Do you know of some open hardware that runs officialy openwrt? I'll try to explain my needs. I have to develop a board that runs Linux embedded for a VoIP application. I need two Ethernet ports, LAN with active POE (where to connect a VoIP phone) and WAN (maybe with passive POE, where to connect a router). So, the IP traffic could be routed to the external router connected to WAN or, internally, to a 4G modem. So Linux should have three network interfaces: lan, wan and mobile. It's a platform that seem very similar to a standard 4G router for SOHO application, but I need to customize software and hardware (I need to control some GPIO and UARTs). Regarding the software, I could start from openwrt. However I don't know how to start with hardware. I saw some cheap platforms that run openwrt with schematics, but they usually use esoteric components, such as AllWinner or Broadcam CPUs. The best would be to use a well supported Linux SOM that could simplify to custom electronics. Any suggestions?
Openwrt on custom hardware
Started by ●October 25, 2023
Reply by ●October 25, 20232023-10-25
Un bel giorno pozz digit�:> Do you know of some open hardware that runs officialy openwrt?[...]> Regarding the software, I could start from openwrt. However I don't know > how to start with hardware. I saw some cheap platforms that run openwrt > with schematics, but they usually use esoteric components, such as > AllWinner or Broadcam CPUs. > > The best would be to use a well supported Linux SOM that could simplify > to custom electronics.What about Raspberry Pi? Many models are supported, including Zero and compute modules (easier to integrate into other designs): https://openwrt.org/toh/ -- Fletto i muscoli e sono nel vuoto.
Reply by ●October 26, 20232023-10-26
On 10/25/23 14:33, dalai lamah wrote:> Un bel giorno pozz digitò: > >> Do you know of some open hardware that runs officialy openwrt? > [...] >> Regarding the software, I could start from openwrt. However I don't know >> how to start with hardware. I saw some cheap platforms that run openwrt >> with schematics, but they usually use esoteric components, such as >> AllWinner or Broadcam CPUs. >> >> The best would be to use a well supported Linux SOM that could simplify >> to custom electronics. > > What about Raspberry Pi? Many models are supported, including Zero and > compute modules (easier to integrate into other designs): > > https://openwrt.org/toh/ >You might like to try these people. Have been using a 3 port box of theirs, nanopi, running a variant of openwrt, for a while now. Just worked out of the box. https://www.friendlyelec.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=69 Not expensive and arrived within a few days. Usual disclaimer etc... Chris
Reply by ●October 26, 20232023-10-26
pozz <pozzugno@gmail.com> wrote:> Regarding the software, I could start from openwrt. However I don't know > how to start with hardware. I saw some cheap platforms that run openwrt > with schematics, but they usually use esoteric components, such as > AllWinner or Broadcam CPUs.Are any of these platforms any good to you? https://openwrt.org/docs/techref/hardware/soc> The best would be to use a well supported Linux SOM that could simplify > to custom electronics.There's a SBC page: https://openwrt.org/toh/views/toh_single-board-computers and some of those are SOMs. Also searching 'openwrt som' turns up some products. Theo
Reply by ●October 27, 20232023-10-27
On 25/10/2023 12:18, pozz wrote:> Do you know of some open hardware that runs officialy openwrt? > > I'll try to explain my needs. I have to develop a board that runs Linux > embedded for a VoIP application. > I need two Ethernet ports, LAN with active POE (where to connect a VoIP > phone) and WAN (maybe with passive POE, where to connect a router). > > So, the IP traffic could be routed to the external router connected to > WAN or, internally, to a 4G modem. > > So Linux should have three network interfaces: lan, wan and mobile. > > It's a platform that seem very similar to a standard 4G router for SOHO > application, but I need to customize software and hardware (I need to > control some GPIO and UARTs). >These are usually directly accessible on any platform with solid OpenWRT support - regardless of how esoteric the components are.> Regarding the software, I could start from openwrt. However I don't know > how to start with hardware. I saw some cheap platforms that run openwrt > with schematics, but they usually use esoteric components, such as > AllWinner or Broadcam CPUs. > > The best would be to use a well supported Linux SOM that could simplify > to custom electronics. > > Any suggestions?For the cheapest SOM's, look for Raspberry Pi compute modules. If you want something very solid with good long-term support, industrial reliability and continued production for a decade or more, folks like Toradex are a good option - but they cost significantly more. An alternative might be to view the Linux board more flexibly, and have your base board connected by USB. Put a USB hub chip on it along with a couple of USB-Ethernet adaptors (combined devices exist, I believe), a USB 4G modem, and an FTDI 4232H or other FTDI chip (for UARTs and GPIOs). Then you can use any board running Linux - all the hardware you need is on your board, and it is all controlled the same way from the Linux system. USB2 based Ethernet is easily an order of magnitude faster than you need for VOIP, and none of this needs drivers or OS support outside of the standard kernel for the last decade or more.
Reply by ●October 27, 20232023-10-27
On 2023-10-25, pozz <pozzugno@gmail.com> wrote:> > The best would be to use a well supported Linux SOM that could simplify > to custom electronics. > > Any suggestions?Just got this in my inbox today - sorry, no english page: https://www.openpr.de/news/1252910/TQ-praesentiert-neuen-Single-Board-Computer.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr3-W0k_EhA Manufacturer page: https://www.tq-group.com/en/products/tq-embedded/arm-architecture/mba8mp-ras314/ They claim armbian support - that should work OK as a starting point, unless you are fixed on OpenWRT. Depending on volume, you might take one of their SOMs and put it on a custom base board that adds power-over-ethernet and other add-ons as required. cu Michael -- Some people have no respect of age unless it is bottled.
Reply by ●October 30, 20232023-10-30
Il 25/10/2023 16:33, dalai lamah ha scritto:> Un bel giorno pozz digitò: > >> Do you know of some open hardware that runs officialy openwrt? > [...] >> Regarding the software, I could start from openwrt. However I don't know >> how to start with hardware. I saw some cheap platforms that run openwrt >> with schematics, but they usually use esoteric components, such as >> AllWinner or Broadcam CPUs. >> >> The best would be to use a well supported Linux SOM that could simplify >> to custom electronics. > > What about Raspberry Pi? Many models are supported, including Zero and > compute modules (easier to integrate into other designs):Thanks for suggestion, as usual Raspberry is helpful for hobbyst and prototype, but I'm worried about serious productions where you need a product that can be purchased for several years. In the past (around 3 years ago) I designed a product around CM1 that now is not available anymore.> https://openwrt.org/toh/
Reply by ●October 30, 20232023-10-30
Il 26/10/2023 12:38, chrisq ha scritto:> On 10/25/23 14:33, dalai lamah wrote: >> Un bel giorno pozz digitò: >> >>> Do you know of some open hardware that runs officialy openwrt? >> [...] >>> Regarding the software, I could start from openwrt. However I don't know >>> how to start with hardware. I saw some cheap platforms that run openwrt >>> with schematics, but they usually use esoteric components, such as >>> AllWinner or Broadcam CPUs. >>> >>> The best would be to use a well supported Linux SOM that could simplify >>> to custom electronics. >> >> What about Raspberry Pi? Many models are supported, including Zero and >> compute modules (easier to integrate into other designs): >> >> https://openwrt.org/toh/ >> > > > You might like to try these people. Have been using a 3 port box of > theirs, nanopi, running a variant of openwrt, for a while now. Just > worked out of the box. > > https://www.friendlyelec.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=69 > > Not expensive and arrived within a few days. Usual disclaimer etc...Yeah, I found these folks too in my researches. I will try their products a try. Maybe they could be available to re-design one of their product with some custom hardware I need.
Reply by ●October 30, 20232023-10-30
Un bel giorno pozz digit�:>> What about Raspberry Pi? Many models are supported, including Zero and >> compute modules (easier to integrate into other designs): > > Thanks for suggestion, as usual Raspberry is helpful for hobbyst and > prototype, but I'm worried about serious productions where you need a > product that can be purchased for several years. > > In the past (around 3 years ago) I designed a product around CM1 that > now is not available anymore.As far as I know, CM3 should be backward compatible with CM1, or at least very easily adaptable. However, this is quite usual for these kind of modules, it doesn't matter who makes them. I still remember some very disappointing experiences I've had many years ago with some Bluetooth modules made by so-called "respectable" manufacturers, and disappeared from Earth from one day to another. Unless you use some very standard form factors such as PC-104 or VPX (usually bigger and more expensive), you will face phase out. At least the Raspberry foundation gives you an obsolescence statement for their compute modules, for example they say that CM3+ will remain in production until at least January 2028: https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/compute-module-3-plus/ Besides, I believed that it was possible to buy the "bare" CPUs (in this case the Broadcom BCM2837B0) to build your own boards, but apparently this is not the case. These CPU do not even pop out if you search for them in the Broadcom site! You can find some very sparse information online, but basically it is all locked in between Broadcom and the Raspberry foundation. Bummer. -- Fletto i muscoli e sono nel vuoto.
Reply by ●November 6, 20232023-11-06
pozz <pozzugno@gmail.com> wrote:> Il 25/10/2023 16:33, dalai lamah ha scritto: > > Un bel giorno pozz digit�: > > > >> Do you know of some open hardware that runs officialy openwrt? > > [...] > >> Regarding the software, I could start from openwrt. However I don't know > >> how to start with hardware. I saw some cheap platforms that run openwrt > >> with schematics, but they usually use esoteric components, such as > >> AllWinner or Broadcam CPUs. > >> > >> The best would be to use a well supported Linux SOM that could simplify > >> to custom electronics. > > > > What about Raspberry Pi? Many models are supported, including Zero and > > compute modules (easier to integrate into other designs): > > Thanks for suggestion, as usual Raspberry is helpful for hobbyst and > prototype, but I'm worried about serious productions where you need a > product that can be purchased for several years. > > In the past (around 3 years ago) I designed a product around CM1 that > now is not available anymore.pcengines.ch may have what you need. Bye Jack -- Yoda of Borg am I! Assimilated shall you be! Futile resistance is, hmm?
