Data acquisition computer runs Windows CE 5.0 from flash

Tag : RS 232 485
Data acquisition computer runs Windows CE 5.0 from flash Jul. 28, 2008

Moxa has introduced a 1U rackmount data acquisition computer with16 serial ports and four 10/100 Ethernet ports, all on RJ-45 jacks.The DA-662-I runs Windows CE 5.0 on Intel's ARM-based IXP425processor, with HTTP, telnet, and FTP servers, and PCMCIA,CompactFlash, and USB expansion.

(Click here for a larger view of Moxa's DA-662-I )

Targeting "data acquisition and control applications in power andfactory automation," the DA-662-I is a 1U-high device intended formounting in standard 19-inch racks. Its rear panel, shown below,sports 16 RS232/422/485 serial ports with RJ45 connectors, an RS232console port, and four 10/100 Ethernet ports for networkredundancy. According to Moxa, the optically isolated serial portsoperate at baud rates from 50bps to 921.6Kbps.


The rear panel of Moxa's DA-662-I sports 16 serial ports and fourLAN ports
On its front panel (below), the device has a 2-line by 16-characterLCD display for status messages, four membrane pushbuttons foronsite configuration, and LED indicators monitoring thetransmit/receive status of the LAN and serial ports. The front alsoprovides access to expansion, including a CardBus-compatible PCMCIAslot, a Compact Flash slot, and two USB host ports. The PCMIA slotcould be used to connect an optional 802.11b/g wireless LAN adapterif desired, says Moxa.


Front panel of the Moxa DA-662-I
The DA-662-I employs Intel's XScale IXP425 network processor, a block diagram of which is available here . This ARM-based CPU is, of course, related to the PXAxxx series sold to Marvell in 2006 , but is said by Intel to include additional network processorengines (NPEs) that achieve "wire-speed packet processingperformance."

Moxa has equipped the DA-662-I with 128MB of RAM and 32MB of flashstorage. While the latter may be adequate for typical applications,the company nominates either the Compact Flash slot or USB portsfor storage expansion, if desired.

As the presence of an RS232 console port indicates, Windows CE 5.0runs on this device using a text-based command shell. The deviceships with an FTP server, a telnet server, a web server (httpd),along with a dial-up networking service. Application development isfacilitated via tools that include Moxa's Windows CE 5.0 SDK(software development kit) and Microsoft's .NET Compact Framework 2.0 SP2 .

Features and specifications listed by Moxa for the DA-662-Iinclude: Processor -- Intel IXP425 clocked at 533MHz
Memory -- 128MB of RAM and 32MB of flash
Display -- 2-line x 16-character monochrome LCD
Networking -- 4 10/100 Ethernet ports (RJ45 connectors)
Other I/O: 16 x RS232/422/485 with RJ45 connectors
2 x USB
1 x RS232 console port Expansion: 1 x Compact Flash
1 x PCMCIA (CardBus compatible) Dimensions: With rackmount "ears" -- 19 x 8.8 x 1.8 inches
Without "ears" -- 17.3 x 8.8 x 1.8 inches Weight -- 6.5 pounds
Power requirements -- 100~240 VAC/VDC, auto-ranging, 20 Watts In addition to Windows CE 5.0, the DA-662-1 is also available withLinux. Pricing and availability were not cited, but the deviceappears to be available now. More information may be available fromthe Moxa website, here .


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