Message-ID: <6789be57@news.ausics.net> From: Computer Nerd Kev Subject: Re: News : ARM Trying to Buy AmperComputing Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc References: <_hycnQxlN5kAphr6nZ2dnZfqn_SdnZ2d@earthlink.com> <36bf96a5-527c-1d8b-a93b-6788cdd589a2@example.net> <1PKcna3Yf6vdFhX6nZ2dnZfqnPidnZ2d@earthlink.com> <7b19252d-bfe8-9d48-0cd2-eb33e4a64179@example.net> <67897bb3@news.ausics.net> User-Agent: tin/2.0.1-20111224 ("Achenvoir") (UNIX) (Linux/2.4.31 (i686)) NNTP-Posting-Host: news.ausics.net Date: 17 Jan 2025 12:20:07 +1000 Organization: Ausics - https://newsgroups.ausics.net Lines: 55 X-Complaints: abuse@ausics.net Path: ...!weretis.net!feeder9.news.weretis.net!news.bbs.nz!news.ausics.net!not-for-mail Bytes: 3263 rbowman wrote: > On 17 Jan 2025 07:35:47 +1000, Computer Nerd Kev wrote: > >> Finding the minimum-power ARM chip able to run Linux would be an >> interesting exercise. I gather Linux requires a minimum set of ARM >> extensions, as well as an MMU, which may exclude many of the SoC options >> intended for embedded applications. Software is as much of the problem >> as hardware. > > ARM processors fall into three rough classes, A, M, and R. A is the > general purpose design like the Cortex A76 in the current Raspberry Pi 5, > while M is the microprocessors like the Cortex M33 in the Pico 2. I'm aware that the Cortex Ms miss some features needed for Linux, and these are the lowest power fast ARM processors, so that's the software problem. You could write/port something like the first Contiki OS to replace Linux, but then you've lost the versitility of being able to use existing software like on an x86(_64) laptop (unless you run it remotely on a PC via VNC, which Contiki OS apparantly supported). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contiki > The Raspberry Pi 5 runs Raspberry Pi )S, a Debian derivative, very nicely. > People have tried other distros with mixed success. The Pis have been A > series. They're a long way off minimum power like the sort of chips powering smart watches, although the Pi Zeros are a bit closer. > People with a lot of time on their hands have run Linux, sort of, on the > RP2350. > > https://liliputing.com/you-can-run-a-minimal-linux-distro-on-raspberry- > pis-new-rp2350-microcontroller/ I wouldn't count running an emulator of another architecture and loading Linux in that to be a practical solution. There's uCLinux which runs without an MMU, but as I understand it a lot of typical Linux software won't build for that environment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9CClinux > Choices will need to be made with the hardware design but I don't see the > software as being the limitation. It's a two-way balancing game. If you're replacing an x86 laptop running Linux ideally you want an ARM platform for which most software will build without extensive patching. My impression is that this requires an MMU, which rules out the Cortex Ms, but maybe there are practical work-arounds? -- __ __ #_ < |\| |< _#