Re: weird reboots of embedded pc

From: john jardine (john_at_jjdesigns.fsnet.co.uk)
Date: 12/11/04 

Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2004 16:23:53 -0000

"Rich Grise" <rich@example.net> wrote in message
news:pan.2004.12.11.04.28.22.845299@example.net...
> On Sat, 11 Dec 2004 01:35:35 +0000, john jardine wrote:
>
> >
> > "Nicholas O. Lindan" <see@sig.com> wrote in message
> > news:Gnpud.1378$Sp3.123@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> >> "Guy Macon" <_see.web.page_@_www.guymacon.com_> wrote
[...]
> > QNX ...
> > I read a couple dozen pages but it seemed all marketing.
> > My best vision of an embedded PC would be to buy a PC and load say QNX
> > instead of microsoft stuff. Yet still run DOS programmes that would run
on a
> > PC Is it this the case? or does everything have to be specially written
for
> > QNX?.
>
> I think what Mr. Macon is trying to tell you, and I concur, is that a
> motherboard that's intended to go into a desktop PC is the worst possible
> choice for an embedded application. You _can_ get boards that are designed
> for embedded applications - you'd only need something as high-level as QNX
> (which, AFAIK, is just another unix) if you're doing some massive
> multitasking or devilish signal processing or something.
>
> Check out some of these links:
> http://www.google.com/search?q=embedded+sbc&btnG=Google+Search
> (SBC == 'single board computer')
>
> Good Luck!
> Rich
>
Unix, ta, makes more sense now.
I'm not sure what "embedded" refers to nowadays but occasionally a query
will come in for some kind of industrial machine controller that is easily
and cheaply satisfied by use of a standard PC running just DOS.
Said PC would as a matter of course have a fast processor, display,
keyboard, large hard disc, floppy disc, I/O.
A recent request was for a turbine blade checking unit. Essentially a
bed-o-nails type setup using 100's of LVDTs. A PC is ideal as the LPT port
can interface to the real world black box stuff. Run a DOS PowerBasic
control prog from power up. Calculate and display numerous visual items and
store and recall data for setups, auditing ect.
If anything fails, the idea is that the PC is a cheap item and can be
easily replaced using a spare from the office down the corridor.
One similar system I did 5 years ago using a standard PC has been running
24/7/365. Only special item was a CVT for the power feed. I've no worries
with hardware reliability of the commmercial PCs.
This path has recently been nipped off, as PCs no longer have LPTs and ISA
sockets. I must look to the 'industrial PCs' on offer. Eg PC104 and upwards
and what their software setups and special requirements are.
Problem is, they are soooo damned expensive and sooooo specialist and not
particularly standard. The customer would be locked into a particular
industrial PC supplier from day one.
A bit like the risks involved in basing a companys product range around one
specialist IC.
The future is here. We will all do as we are told :-)
regards
john

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