Forlinx NXP LS1043A & LS1046A Networking SBC's Support 10Gbps Ethernet

NXP LS1043A quad-core Cortex-A53 communication processor was introduced in 2014, while NXP LS1046A quad-core Cortex-A72 SoC was launched about 18 months later. Both are designed for networking equipment such as CPE (Customer Premise Equipment), routers, NAS, gateways, as well as single board computers and include one or two 10 GbE interfaces.

Forlinx Embedded has decided to leverage those two processors in their OK1043A-C and OK1046A industrial-grade single board computers designed for networking applications.

Both boards are comprised of the same baseboard and only differ by their COM-Express Mini Type 10 module which comes with the processor, memory, and flash storage.

Specifications:

COM Express Mini System-on-Module (one or the other)
- FET1046A-C NXP LS1046A SoM
  - CPU – NXP LS1046A quad-core Cortex-A72 processor @ up to 1.8GHz
  - System Memory – 2GB DDR4 RAM
  - Storage – 8GB eMMC flash + 16MB QSPI NOR Flash
  - Voltage Input – 12V
  - Temperature Range – -40 to +75
  - Dimensions – 84 x 55mm
- FET1043A-C LS1043A SoM
  - CPU – NXP LS1043A quad-core Cortex-A53 @ up to 1 .6GHz
  - System Memory – 2GB DDR4
  - Storage – 8GB eMMC flash + 16MB QSPI NOR Flash
  - Voltage Input – 12V
  - Temperature Range – -40 to +80
  - Dimensions – 84x 55mm
Carrier Board
- Storage
  - SD card socket multiplexed with eMMC, bootable
  - 1x mSATA 3.0 up to 6Gbps
- Networking
  - Up to 6x 6 Gigabit Ethernet ports (4x from QSGMII and 2x from RGMII)
  - 1x 10Gbps Ethernet port (RJ45)
  - LS1046A only – 1x 10 Gbps Ethernet Port (SFP+) for optical module or SFP-GE transceiver
- USB – 2x USB 3.0 ports
- Expansion
  - 1x Mini PCIe 2.0 up to 5GT/s with USB and SIM card signals for 4G module; SIM card slot
  - 2x PCIe 2.0 up to 5GT/s
  - 3x UART TLL headers
- Debugging – 1x RS232 debug port, JTAG header with support for NXP CodeWarrior TAP
- Misc – RTC with on-board CR2032 cell, fan headers, configuration dip-switch, power switch
- Power Supply – 12V via power barrel jack
- Dimensions – TBD

LS1046A COM Express Mini-Type 10 Sytem-on-Module — LS1046A SoM – Click to Enlarge

So the main difference is that LS1043A can support up to 7 Ethernet ports (1x XFI 10Gbps Ethernet + 6x Gigabit Ethernet), while LS1046A can handle up to 8 Ethernet ports (2x XFI 10Gbps Ethernet + 6x Gigabit Ethernet).

Both boards run Ubuntu 18.04 with Linux 4.14.4 or OpenWrt 17.01 with Linux 4.14.69 , and the company provides complete BSP with source code to their customers (no public download).

Target applications include industrial routers, edge computing gateways, IP-PBX, energy management, automation, and more. Both boards and corresponding modules appear to be available now at an undisclosed price. You may find more details about OK1043A-C and OK1046A-C networking SBCs on the respective product pages here and there.

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.