SheevaPlug
Early plug computer and predecessor to the Raspberry Pi.
The SheevaPlug is a compact plug computer that packs standard computing capabilities into a very small enclosure. It is an embedded Linux ARM system with no display, and is widely seen as an early forerunner of the Raspberry Pi line. One of the first devices of its kind on the market, it uses a 1.2 GHz Marvell Kirkwood 6281 ARM-compatible CPU (also called the Feroceon). It ships with Ubuntu Linux 9.04 pre-installed, and a software development kit is available for the platform.
Several commercial products are built on the SheevaPlug platform. BarracudaDrive offers a free cloud server for the device. CTERA Networks’ CloudPlug provides remote backup at local disk speeds and overlays a file-sharing service. CodeLathe’s TonidoPlug runs Tonido home server and NAS software, enabling file access, sharing, and syncing. Cloud Engines’ Pogoplug lets users access home files over the internet without leaving a PC on. Seagate’s FreeAgent DockStar and Black Armor 110/220 NAS are variants of the Pogoplug. The GuruPlug adds extra connectivity options, and the DreamPlug is similar to a GuruPlug+. The PylonPlug by Equelex is a single-interface OpenWrt device that, with a VLAN-capable switch, can function as a Multi-WAN router. Pbxnsip’s sipJack provides VoIP and PBX features. Ambient Weather’s WeatherHub2 collects weather station data and uploads it to web pages or internet services. NETCOR’s GeNiJack is an endpoint for network performance assessment. Kara Systems’ BACnet Gateway handles M-Bus, Modbus, and OneWire as a BACNet device. Pwnie Express is a computer security tool. Avantes’ AvaGigE converts USB to Ethernet for connecting spectrometers. The Evercube is a quiet, always-on DIY home server. Lockitron uses a SheevaPlug-based server for remote lock operation and key management. Iomega’s iConnect is a wireless, diskless NAS. Pikkerton’s ZigBee Gateway ZBG-100 and the Pwn Plug by Pwnie Express also use the platform.
Other operating systems and stacks have been ported. FreedomBox, based on Debian, provides secure, encrypted, decentralized networking. Debian officially supports the SheevaPlug and similar plug computers like the GuruPlug. Scripts exist to install Debian Lenny and Squeeze onto internal NAND or an SD card. An ARM port of Fedora is available. Gentoo can be run on the device, and Slackware for ARM officially supports it.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Marvell
- Connectivity
- USB 2.0, SD slot, Gigabit Network, / JTAG mini USB
- Os
- Ubuntu 9.04
- Power
- 2.3 W idle no attached devices, 7.0 W running at 100% CPU utilization
- Cpu
- 1.2 GHz ARM Marvell Kirkwood 88F6281 (ARM9E)
- Storage
- External hard drive/SDIO card/flash disk
- Memory
- 512 MB SDRAM, 512 MB Flash
- Display
- none
- Dimensions
- 110 x 69.5 x 48.5 (mm)
- Successor
- GuruPlug
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The SheevaPlug was one of the first plug computers on the market, designed to provide standard computing features in a minimal footprint. It uses a 1.2 GHz Marvell Kirkwood 6281 ARM-compatible CPU, also known as Feroceon, and shipped with Ubuntu Linux version 9.04 pre-installed. A software development kit for the platform was also made available.
A version with an eSATA port for connecting a serial ATA hard disk is available, sometimes referred to as SheevaPlug+. Revision 1.3 of the SheevaPlug can be extended by one eSATA port, but soldering is required and will void the warranty. Marvell offered a development kit that includes the GCC cross compiler for ARM, and the device includes a mini USB connector wired to an FTDI FT2232 chip providing access to a JTAG port and an RS-232 port for debugging.
Numerous commercial products were based on the SheevaPlug platform, including the CTERA CloudPlug, TonidoPlug, Pogoplug, Seagate FreeAgent DockStar, GuruPlug, DreamPlug, PylonPlug, sipJack, WeatherHub2, GeNiJack, BACnet Gateway, Pwnie Express, AvaGigE, Evercube, Lockitron server, Iomega iConnect, ZigBee Gateway ZBG-100, and Pwn Plug. Various operating systems have been ported to it, including Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, Slackware, Inferno, Plan 9, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenWrt, NixOS, Plugbox Linux, Amahi, Arch Linux ARM, Pathagar Book Server, and RedSleeve.
Reader's Guide
The SheevaPlug is significant as one of the earliest plug computers, demonstrating that a full Linux system could be packed into a small, low-power device without a display. It served as a direct predecessor to the Raspberry Pi, which later popularized the concept of affordable, compact computing. The platform's influence is evident in the wide range of commercial products and operating system ports it inspired, from cloud servers and NAS devices to network routers and security tools. Its support for multiple operating systems—including Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, Slackware, Plan 9, NetBSD, FreeBSD, and OpenWrt—showed the versatility of the ARM architecture in embedded applications. The SheevaPlug also introduced the concept of a plug computer as a home server, enabling remote file access, backup services, and VoIP without requiring a traditional PC. Its legacy lies in paving the way for the modern single-board computer market and demonstrating that powerful computing could be achieved in a form factor as small as a power adapter.
Did You Know?
- A version with an eSATA port is available, sometimes called SheevaPlug+.
- The device includes a mini USB connector providing JTAG and RS-232 debug access.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SheevaPlug?
The SheevaPlug is a tiny, display-free plug computer that delivers standard computing power in an ultra-compact enclosure. It runs an embedded Linux system on an ARM architecture and is widely recognized as one of the earliest devices in the plug-computer category.
What processor does the SheevaPlug use?
It is powered by a 1.2 GHz Marvell Kirkwood 6281 chip, an ARM-compatible CPU that also goes by the codename Feroceon. This single-core ARM processor was a notable choice for an embedded device of its time.
What operating system comes pre-installed on the SheevaPlug?
The device ships with Ubuntu Linux 9.04 already loaded, giving users a ready-to-use embedded Linux environment straight out of the box. A software development kit is also available for anyone who wants to build custom applications on the platform.
How does the SheevaPlug relate to the Raspberry Pi?
The SheevaPlug is commonly cited as an early forerunner of the Raspberry Pi, having popularized the idea of a small, affordable, headless Linux computer before the Pi hit the market. It helped establish the plug-computer niche that later projects like the Raspberry Pi went on to expand.
What is the SheevaPlug's form factor like?
It is designed as a true plug computer with no built-in display, keyboard, or mouse, expecting the user to connect their own peripherals. This headless, ultra-compact design made it a natural fit for always-on servers and embedded applications.
More in Computer Storage, Part 2 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced