I. Why Choose Linux-Based Hardware for Industrial IoT Scenarios?
At the heart of industrial automation, edge computing, and smart Internet of Things (IoT) projects lies a critical decision: what core hardware should be chosen to support your business logic and control algorithms? While traditional dedicated controllers or fixed embedded devices are simple, they have limitations in functional flexibility, depth of secondary development, and long-term ecosystem maintenance. As application scenarios become increasingly complex—from simple data acquisition to edge AI inference to complex protocol gateways—an open, programmable hardware platform with powerful computing capabilities becomes essential.
This is precisely where Linux-based embedded hardware comes in. Linux provides a standard operating system environment, a rich development toolchain, a vast library of open-source software packages, and a powerful network protocol stack, allowing engineers to freely install custom software, deploy containerized applications, or perform deep system customization, just like on a server. This article will focus on analyzing how to choose the most suitable "Linux heart" for your project.
II. Core Requirements and Key Characteristics of the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT)
An ideal Linux hardware device for custom software development should meet the following core characteristics:
1. Running a complete Linux operating system: This goes beyond simply booting a minimal file system; it provides standard package management tools (such as apt, opkg), complete driver support, and a stable kernel, laying the foundation for software installation.
2. Open system software resources: The vendor should provide the U-Boot bootloader, Linux kernel source code, driver module source code, and a build toolchain (such as Buildroot). This is a prerequisite for deep customization, driver adaptation, and system tailoring.
3. Sufficient processing power and memory: CPU performance must match application complexity, and memory and storage space must ensure the smooth operation of the operating system, user programs, and data.
4. Rich hardware interfaces: These include network interfaces (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, 4G), storage expansion interfaces (M.2, eMMC), general communication interfaces (USB, UART, I2C, SPI, CAN), and display interfaces to meet the needs of connecting sensors, actuators, networks, and peripheral devices.
5. Industrial-grade Reliability: Wide temperature range, wide voltage power supply, long lead times, and excellent EMC performance ensure stable operation in harsh industrial environments.
III. Industrial Computing Product Line Selection Matrix: From Core Boards to Single-Board Computers
According to the provided documentation, EBITE offers a multi-tiered product portfolio to meet the above requirements, primarily divided into two categories: core boards and single-board computers.
1. Core Board Series: The Choice for Ultimate Compactness and Deep Customization Core boards highly integrate core components such as CPU, memory, and storage. Users need to design their own baseboard to expand interfaces. It is suitable for projects with strong hardware design capabilities that pursue ultimate size and cost optimization.
Representative Products: ECK10-13xA Series / ECK20-6Y28C Series
① Operating System and Software Resources:
ECK10-13xA (based on STM32MP13x): Runs on a system based on the Linux 6.1.28 kernel, providing complete source code for TF-A, OP-TEE, U-Boot 2022.10, Buildroot, etc. Supports Ubuntu 18.04.
ECK20-6Y28C (based on NXP i.MX 6ULL/28x): Runs on a system based on the Linux 5.10.9 kernel, providing source code for U-Boot 2020.04, Yocto, etc.
② Processing Power:
ECK10-13xA: Single-core ARM Cortex-A7 @ 650MHz, sufficient for moderately complex logic control and lightweight applications.
ECK20-6Y28C: Depending on the model, it offers cores ranging from Cortex-A7 to higher performance.
③ Key Interfaces (Expandable via Backplane): All support dual Ethernet MAC, multiple USB 2.0, multiple UART, CAN, I2S audio, etc., offering significant interface potential. The final form factor is determined by the user's backplane design.
④ Application Positioning: Suitable for customized chemical control boards, proprietary equipment main control, and high-end instrument cores. Users can freely add required dual network ports, multiple USB ports, and specific industrial bus interfaces to the backplane as needed.
2. Single-Board Computer Series: Out-of-the-Box and Rapid Deployment Options
Single-board computers are complete embedded computer boards with all interfaces exposed, allowing users to directly begin development and application without hardware design. This significantly shortens time-to-market.
Representative Products: ECB32-PB Series / ECB31-P4T13SA2ME8G Series
① Operating System and Software Resources:
ECB32-PB (based on Allwinner T527/A527): This is the star model that meets your requirements of "2*USB3.0, Mini PCIe, M.2, dual network ports" mentioned in the previous article. It runs on a system based on the Linux 5.15 kernel, providing complete U-Boot, kernel, Buildroot, and Debian system source code.
ECB31-P4T13SA2ME8G: Runs on a system based on the Linux 5.4 kernel, providing U-Boot, kernel, Buildroot, and OpenWrt source code.
② Processing Power and Interfaces (taking ECB32-PB as an example): Powerful domestic octa-core processor: Allwinner T527 (Cortex-A55) provides ample computing power, suitable for edge AI and multi-tasking gateways.
③ Abundant Out-of-Box Interfaces:
Network: Dual Gigabit RJ45 Ethernet ports, meeting network redundancy or internal/external network isolation requirements.
Expansion: Mini PCIe interface for 4G/5G modules or SSDs; M.2 interface supports high-speed NVMe SSDs.
High-Speed Peripherals: USB 3.0 interface ensures high-speed data throughput.
Others: HDMI, multiple UARTs, GPIO, I2C, SPI, CAN, etc.
④ Application Positioning:
ECB32-PB: A perfect hardware platform for high-end edge intelligent gateways, industrial vision controllers, and multi-protocol conversion servers. Users can directly deploy Docker containers on it to run Python data analysis programs, Node-RED stream processing, or custom C++ applications, utilizing its powerful interfaces for data aggregation and processing.
Other Single-Board Computers: Suitable for general scenarios such as industrial HMIs, intelligent controllers, and protocol gateways.
IV. Solution Implementation: Roadmap from Selection to Software Deployment
1. Requirements Analysis and Selection:
Computationally Intensive (e.g., visual analysis, complex algorithms):** Prioritize the ECB32-PB (eight-core A55) or a higher-performance core board.
Interface-Specific (requiring a specific number of Ethernet ports, USB, CAN):** Confirm that the single-board computer's interfaces are fully compatible, or select a corresponding core board for custom baseboard design.
Cost and Size Sensitive (Cost and Size Sensitive):** Select a core board for in-house baseboard design.
2. Environment Setup and System Burning:**
Ebyte provides tools such as PhoenixSuit (USB burning) and PhoenixCard (SD card burning), which can easily burn pre-compiled Linux systems or self-built images to devices.
3. Custom Software Installation and Deployment:**
Using Package Managers:** Directly install software from the open-source community via apt (Debian systems) or opkg (OpenWrt systems), such as mosquitto (MQTT broker), Node.js, Python 3, and various libraries.
Cross-compilation: Using the cross-compilation toolchain provided by Ebisoft on the x86 development machine, compile to generate an ARM architecture executable file, which is then copied to the target board via SCP for execution.
Containerized Deployment: On Docker-enabled systems (such as Debian), directly pull and run Docker images to achieve environment isolation and rapid deployment.
Driver and Kernel Customization: Utilizing the provided complete kernel source code, driver modules can be added or removed, and the device tree modified as needed to adapt to specific sensors or peripherals.
4. Application Scenarios Examples:
Smart Gateway: Install EdgeX Foundry on the ECB32-PB, connect to field Modbus, CAN, and serial devices through its rich device service SDK, and upload standardized data to the cloud via MQTT.
Edge AI Server: Deploy the TensorFlow Lite runtime on the device, load the trained model, acquire images through a USB camera, and perform real-time defect detection or target recognition.
Protocol Conversion Center: Based on the provided multi-port serial and network interfaces, write custom C/C++ programs to achieve bidirectional conversion between the proprietary TCP protocol and the standard Modbus RTU protocol.
V. Frequently Asked Questions about Industrial IoT Device Selection
1: Should I choose a core board or a single-board computer?
If the project is in the prototype verification stage, small-batch trial production, or you want to minimize the hardware development cycle, we strongly recommend choosing a single-board computer (such as ECB32-PB). If the project has entered large-scale mass production, has extremely stringent requirements for cost and size, and the team has hardware design capabilities, then choosing a core board for customized design has a greater long-term advantage.
2: Does the provided Linux system support specific programming languages or runtimes?
The standard Linux systems (such as Buildroot, Debian) provided by EBITE are a basic environment. Almost all programming language environments (Python, Java, Go, C/C++, etc.) can be easily installed through package managers or by compiling them yourself. This is the core advantage of the Linux ecosystem.
3: How to ensure the stability and self-starting of custom software? You can write your application as a Systemd service, defining startup dependencies, crash restarts, and log management by writing .service files. This is standard practice for industrial-grade Linux applications.
4: How do I access hardware resources (such as specific GPIOs, CAN) in my software?
The Linux system abstracts hardware devices as files. For example, GPIOs are accessed through the `/sys/class/gpio` directory, serial ports are accessed through the `/dev/ttySx` device node, and the CAN bus is accessed through the SocketCAN interface. Drivers are provided by the kernel; your application simply needs to call the standard Linux API.
VI. Summary
Choosing a Linux-based hardware device that allows for free software installation means giving your IoT projects ultimate flexibility and future scalability. Whether it's the out-of-the-box, interface-rich single-board computer from EBIRT, or the deeply controllable, limitless-potential core board, both provide developers with a solid "digital chassis."
From edge computing boxes running complex AI models to smart protocol gateways connecting hundreds of devices, to customized human-machine interfaces, success begins with the right hardware selection. With the complete software source code, development tools, and industrial-grade reliability design provided by EBITE, your team can focus on the application-layer logic that creates value, quickly leaping from concept to product.