ThinkCore W311/321/341 Linux User’s Manual Introduction

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Overview
The ThinkCore W311/321/341 wireless embedded computers support 802.11a/b/g wireless LANs
with data encryption functions, including the common WEP and powerful WPA and WPA2, to
establish a secure transmission tunnel over a WLAN.
ThinkCore W300 Series Embedded Computers use a MOXA ART 192 Mhz RISC CPU. Unlike
the X86 CPU, which uses a CISC design, the RISC architecture and modern semiconductor
technology provide these embedded computers with a powerful computing engine and
communication functions, but without generating a lot of heat. A 16 MB NOR Flash ROM and
on-board SDRAM (64 MB for W341 and 32 MB for W311/321) give you enough memory to
install your application software directly on the embedded computer. In addition, dual LAN ports
are built right into the RISC CPU. This network capability, in combination with the ability to
control serial devices, makes the ThinkCore W300 Series ideal as communication platforms for
data acquisition and industrial control applications.
The pre-installed Linux operating system (OS) provides an open software operating system for
your software program development. Software written for desktop PCs can be easily ported to the
computer with a GNU cross compiler, without needing to modify the source code. The OS, device
drivers (e.g., serial and buzzer control), and your own applications, can all be stored in the NOR
Flash memory.
Software Architecture
The Linux operating system that is pre-installed in the W311/321/341 follows the standard Linux
architecture, making it easy to accept programs that follow the POSIX standard. Program porting
is done with the GNU Tool Chain provided by MOXA. In addition to Standard POSIX APIs,
device drivers for the USB storage, buzzer and Network controls, and UART are also included in
the Linux OS.
AP
API
Protocol
Stack
Device
Driver
Microkernel
User Application Daemon (Apache, Telnet, FTPD, SNMP)
Application Interface (POSIX, Socket, Secure Socket)
TCP, IP, UDP, CMP, ARP, HTTP, SNMP, SMTP
PCMCIA, CF, WLAN, USB, UART, RTC, LCM, Keypad
Memory control, Schedule, Process
RS-232/422/485, Ethernet, PCMCIA, CompactFlash, USB
File
System
Hardware
OS Kernel
The W311/321/341’s built-in Flash ROM is partitioned into Boot Loader, Linux Kernel, Root
File System, and User directory partitions.
In order to prevent user applications from crashing the Root File System, the W311/321/341 use a
specially designed Root File System with Protected Configuration for emergency use. This
Root File System comes with serial and Ethernet communication capability for users to load the