Hardware Evaluation
Selection process
We are evaluating and working with multiple architectures and manufacturers at this moment. We are taking into account several factors including but not limited to:
- Security ( Trustzone, HAB support, Secure Memory )
- Logistics ( Market availability, Lead Time )
- Support ( Existing BSPs, Technical Support, Documentation )
- Robustness ( Temperature range, Power supply range, SBC/Carrier Format)
- Peripheral ( Ethernet connection, USB connection )
- Price
We have contacted each manufacturer, evaluated their support process, received technical documentation. In many cases, we have acquired the product to run internal tests.
As a reference we can provide a list of some of the devices we are currently working with:
| Model | MPU | Manufacturer | [A]<br/> Contact | [B]<br/> Acquired | [C]<br/> Evaluated | [D]<br/> N/A | Selected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STM32MP157C-DK2🔗 | STM32MP157C | ST Micro | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ <br/> ⛔ discontinued | |
| MCiMX8-evkb 🔗 | i.MX8M Quad | NXP | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ <br/> ⛔ discontinued | |
| STM32MP157F-DK2🔗 | STM32MP157F | ST Micro | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| MCiMX8-evkb 🔗 | i.MX8MM | NXP | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| ODYSSEY STM32MP157C 🔗 | STM32MP157C | Seeed | ✅ | ✅ | ⛔ availability | ||
| phyCORE-STM32MP1 🔗 | STM32MP157C | Phytec | ✅ | ✅ | ⛔ Secure boot | ||
| byteDEVKIT 🔗 | STM32MP157C | BytesAtWork | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⛔ TEE issues | |
| emSBC-Argon 🔗 | STM32MP157C | emtrion | ✅ | ✅ | ⛔ availability | ||
| USB Armory Mk-II 🔗 | i.MX6UL | F-secure | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⛔ OPTEE | |
| WISE-710 🔗 | i.MX6 | Advantech | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⛔ BSP quality | |
| phyBOARD-Segin 🔗 | i.MX6 | Phytec | ✅ | ✅ | ⛔ availability | ||
| LEC-iMX8M 🔗 | i.MX8 Quad | Adlink | ⛔ No replies | ||||
| phyBOARD-Polaris 🔗 | i.MX8M Quad | Phytec | ✅ | ✅ | ⛔ OPTEE | ||
| Apalis iMX8 QuadMax 🔗 | i.MX8 Quad Max | Toradex | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⛔ TEE issues | |
| SBC-iMX8M-Mini 🔗 | i.MX8M Mini Quad | Compulab | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⛔ cost + bugs | |
| PICO-PI-IMX8M 🔗 | i.MX8M Mini Quad | TechNexion | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⛔ tech support | |
| Verdin iMX8M 🔗 | i.MX8M Mini Quad | Toradex | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⛔ availability |
[A] contacted manufacturer [B] we adquired a device [C] evaluated custom image [X] not available yet
Why some devices are prioritized?
After analyzing and testing a wide range of devices, we noticed a few common themes:
- BSP quality issues
- Inadequate form factor for datacenter applications: We believe ethernet support is a critical requirement.
- Market availability problems: devices are still not available, stocks were low and supply chain is not clear.
With respect to software layers, we had a look at different design alternatives. Taking a pragmatic long-term support perspective, we decided to use a extremely minimal Buildroot+OPTEE image for the initial implementation.
While there are interesting opportunities in the bare metal / RTOS space, we consider them too experimental. Moreover, we prefer to rely on projects with a substantial community to ensure long term maintenance. This means, relying on extensive testing, CVE availability, strong community, etc.
