NanoBSD is an awesome set of scripts contained in the FreeBSD source tree that enables you to easily prepare and install a custom FreeBSD system for an embedded device. It is also highly optimized for Compact Flash media, providing a Read-Only file system and memory disks for the heavily written mount points, namely /etc and /var, to protect against wear-leveling.

I have provided a number of config files for a NanoBSD system that provides various services to get you started on an overlay of custom files that are geared towards making an AP (access point) out of an ALIX2C2 board from http://pcengines.ch (purchased at NetGate [US]), although these files require minor tweaks if you are using another ALIX board or even completely different hardware (mainly just network device names!).

A FreeBSD port for the Eclipse AVR add-on has yet to be created and the Eclipse CDT add-on that is contained in even a recent ports tree is too outdated to use with the AVR add-on.

To fix this, I basically started with a naked Eclipse install from ports and installed the extra features manually using Eclipse's update mechanism and each add-on's respective update site.

Qemu enables you to emulate hardware on a virtual harddrive, allowing you to install an operating system (or systems) and start up the "virtual" computer as if you controlled the BIOS and hardware components.

This guide runs through the basics of installing and configuring Qemu on a FreeBSD host and shows how easy it is to virtualize an operating system.

Although this guide is aimed at using FreeBSD for the Qemu host system, the actual commands and process to interact with Qemu remain the same on virtually any Qemu installation (including Windows). Your mileage may vary.

If you are new to the ALIX board world or need a quick reference for a buy list, I have put together a quick list of parts that I often buy for home and office installs that need to utilize WiFi.

I mostly use ALIX (formerly WRAP) embedded boards that pcengines makes. They are 500Mhz, 256MB of ram, and come in a variety of hardware options.... and a basic kit can be had for less then 190$ (US)! The following will provide you with a basic config that would suit most smaller installs that need to utilize Wi-Fi (2.4Ghz in this case).