application.processor. So imagine a USB GPS unit hooked into one of the two USB host ports collecting data as you drive around, storing that on the 256 MBytes of onboard flash RAM. When your done driving around, disconnect it from your truck, hook it up to your PC and download the data. Since it has two USB host ports, you could be collecting GPS data through one of the ports and some other data gathering device hooked into the other.
      • BlackMask, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I, for one, can't wait to connect this to my psp or ps3 to extend the devices' capabitlities manifold, given that both ps3 and psp support Linux 100 percent
  • Dankoozy, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7better than picotux. again could use this as a home server/automation server of some sort. remote data collection
  • schestowitz, on 10/11/2007, -18/+7Dugg for "(No cheesy jokes, please!)"
  • daeken, on 10/11/2007, -10/+4http://www.yoggie.com/node/41 Tiny as hell and runs linux off a 533mhz XScale processor. I just got one (preordered it) and I'm currently hacking it to run third-party apps. I registered http://www.picoprowiki.com/ and will be putting up info soon.
  • joefreeza, on 10/11/2007, -5/+34what would be considered a "cheesy joke"?
    • funkkyhippo, on 10/11/2007, -11/+7A French Linux Computer's penis can fit inside of a small USB key. LOL!

      That was for demonstration purposes only.
      • threemagic, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1The French USB key is inserted into the USB slot where it can boot your computer. It realizes it's too small to do anything with the computer so it uninstalls itself and retreats back to the USB key.
    • selrahc, on 10/11/2007, -3/+21So some cheddar and some provolone walk into a bar...
    • Jo9100, on 10/11/2007, -2/+17"can you install mozarella?"

      hilarity DOES NOT ensue
    • Kookami, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Maybe something along these lines?
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDat9zdw7Gs
    • ineedanencore, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0i believe it has something to do with penises and vaginas
  • BertBert, on 10/11/2007, -4/+15That reminds me...When is apple dropping the Mac Nano?
    • joefreeza, on 10/11/2007, -2/+13Right after they make the mac shuffle
    • OrangeTide, on 10/11/2007, -4/+2Isn't the iPhone a MacNano ? I thought they were using the OSX kernel to run the thing?

      mac shuffle would be a USB dongle with cpu on board and no screen ... wait that's what this device is.
  • Reno582, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5That'll be a pretty good firewall
    • hadak, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3finally. a decent use for this thing. (usb powered computer? plug a computer into a computer? ehh? now a firewall...that makes sense. as does perhaps a mail/web server. i'm starting to see the uses...
    • Fordi, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3There's lots of potential uses for a computer in a USB stick - in fact, all USB sticks already have a near-computer built in (USB microcontroller).

      Depending on what speed they can get such a thing up to, a USB-based computer could be used for robotics research (program the computer via USB and it controls the robot's logic), inline DSP (feed it an MP3 and it spits out karaoke backing, for example), build it as part of a camera and have a multitouch sensitive controller built into its LCD screen, and you could have a mini-photoshop that you can use to correct pictures before even getting the pics out of your camera.

      That JTAG port looks mighty useful; 50 pinouts, if they can be individually controlled, is enough to run a LOT of stuff (consider that it's an ARM; that means that it's pretty likely that the 50 pinouts map to 48 parallel bits running at bus speed (190MHz on this little guy), ground and power. That's a lot of extraaneous bandwidth to play with. You could drive a display (VGA or TV), take a CCD input, do DCT compression/decompression at reasonable speeds, run an emulator, read a controller, control servos, read a Flash card, simulate an IDE controller, etc. The possibilities are only limited by imagination and technology.

      I can't wait for the first handheld SNES emulator (190MHz is fast enough for this) based on this.
  • thscientist1, on 10/11/2007, -7/+0isnt this a dupe?
  • phractured, on 10/11/2007, -8/+6Asking us not to make a cheesy joke only encourages it.
  • cyberoidx, on 10/11/2007, -9/+11So a computer that has USB for a port? I thought i needed some kinda SCREEN to use IT!

    Never mind. Move on.
    • drgruney, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Lots of computers don't have displays. It's not the only form of output. Besides if it has VLC you can run a desktop remotely on it.
    • cyberoidx, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1So here's a cool new computer that needs to be jacked into a USB port which is found usually in computers, and computers based consoles? Cool new computer!
    • alexcutbill, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I think you mean VNC. VLC is a video player.
    • bhattsan, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2Linux users are to 1337 to use a display. They can recite commandline ;)
      • cyberoidx, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1But you yet need a fscking PORT! Where'd ya plan to insert that usb of yours?
        • archimerged, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1A smart USB key can present many slave devices at once. This key, plugged into a USB port on the host, can appear to be a keyboard, mouse, CDROM, disk, network adapter, and one would expect, any other thing it wants to be, all at once. As a CDROM, it can supply autorun software to the host. As a network adapter (once the host loads drivers for it and enables it), it can use IP to connect to network ports on the host, or provide network services (such as a web server) to the host.

          The key can also provide stealth remote control by presenting keyboard, mouse, and display USB slave devices, with no special software other than the USB drivers running in the host (if you plug a network cable into the back end of the USB key), or requiring special software but not requiring a separate network cable. The special software comes off the CDROM slave provided by the USB key.
        • archimerged, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2A smart USB key can present many slave devices at once. This key, plugged into a USB port on the host, can appear to be a keyboard, mouse, CDROM, disk, network adapter, and one would expect, any other thing it wants to be, all at once. As a CDROM, it can supply autorun software to the host. As a network adapter (once the host loads drivers for it and enables it), it can use IP to connect to network ports on the host, or provide network services (such as a web server) to the host. It can also provide stealth remote control by presenting keyboard, mouse, and display USB slave devices, with no special software other than the USB drivers running in the host (if you plug a network cable into the back end of the USB key), or requiring special software but not requiring a separate network cable. The special software comes off the CDROM slave provided by the USB key.
        • archimerged, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I didn't submit two comments, I completed an edit, edited a second time, and just missed the deadline. The first edit appears above the original version. The second edit was to mention that the autorun software would be an X server so the key can open a login window on the host display and receive keystrokes and mouse events from the host keyboard and mouse.
  • smurf22, on 10/11/2007, -5/+3Im not sure whats up with the words smallest computer thing, would like a digital watch be there, it computes the time so...... fine bury me
  • ryannerd, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7This is not the Linux USB key you are looking for. Move along.
  • Kr4t05, on 10/11/2007, -4/+14The obligatory comment: Imagine a cluster of about 700 of these things.
    • stalefries, on 10/11/2007, -0/+13Fixed:
      "Imagine a Beowulf cluster of these"
      • CompIsMyRx, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3You can only have 127 max, because you can only daisy-chan USB to 127 devices.
        • Kr4t05, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1If this were /. you would be modded "Informative." Good job! :)
    • tnoy, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Imagine a cluster of these plugged into a cluster.
    • TexanPsycho, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Or we could just have a cluster of normal computers that's probably cheaper and better?
  • mseneschal, on 10/11/2007, -8/+3Where does the monitor, keyboard or mouse plug into? FOOL
  • LovingDigg, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8What did the USB key say to Linux?.... Get in my Belly!
  • MasterThief117, on 10/11/2007, -2/+15cheesy jokes?
    what do you call cheese that's not yours?
    nacho cheese.
  • moixa, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Ok, my 127 node cluster is on its way.
  • starfisch, on 10/11/2007, -1/+14is it cheesy to laugh at the word "dongle"?
    • XBassGuitarX, on 10/11/2007, -3/+0I guarantee you the image in my head was not the image intended by the person who wrote "dongle."
  • drgruney, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3I like the thought of running one of these with a usb wifi adapter and powered by usb. Too bad the ethernet port doesn't support POE

    For an AP that is.
  • grumpyrain, on 10/11/2007, -8/+2What is so amazing about it? There have been Linux distros on CD for ages, and USB Keys are now available in excess of DVD capacity.
    • doctapeppa, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5ummm. This is not simply a USB key. It's a computer! The current "distro's on a stick" require a computer to run. Did you read the article?
    • yournightmare, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1It's not a distro on a USB key, it's a computer on a USB key that happens to have Linux on it.
    • stahlratte, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Doesn't pay attention in class. digg-
  • cl0n3x, on 10/11/2007, -7/+3I can name some other things that would "fit in a usb key" *cough* porn.
  • Ai3d, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8Am I the only one who didn't understand anything on that page but dugg it anyway?
  • thegoodsteer, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1What about "Damn Small Linux" ?
    Have we forgotten!?
  • orbitaudio, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0i am curious to know what chip provides the USB 2.0 host if anyone knows....
  • cwiz7, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2First the comments section of Digg went to crap...and now were asked not to make jokes? :( My favorite part of the Internet has died. Oh well, time to see if anything has changed outside in the past year. (Whoops, was that a cheesy joke?)
    • mattmcm, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2What's this "outside" you speak of?
    • alexcutbill, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0Maybe he means outside digg, like other websites.
  • CubiX, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3These aren't as small, but still awesome. Designed for integrated systems. Run linux with JRE
    http://www.gumstix.com/
  • jlauten, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Ditto. Look at Gumstix.

    As to why small computers? You stick them on small things! Embedded computing. We're thinking of getting one to handle some of the processing on our Roomba robots which will one day rule the world. You could build lots of small form factor hardware with it. Hook it up to LCD screens. Heck, what do you think is inside your PDA?

    Some example projects are Robotic fish (http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~jliua/videogal.htm), a rollable display computer (http://www.research.philips.com/newscenter/archive/2005/050902-rolldisp.html), a swarm-based network (http://cswww.essex.ac.uk/staff/owen/research.htm), and a host of other personal projects (http://docwiki.gumstix.org/Customer_projects).

    Gumstix is pretty neat. You can buy different types of motherboards (or whole 'waysmall' computers) and link in boards with various options: bluetooth, wifi, gps, robotics controllers, etc.
    • yldave, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0Roomba? I for one welcome our new room cleaning overlords.

      Wait! - I already have a wife....
      • daverave999, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I bet she's not as dirty as my Roomba...
  • OrangeTide, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2The BlackDog was a Linux box that you could plug into USB. it was designed for security use. You could authenticate to the box with a password or a fingerprint (built-in fingerprint scanner). and it was upgradable with an MMC/SD socket. But it did not have ethernet. Mostly it was just a platform for running "secure" applications. When you plugged it into a Windows box it would autorun an X server and pop up with whatever apps you configured it to load. When you unplugged the device would shutdown using a short term battery internally to make certain you didn't lose your data. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackDog

    I liked mine, but the product was a failure. (it was targeted to the corporate security industry, but nobody could really come up with the important apps to run on it). I found it useful for security work on contract jobs while I'm at a full-time employer, they can't easily get into the device and figure out that I was moonlighting. (I had a C compiler installed on mine to do my contract work)
  • jamdogg, on 10/11/2007, -4/+2What's the point in replying to anyone it's like you've been instantly dugg down into oblivion.
  • martrinex, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Does this thing have to be plugged in to a real computer to work? Or can its usb port be used to power it to do a job at a more remote location...and then be placed in a pc later to gather the data? Forgive the stupid question just trying to work out 'whats the point'
  • akaz, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1Man who cares. ***** Linux. Resubmit when you can actually fit a real OS on a USB key.

    Buried as lame.
  • myklm, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Mandriva usb flash:http://www.mandriva.com/en/linux/node_3827
    Linux native installer for "The Witcher"game: http://www.petitiononline.com/7730722/petition.html
  • aserer511, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1wait, how does it boot without the host pc already being logged into some os? it can't. thats a major limitation,
  • supermanred, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The only problem with this thing, is well.... it runs linux. Can you get OS X on it?

    Hey, wait a minute it doesnt have a screen? or any way of inputing anything?

    How useless IS this?
  • raseel, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I don't get it !!!
    How is this any diffrerent from having a Linux , say DSL, installed on a USB Pendrive ?
  • archimerged, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1["sort by date (show all)" works much better than "sort by most diggs" in viewing replies]
    @aserer511, @supermanred, @raseel:
    Judging by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackDog cited by OrangeTide, this sort of USB computer first comes up as a CDROM. The host can boot from the CDROM or just run software such as an X server, making the host look like an XTerm to the USB computer. Recall that a USB device can present as many different devices simultaneously. So (presumably) the host can see a CDROM, a read-write disk, a network interface, a mouse, a keyboard, etc., etc. One would hope the hardware in the device permits software to make it look like absolutely any USB device.

    Normal use would be plug the device into the host's USB port, run the XTerm software from the USB disk, and the device puts a login window up on the host screen. But there are other possibilities if the device can be USB keyboard and mouse.

    Plug a laptop into the network on the device, plug the device into the host, and use your laptop keyboard, display, and pointer as if they are directly hooked to the host, without any special software running on the host (other than drivers for USB keyboard, mouse, and display). Or plug the internet into the device and the device into the host, and any mouse, display, and keyboard in the world can be seen as local hardware to the host with no special software other than drivers. Possibilities are endless. A security nightmare for places which want to prevent leaks.

    To avoid needing to plug the internet into the device at the cost of running special software, just plug the device into the host, run a program from it, turn off the monitor, and go home. The program establishes an https connection to evil.com over the host's internet connection, and relays data to the device, which presents that data back to the host as coming in from a local keyboard and mouse. The program can grab screenshots and forward them directly to evil.com, obviating the need for a USB display.

    I don't know if this particular device can do all these things, but I don't see why not. So either you have remote control of USB mouse, keyboard, and display with no special software running but needing an external network connection (with a visible MAC address -- snoop the network for a while and use the MAC of a system which was turned off), or remote control of USB mouse and keyboard via a small program in the host and an https connection over the host's internet.
  • wilkojcb, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Is it just me, or does it look a little large for a usb key?
    I know it's a SBC, but come on, we can do better surely?
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