As more equipment opts for WiFi connectivity the company Silex Technology have introduced a Software Development Kit to speed-up WiFi integration onto Linux-based systems.

 

The core of Silex’s model SX-580-2700DM-SDK development kit is the company’s SX-580 WiFi computer-on-module (COM). It measures just 30 x 55mm and contains a Qualcomm’s Atheros 6003 dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n radio, along with a Freescale i.MX28 system-on-chip running an optimized Linux-based TCP/IP network stack. Silex has designed the SX-580 COM for use in specialized applications such as medical devices, weighing and measuring equipment and networked printers.

 

The kit also includes a development baseboard providing connectivity for Ethernet, three serial ports, USB, power, plus header-based access to SPI and I2C interfaces. A WiFi antenna is also thrown in.

 

The SX-580′s Linux SDK security protocols include WPA, WPA2, WPA2-PSK, WPA, WPA-PSK, and WEP plus 802.1x authentication with the most commonly used EAP types. The SDK also provides serial and Ethernet-to-WiFi capabilities including transparent bridging. This allows an Ethernet-connected device to communicate wirelessly, without requiring modifications to its existing software. The module’s serial ports support speeds up to 3Mbps.