BusinessWire
April 14, 2008 08:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Avnet Electronics Marketing Launches Complete MicroBlaze Processor Linux Design Solution

Avnet MicroBlaze Processor Linux DVD, Kit and Linux for MicroBlaze Processor SpeedWay Design Workshop Series Offers Complete Design and Support Solution for Embedded Processor Applications
Embedded Systems Conference Silicon Valley 2008

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas business region of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), announces the release of a new Xilinx® MicroBlaze® Processor Linux DVD, MicroBlaze Processor Linux Starter Kit and the launch of the Linux for MicroBlaze Processor SpeedWay Design Workshop™.

The stand-alone Linux for MicroBlaze Processor DVD is based on both PetaLogix Petalinux and LynuxWork’s BlueCAT Linux distribution and tool chains. The DVD demonstrates how to port Linux into a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) design using the 32-bit Xilinx MicroBlaze processor. It also highlights the benefits and tradeoffs when using the new Memory Management Unit (MMU) in the MicroBlaze processor. The new MMU enables designers to use commercial-grade operating systems when implementing their embedded designs with Xilinx FPGAs.

The MicroBlaze Processor Linux Starter Kit includes the Linux for MicroBlaze Processor DVD, the Xilinx® Embedded Development Kit - Spartan™-3A DSP MicroBlaze Processor Edition, and attendance at an Avnet Linux for MicroBlaze Processor Workshop, providing a complete platform for running embedded Linux on a MicroBlaze processor implemented in a Spartan-3A DSP FPGA.

Avnet has also launched the Linux for MicroBlaze Processor Workshop -- part of the Avnet SpeedWay Design Workshop Series. The workshop offers support for embedded developers through a full day hands-on session that provides practical knowledge on utilizing Xilinx tools and Internet Protocol (IP) to create a MicroBlaze processor (based Linux system within an FPGA). The course is aimed at software and hardware designers considering an operating system for their next embedded processor based application.

“With the growing interest in FPGA-based embedded processors, the migration to full operating systems such as Linux is inevitable,” said Tim Barber, vice president of global Xilinx marketing for Avnet Electronics Marketing. “These Avnet developed solutions will help our customers through the learning phase by providing ‘how-to’ tutorials and proven design examples.”

The Linux for MicroBlaze DVD and starter kit are available through Avnet in the Americas, Japan and selected countries in Europe and Asia. For more information and to purchase, please visit: www.em.avnet.com/linuxmb.

About Avnet Electronics Marketing

Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company. Avnet Electronics Marketing serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in more than 70 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The group's Web site is located at http://www.em.avnet.com.

About Avnet

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and technology services and solutions with more than 300 locations serving more than 70 countries worldwide. The company markets, distributes and optimizes the supply-chain and provides design-chain services for the products of the world's leading electronic component suppliers, enterprise computer manufacturers and embedded subsystem providers. Avnet brings a breadth and depth of capabilities, such as maximizing inventory efficiency, managing logistics, assembling products and providing engineering design assistance for its 100,000 customers, accelerating their growth through cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, Avnet generated revenue of $15.68 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.