Small hardware for linux?

Can anyone recommend some hardware which meets the following criteria:

USB port (more than 1 would be handy but an USB hub could always be used)
Suitable for running a reasonably small linux distribution (no gui needed. Want to run mysql and some other custom bits. I'm not quite sure how one goes about installing linux and configuring on a device without a video out? )
Reasonably small (thinking a small router)
Low power consumption (less than 10W. Ideally closer to 1W)

Just a little background- I'm currently working on some home automation projects and having some usb/serial devices I want to capture data from and log to mySQ

Lee Tickett

Posted 2011-12-27T12:54:54.010

Reputation: 362

Answers

Have you seen the $25 Raspberry Pi which is scheduled to be available in January 2012?

JonnyBoats

Posted 2011-12-27T12:54:54.010

Reputation: 564

interestingly that was on the frontpage of a forum i visit earlier (although the forum has very little to do with home automation- so it's entirely coincidental)- looks very promising although i'm very impatient! :) – Lee Tickett – 2011-12-27T15:23:45.067

Have you looked at Plug PC's? If your looking spesificly for home automation check the Stratus. It has Zwave and ZigBee built in. You could combine that with a Tweet-a-Watt or any other ZigBee project you may have in mind.

QueueHammer

Posted 2011-12-27T12:54:54.010

Reputation: 287

Thanks- they look interesting. For those without video output (stratus/sheevaplug etc) how would I go about installing linux to a point where I could SSH in? – Lee Tickett – 2011-12-27T15:49:46.350

The different Alix boards from http://pcengines.ch/alix.htm are another possibility.

rmweiss

Posted 2011-12-27T12:54:54.010

Reputation: 624