From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Received: from pigeon.gentoo.org ([208.92.234.80] helo=lists.gentoo.org) by finch.gentoo.org with esmtp (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from <gentoo-embedded+bounces-3694-garchives=archives.gentoo.org@lists.gentoo.org>) id 1PQ5eG-0004aD-9n for garchives@archives.gentoo.org; Tue, 07 Dec 2010 22:04:48 +0000 Received: from pigeon.gentoo.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by pigeon.gentoo.org (Postfix) with SMTP id 68701E0686 for <garchives@archives.gentoo.org>; Tue, 7 Dec 2010 22:04:32 +0000 (UTC) Received: from foo.stuge.se (foo.stuge.se [213.88.146.6]) by pigeon.gentoo.org (Postfix) with SMTP id 38FD8E05FC for <gentoo-embedded@lists.gentoo.org>; Tue, 7 Dec 2010 21:42:27 +0000 (UTC) Received: (qmail 30975 invoked by uid 501); 7 Dec 2010 21:42:26 -0000 Message-ID: <20101207214226.30974.qmail@stuge.se> Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2010 22:42:26 +0100 From: Peter Stuge <peter@stuge.se> To: gentoo-embedded@lists.gentoo.org Subject: Re: [gentoo-embedded] SATA on Pandaboard? Mail-Followup-To: gentoo-embedded@lists.gentoo.org References: <4CFBBEAE.30600@tampabay.rr.com> <20101207191438.9500.qmail@stuge.se> <4CFEA04C.4000103@tampabay.rr.com> Precedence: bulk List-Post: <mailto:gentoo-embedded@lists.gentoo.org> List-Help: <mailto:gentoo-embedded+help@lists.gentoo.org> List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:gentoo-embedded+unsubscribe@lists.gentoo.org> List-Subscribe: <mailto:gentoo-embedded+subscribe@lists.gentoo.org> List-Id: Gentoo Linux mail <gentoo-embedded.gentoo.org> X-BeenThere: gentoo-embedded@lists.gentoo.org Reply-to: gentoo-embedded@lists.gentoo.org MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <4CFEA04C.4000103@tampabay.rr.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Archives-Salt: 0a4bb2ff-387c-4fb3-a6f0-7e66f1192fd7 X-Archives-Hash: 55659d1edfcc4081707e3e17efd13748 wireless wrote: > I looked at the schematic and saw nothing. I saw > the USB, but wanted SATA, as in a home-built > Netbook type of application was my immediate desire. I think you'll have to settle for USB unless you're prepared to build an expansion board. But seems expansion will be USB as well. > With that kind of processing power and DVI & HDMI out, I > had a hard time believing there is no SATA native > or hacked hardware solution. I think you'll have to believe it. :) SATA requires transceivers in about the same class as DVI/HDMI. I can certainly imagine that only one set of transceivers would fit the chip area/price point, and I think graphics was the right choice in that case. > It's intended for mobile, so why not support sata (for laptop size HD)? I think it's too "clunky" for the intentions of the OMAP. And using a mechanical device in a mobile project is a bad idea. SSDs sure, but they are only an afterthought since many devices already use hard drives. If making a new platform or a new device, then best not go that route, better use the flash controller and some NAND. > Hard to believe that was missed or is not forthcoming, imho. Maybe someone will make a SATA daughterboard, but since there's no PCI bus it would have to be based on one of the USB->SATA chipsets which are all pretty crappy. It could certainly be done though. > I looked at the url above and saw no listing of sata. I would look at something like the block diagram instead: http://pandaboard.org/sites/default/files/PandaBoard_block_diagram.png > This is the right community, since it is > clearly posted in the handbook. I didn't try to say that your question was inappropriate, I meant that the "upstream" pandaboard.org community would know way more about the topic, including past ongoing and future efforts, so it would likely be more rewarding to ask there. > I will post elsewhere and > I have already asked TI directly about sata support on that > OMAP family.... but no answers yet. Have a look at the documentation that they have published.. Google OMAP4430, first hit: OMAP=E2=84=A2 4 Platform - OMAP4430/OMAP4440 http://focus.ti.com/general/docs/wtbu/wtbuproductcontent.tsp?contentId=3D= 53243&navigationId=3D12843&templateId=3D6123 First link on that page: Chip Block Diagram http://focus.ti.com/en/graphics/wtbu/OMAP4430_zoom.jpg > Much of the information and docs are just too new > to be complete. Most of TIs docs are nearly two years old. > No doubt, since the gerbers et. al. exist, it wont be long before > somebody puts a SATA bus interface, to this project. I guess the ease of a $15 USB->SATA converter will mean most don't bother. > Me, I can think of DNS servers (sata not required); AND mail > servers and media servers where SATA is critical, Hehe. I wouldn't trust SATA drives for critical things. But I certainly agree that Cortex-A will reach into the server market! > just off the top of my head. Sure USB is ok, but native sata would > be much cooler, imho. Hm, why? > So sorry if I ruffled your feathers..... No feathers ruffled the least, just a thought that you could better information elsewhere. Sorry if I was too terse and came off as hating. I also think the board is very nice! :) //Peter