VIA's Nano processors hailed as the start of micro-servers

An article appearing in The Register has credited Dell's DATA Center Solution's VIA based micro server as the first realisation of the concept of the micro server, a concept that has continued to evolve. There's no shortage of demand for low-medium web servers, and VIA's hardware offers low power consumption and an excellent space saving.

VIA Dual Core processors for embedded market sampling now

VIA are in it for the long haul when it comes to embedded computing, guaranteeing a minimum seven year support and manufacturing cycle for the new VIA Nano X2 E-series dual core processors. With native support for 64-bit operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Windows CE and Linux, they can support a wide variety of development platforms. The processors still have VIA's unique hardware level encryption as well. The Press Release notes that the product won't go into mass production until Q2, but samples are being provided for projects now.

"VIA Nano X2 E-Series processors are natively 64-bit compatible, facilitating an essential transition for the future of the embedded industry as 64-bit operating systems such as Windows® Embedded Standard 7 allow for vastly improved data throughput per clock cycle. This makes it easier to manipulate large data sets and improves overall performance. VIA Nano X2 E-Series processors are also fully compatible with Windows CE and Linux operating systems."

6th VIA AMOS system announced

When you create a new platform for embedded systems, part of the challenge is getting someone to manufacture cases or chassis that fit. VIA solved this a long time ago by designing and manufacturing chassis designed specifically for EPIA boards. This has included the VIA AMOS-1000 for Mini-ITX, the VIA AMOS-2000 for Nano-ITX and the VIA AMOS-3000 for Pico-ITX. With a couple of variations along the way, the VIA AMOS-5001 just announced by VIA is the sixth in the AMOS series (if I've counted correctly!).

This one is designed for use with the VIA Em-ITX form factor boards, specifically the EITX-3001 series. The complete system in the chassis is small and light enough to be mounted at the back of a screen. The design includes heatsinks on either side of the chassis, providing a cool but fanless design that's useful for various embedded computing uses.

Windows for devices gives the skinny on the new VIA ART-5450

A couple of weeks back VIA launched a new fanless box PC for fleet management services. Windows for devices which tracks each and every VIA release in some detail, has written up all the details, revealing the design behind the "new" PC. "Frankly acknowledged by Via is the fact that the ART-5450 employs a previously released motherboard, along with a newly designed expansion module. At its heart, for example, is the EITX-3000 motherboard (right). First released in March 2009, the EITX-3000 was Via's first (and, we think, remains the only) use of the Em-ITX format, billed as an "open industry standard." A key advantage of the 6.7 x 4.7-inch Em-ITX format was said to be its form factor's rectangular shape, providing dual "coastlines." .... Via's ART-5450 employs a new module known as the EMIO-3430. Pictured above, this includes two Mini PCI Express slots primarily designed to accept the mobile broadband and Bluetooth modules mentioned earlier in this story." - Source.

An oldie but a goodie

The VIA EPIA M motherboard was the first EPIA board to really make it big. Featuring decent (for the time) onboard graphics, 512MB of onboard RAM and a VIA C3 Eden processor with a ground-breakingly low power consumption, the board became a modder's paradise, and a cheap and easy way to build a home server. On eBay at the moment you can pick up a used EPIA M, that was used as a home server for years, for a meagre $50. Check it out.

VIA launches new ART-5450 in-vehicle management box

Using its own EPIA boards and extension modules, VIA has put together a complete package for fleet management. Using a VIA EITX-3000 Em-ITX board and the EMIO-3450 expansion module, the ART-5450 box PC can be fitted inside taxis, cars, trucks, etc, as the integral part of an in-vehicle monitoring system. With an operating temperature range of -200 - 700C, the boxes would be reliable even in extreme conditions.

There's quite a choice of 3G modules, including HSPA, WCDMA, EDGE and GPRS. Other features include a SIM card slot, 20 channel GPRS receiver and W-Fi.

VIA is handling orders on a project by project basis. - Source: Press Release

VIA announces dual-core Eden processors

At the Embedded World 2011 show in Germany this week, VIA has announced that in Q2 they will start supplying dual-core Eden processors. The VIA Eden X2 will feature 2 64-bit Eden cores on the one die. This should give a boost to multi-tasking, multimedia playback, and of course make them wickedly future-proof for Windows Embedded Standard 7. Speaking of future-proofing, the Eden X2 will come with a gaurantee that they'll be in production for 7 years, which gives embedded developers peace of mind that any design they come up with can be produced with VIA's Eden X2 for a seven year period. Other boons of the Eden X2 include VIA VT virtualization and VIA Padlock Security:

"VIA Eden X2 processors bring additional features that include VIA VT virtualization, a technology that allows legacy software and applications to be used in virtual scenarios without impacting on performance. The unique VIA AES Security Engine offers hardware-based data encryption on the fly, and essential tool in content protection and system security." - Source: Press Release.