The requirement began a few months back with a packet generator and tester that could be deployed easily by technicians in the field. It would be lightweight and low cost ($99, 2oz, 2"x2" cube) but we had one problem...there would be no monitor/keyboard/mouse to determine 1) if the local device actually could see the far-end IP/Device, 2) if the test started or hung/died and 3) when the test ended and what the results of the test were. We solved the results question by writing the results to a micro-USB (small form-factor) plug. The other 3 would involve coming up with some sort of visual cue for the tech. We found a System-on-Chip LED next to the RF receiver on the little box. Problem was Ubuntu could not access it. Only ARM could!
Once we figured out how to get the ARM built on top of the micro-SD card in the Cubox we were up and running and found the folder/file that controlled the LED. Created a bash script containing a do-loop and sleep commands in between turning the LED on and off and wallah...we had morse-code-like capabilities! We could signal information to the techs now. Arch is similar to other Linux ditros but I like the simplicity and minimal environment in which to build what you want and need. More to come!
