[Updated Dec 24, 2013] — Lantronix has introduced what it claims is the “World’s Smallest Linux Networking Server.” Within an elongated RJ45 Ethernet LAN connector, the XPort Pro packs a 32-bit Freescale Coldfire SoC, up to 16MB SDRAM, 16MB flash storage, and a 10/100Mbps Ethernet LAN port.

This little gadget isn’t aimed at heavy lifting chores, though. Its control-oriented features includes:

• SoC:
  • 32-bit Freescale MCF5208 SoC
  • Version 2 ColdFire variable-length RISC processor core
  • clocked at 166MHz
• Memory:
  • 8MB or 16MB SDRAM
    
  • 16MB flash
• LAN port — 10/100Mbps Broadcom Ethernet PHY
• Serial ports — high-speed (300 to 921,600 bps) RS232 serial port with hardware handshaking
• GPIO — up to three configurable I/O pins (two are shared with DTR and DCD); not 5V tolerant
• Operating temperature — -40 to +85° C
• Input power — regulated 3.3V input required

Inside the XPort Pro

According to Lantronix, the XPort Pro runs a choice of Linux or the company’s “Evolution OS.” The latter includes a “full featured” TCP/IP stack, built-in webserver, and supports the following protocols: ARP, IP, UDP, TCP, ICMP, BOOTP, DHCP, Auto IP, Telnet, DNS, FTP, TFTP, HTTP(S), SSH, SSL/TLS, SNMP, SMTP, RSS, PPP, Syslog, TCP, UDP, TCP/AES, UDP/AES, Telnet, SSH, SSL/TLS, TFTP, FTP, and HTTP. The built-in webserver serves static web pages and java aplets, the company says.

XPort Pro Block Diagram
(Click to enlarge)

Freescale ColdFire MCF5208 SoC block diagram
(click image to enlarge)

The XPort Pro actually isn’t the first Ethernet connector with a built-in embedded Linux microcomputer. That honor belongs to Digi’s similar product, which Digi inherited through its acquisition of Netsilicon back in 2001. Unlike Lantronix’s Linux-powered Ethernet connector, Digi’s doesn’t include a web server, however.

Further details on Lantronix’s XPort Pro may be found here.