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BlackDog is a mobile personal server which allows the user to use the open source Linux operating system on any computer with a USB port. The device is proprietary technology developed by Realm Systems, Inc. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Open source refers to projects that are open to the public and which draw on other projects that are freely available to the general public. ... Linux (IPA pronunciation: ) is a Unix-like computer operating system family. ... An operating system (OS) is a set of computer programs that manage the hardware and software resources of a computer. ...

The BlackDog electronic device is the worlds smallest Linux server that is 100% USB powered and fits in the palm of the hand. Note: USB may also mean upper sideband in radio. ...

How it works

The BlackDog is a fully self-contained Linux computer with a built-in biometric fingerprint reader. BlackDog is completely powered from the USB port of the host computer – no external power adapter is required. Image File history File links BlackDog. ... Linux (IPA pronunciation: ) is a Unix-like computer operating system family. ... At Disney World, biometric measurements are taken of the fingers of multi-day pass users to ensure that the pass is used by the same person from day to day. ... Note: USB may also mean upper sideband in radio. ...

When plugged into the host computer’s USB port, BlackDog starts up, automatically launching the X Window system for Windows Xming and a software NAT router via an autorun application that the BlackDog presents to the host through a virtual USB CD-ROM. Once those applications are running, the virtual USB CD-ROM drive disconnects, and a virtual USB-to-Ethernet adapter is connected to provide the communications link. KDE 3. ... Xming is a port of the X Window System to Microsoft Windows. ... In computer networking, the process of network address translation (NAT, also known as network masquerading, native address translation or IP-masquerading) involves re-writing the source and/or destination addresses of IP packets as they pass through a router or firewall. ... This article is about a computer networking device. ... The virtual is a concept applied in many fields with somewhat differing connotations, and also denotations. ... The CD-ROM (an abbreviation for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (ROM)) is a non-volatile optical data storage medium using the same physical format as audio compact discs, readable by a computer with a CD-ROM drive. ... Ethernet is a large, diverse family of frame-based computer networking technologies for local area networks (LANs). ...

The host machine’s monitor, keyboard, mouse, and Internet connection are used by the BlackDog for the duration of the session.

When the user is finished, simply unplugging the BlackDog returns everything on the host computer to its original state.

Hardware specifications

BlackDog - First Version

Identified as the BlackDog, sometimes identified as Project BlackDog or Original BlackDog. Created in conjunction with the Realm Systems Project BlackDog programming contest. There was a short production run to support those who wished to enter the contest or to experiment with the platform. Publicly available for purchase from the Project BlackDog website in September 2005, production ended in mid January 2006 when the contest closed, with a limited number of units still available. It is an opensource Linux derivative of Realm Systems initial Mobile Personal Server (MPS) prototypes.

• Dimensions: H: .50” W: 1.75” L: 3.5”
• Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Xilinx Virtex II-Pro FPGA containing one 400 MHz PowerPC 405 Delta processor
• 64MB low power mobile SDR SDRAM
• 256MB or 512MB NAND Flash Memory
• USB 2.0 through FPGA
• Authentec AES3400 fingerprint reader
• MMC Expansion Slot (Supports MMC cards up to 1GB, next software revision will support MMC+ cards 1GB and larger)
• Small lithium polymer battery for clean shutdowns on removal
• Small multicolor indicator LED

BlackDog - Second Version The ounce is the name for a number of different units of mass (oz), and also of two units of fluid volume (fl oz) and of one unit of force, the ounce-force (ozf). ... The Power Architecture logo PowerPC 400 family is a line of 32-bit embedded RISC-processor cores built using Power Architecture technology. ...

Identified as the K9 Ultra-Mobile Server, sometimes identified as BlackDog, BlackDog Personal Linux, UMS, or K9. Information regarding it was revealed at the Open Source Business Conference in February 2006. Officially launched at Linux World Boston 2006, with expected availability in the third quarter of 2006 (last unofficial announcement listed mid July). Based on partial hardware descriptions to date by employees of Realm Systems as well as promotional materials, it appears to have the same internal features, and may actually be internally identical to an intermediate Realm Systems iD3 personal server prototype (the very thin chrome model). Promotional literature shows the form factor to be the same as the intermediate iD3 prototype, but all black with a rubberized exterior.

Realm Systems has aluded in their press releases to an ecosystem of hardware and software products designed to work with and support the K9. The nature of these other products, and if these are Realm Systems manufactured or third party products is unknown.

Note : The iD3 is a derivative of the MPS and first version BlackDog, intended for corporate use with a matching management router/server identified as the iD1200. Current iD3 form factor resembles a small cellphone.

• Dimensions: unknown, reported to be slimmer than first version
• Weight: unknown, assumed to be less than first version based on size
• 400MHz PowerPC (unknown if this is the same Xilinx Virtex-II Pro FPGA as the first version, a higher end version of the Virtex-II Pro, a Virtex-4, or possibly a different CPU/FPGA/SoC entirely)
• 128MB RAM (assumed to be similar to first version)(256MB version unofficially reported)
• 1GB Flash NAND Memory (2GB version unofficially reported)
• USB 2.0
• Biometric Fingerprint Reader (assumed to be similar to first version)
• Small battery for clean shutdowns (assumed to be similar to first version)

Feature Changes

• 60 pin connector replaces MMC slot (intended for a USB connection cable, as well as custom cables to support additional peripherals)
• OLED display replaces indicator LED of first version (1.1 inch display, 96x64 resolution, 4 bit grayscale Black and White)
• Bluetooth (intended for use with headsets for VoIP, unknown if full Bluetooth v2+EDR protocol supported)(confirmation of Bluetooth v1.2 hardware support with A2DP, however linux currently does not have software support for A2DP profiles)
• RFID (type/frequencies unknown)
• Host PC Windows 2000 support has been reported in promotional literature.
• Standard software has changed to include the following
  • GNOME desktop
  • Firefox browser
  • VoIP client
    • (currently suspected to be Ekiga)
  • GUI APT interface
    • (currently suspected to be aptitude)
  • VPN based remote storage
    • (nature of this is unknown, though likely uses either OpenVPN or FreeSWAN, and NFS or some FUSE based remote volume mount)
  • There was an additional report of support for remote access to up to 5 PC's, though the nature of this remote access is unknown
    • A VNC server would provide such capability in a brute force manner, but the developers of the NX protocol appear to be working on a combined application that has a client as well as a headless server that will have feature sets very similar to what has been described. However, for this to work well, a mediating server/service operating as a relay or gateway point to allow for NAT/firewall/proxy traversal would be necessary, similar to services such as GoToMyPC.
• There are indications that the internal storage hardware has changed, based on a unconfirmed description of an internal card. This may indicate that the internal storage hardware has changed to an internalized CF or MMC card for primary storage rather than soldered on flash memory, which is a common practice for embedded Linux devices.

Software specifications

• Debian-based Linux (Sid) with 2.6.10 Kernel
• Sample default applications such as xterm, XBlast, and XGalaga
• Additional software available through official and community APT repositories

The official website of the project disappeared in mid-February 2007, most of the following repositories are no longer available Debian is a project based around the development of a free, complete operating system through the collaboration of volunteers from around the world. ... The unstable distribution, permanently codenamed sid (after the boy next door who broke toys in Toy Story), is an experimental version of Debian. ... Advanced Packaging Tool, or APT, is a package management system used by Debian and its derivatives. ...

• • Official SDK repository:

 deb http://apt.projectblackdog.com/sdk h main 

• • Official Blackdog device repository:

 deb http://apt.projectblackdog.com/device h main 

• • Project Blackdog Community repository:

 deb http://dp-apt.projectblackdog.com/ binary/ 

• • ArchLUG BlackDog Community Repositories:

 deb http://www.archlug.org/apt blackdog archlug deb http://www.archlug.org/apt blackdog dogpound deb http://www.archlug.org/apt blackdog bluedogz deb http://www.archlug.org/apt blackdog linuxrebel deb http://www.archlug.org/apt blackdog pliskin 

Host requirements

• USB 1.1 and 2.0 Compatible
• Current supported OS with no software installation include Windows XP SP2.
• Debian 3.1+, SUSE 9.3, Slackware 10+, Mandrake 10.1, Ubuntu 5+, KUbuntu 5+, Fedora Core 3, or Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 are supported if certain additional configuration steps are performed.
• Additional Linux compatibility instructions available to assist adaptation to other Linux distributions with 2.6.10+ kernels
• Apple Macintosh (Intel & PowerPC) connectivity is provided by project XDog
• Promotional literature states the K9 will support Windows 2000 SP4. This may require installation of USB-to-Ethernet adapter drivers and/or other software.

Windows XP is a line of proprietary operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on general-purpose computer systems, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. ... Debian is a project based around the development of a free, complete operating system through the collaboration of volunteers from around the world. ... SUSE (properly pronounced , but often pronounced /suzi/) is a major retail Linux distribution, produced in Germany. ... Slackware was one of the earliest Linux distributions, and is the oldest, and most UNIX-like, distribution still being maintained[1]. It was created by Patrick Volkerding of Slackware Linux, Inc. ... Mandriva Linux (formerly Mandrakelinux or Mandrake Linux) is a Linux distribution created by french company Mandriva (formerly Mandrakesoft). ... Ubuntu is a desktop Linux distribution, based on Debian GNU/Linux. ... Kubuntu is an official derivation of the Ubuntu Linux distribution using the KDE environment instead of GNOME. It is part of the Ubuntu project and uses the same underlying system. ... Fedora Core is an RPM-based Linux distribution, developed by the community-supported Fedora Project and sponsored by Red Hat. ... Red Hat Enterprise Linux (often abbreviated to RHEL) is a Linux distribution produced by Red Hat and targeted toward the commercial market, including mainframes. ... Linux (IPA pronunciation: ) is a Unix-like computer operating system family. ... Linux (IPA pronunciation: ) is a Unix-like computer operating system family. ... The first Macintosh computer, introduced in 1984, upgraded to a 512K Fat Mac. The Macintosh or Mac, is a line of personal computers designed, developed, manufactured, and marketed by Apple Computer. ... Windows 2000 (also referred to as Win2K) is a preemptible, interruptible, graphical and business-oriented operating system that was designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor 32-bit Intel x86 computers. ...

Development Support

• SDK with QEMU emulator environment for Windows XP and Linux
• With additional setup, QEMU can run the SDK under a variety of operating systems, like Mac OS X
• Hardware Developer Kit may be released

It has been suggested that Qemu-Launcher be merged into this article or section. ... Mac OS X (official IPA pronunciation: ) is a line of proprietary, graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ...

New Ownership

Realm Systems is currently undergoing corporate restructuring, and appears to be focusing on their iD3 line of products. It appears the K9 product launch has been put off indefinitely. This is despite appearances that the hardware is working and the OS is functional. Additionally, it appears an unidentified group, possibly containing former Realm Systems employees, may be attempting to license or move the K9 hardware and software to a separate company to continue development and production, due to extended delays by Realm Systems and continued developer community interest in the concept.

All of Realm's assets, including the iD3 and K9-series hardware, their operating systems, and the enterprise management router code, were bought out by backers of a new firm, Echo Identity Systems. This company claims to be continuing the enterprise product line, and have re-used most of the old company website layout and graphics. It is unclear what the fate of the K9 product line will be, and no mention of it is made anywhere on the Echo Identity Systems website. However, the former Realm Systems website directs iD3 and BlackDog customers to a transitional support website informing about the asset change, Realm Systems closing, and that product support will be done by Echo Identity Systems (though no explanation as to the extent of the support is provided).

See also

• LiveCD
• Wizpy
• Bio Computer On-a-Stick
• Ubuntu H2 (possibly no longer available)

Gnoppix 0. ... Wizpy is a portable media player produced by TurboLinux. ...

External links

Official

• Echo Identity Systems
• Transitional Support Website
• Realm Systems Homepage

The official website of the project disappeared in mid-February 2007, the following links are only kept here for reference

• Project BlackDog Homepage
• Project BlackDog Developer Forums
• Project BlackDog Developer Documentation and SDK Instructions
• Project BlackDog APT Repository
• Project BlackDog Device Image File and SDK Download Site

Unofficial

• ArchLUG BlackDog KWiki
• ArchLUG BlackDog APT Repository
• Bluedogz BlackDog Blog
• Terry Bayne Blog
• Backup Forums