Yellow Dog Linux powers first Cell-based product
The world's first commercial product based on the Cell BE (broadband engine) processor is expected to ship with a Yellow Dog Linux BSP (board-support package) in Q1, 2006. Mercury Computer Systems says Terra Soft Solutions, one of its VARs (value-added resellers), is developing the BSP.
Additionally, Mercury announced its second Cell BE product, a "Turismo" system targeting dense-computing applications.
The Cell BE processor is best-known as the processor embedded in Sony's Linux-capable PlayStation 3, expected to ship next spring. However, the chip also targets a range of embedded and high-performance computing applications. IBM and Sony last week released Linux development tools for the Cell BE -- including kernel patches, toolchains, and emulators -- aimed at letting potential customers evaluate the chip and start writing applications for it.
