LinuxPPC driver for Plexuscom

[asian1]

Plexuscom Linux Driver

Because Plexuscom plan to sell STB based on Pegasos board, I assume they will sell Plexuscom Network cards (PCI, PCMCIA) with the STB.

If the user want to use Linux PowerPC with Pegasos + Plexuscom product, the customer should install the proper driver.

Unfortunately the driver on Plexuscom website is only for X86 and old version of Linux (RedHat 6, XFree 3.3).  RH had released version 8, and XFree had released version 4.1.

Apparently the source code is NOT included in the package, therefore user cann't re-compile the driver for the new version of RH, other Linux (Debian etc) or Linux for PowerPC.

Perhaps Plexuscom should update their driver and provide various driver for other version of Linux, including Linux for PowerPC (on Pegasos).

Their statement on the page:

"In this section, we have device driver files that can be downloaded. But the information contained here is exclusively for Plexuscom products only. Plexuscom assumes no responsibility for any uncertain result from improper use or lack of technical experience."

Does this mean user have to reverse assembly and tweak the driver for other versions of Linux & Pegasos?

[asian1]

Competitors

>Use of Plexuscom Pegasos STB.

I also wonder about the application for the REALLY EXPENSIVE STB (more than US$ 300).
 
STB market is a market with a fierce competition. The best selling are low cost models, less than US$ 150 (for mass market).  They use National Geode Pentium I CPU, RISE MP6 X86, or IDT X86 CPU. For high end products, they use VIA 667 MHz CPU (slower than G3-600 MHz). IBM also offer STB38XX "STB in a chip" based on PowerPC 405.

My best guess is the STB are for high end hotel rooms (suites) in Asia. Several hotels choose the best products for their rooms. Perhaps Plexuscom managed to fool them into buying "Fastest STB" (actually low end product can do the same job!),

 My prediction Plexuscom Pegasos STB series will have a small, niche market, not mass STB market for homes.