Montreal Parking Meters Run Linux 506
jbecherv writes "According to LinuxDevices.com, new-fangled Montreal parking meters run embedded Linux (Google Cache). The City of Montreal is planning to roll out 500 to 800 wireless, solar-powered parking payment stations based on embedded Linux. There is even a
device profile
(Google Cache) that show some details about the meters... These meters run kernel 2.4.19 on a 206MHz StrongARM SA-1110. Each system has 64MB of RAM, boots from a CF device, and is networked wirelessly via GPRS."
Going, going, gone (Score:5, Funny)
Snow powered? (Score:5, Funny)
Solar powered, in MONTREAL???
Guess the StrongARM takes less power than I thought...
Free Software (Score:5, Funny)
Imagine... (Score:5, Funny)
Sharpie Permanent Marker (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Okay... (Score:5, Funny)
You'll know they switched when you come to Montreal and the streets are bathed in an eerie blue light.
Re:Sharpie Permanent Marker (Score:0, Funny)
They're going to get an ass beating, Montreal style.
Re:Cluster (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Is it just me... (Score:5, Funny)
Seems a bit underpowered when you add that last part in.
In Canadian Montreal (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Solar powered? (Score:5, Funny)
Oh, lemmie guess... Seattle.
Re:I know little about embedded devices (Score:5, Funny)
But that seems like a lot of RAM. Is it?
Well, it is now. But once they start clustering them...
Darl's Comments (Score:5, Funny)
-Darl
Somebody e-mail me the free parking exploit
Re:Solar powered? (Score:5, Funny)
Forget solar... (Score:1, Funny)
I'm sure the boys at MIT are working on it right now...
Wireless eh? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:hack it (Score:5, Funny)
That would be nice for Canadiens games. But if you want me to attend an Expos game, you'll have to set the parking meter to pay me.
Re:spare MHz? (Score:2, Funny)
For the price of a roll of duct tape... (Score:2, Funny)
*Certain conditions apply, results vary on battery power, may not be claimed in the United States of America.
Re: seem like a lot of RAM. (Score:5, Funny)
.
Achilles Heel of These Parking Meters (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I know little about embedded devices (Score:4, Funny)
We have 'parking meters' here. Near as I can figure they need to know exactly two things:
64MB CF? I can't wait for these to get hax0red.
Re:I know little about embedded devices (Score:2, Funny)
I'm thinking it's time to take a road trip with the demolition saw.
I mean, they're French Canadians, it's not like they're going to do anything about it (especially when you've got a huge abrasive saw).
Right?
Re:Is it just me... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Sharpie Permanent Marker (Score:3, Funny)
I would assume they have a monitoring system via their wireless connections.
"I haven't charged in two days. Something must be up. Bird shit on my solar pannels?"
The meter maids will now be equipped with WindeX.
Re:Okay... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Is it just me... (Score:5, Funny)
Nah. But admittedly the nVidia GeForce 6800 they put in each one may be a bit much...
Re:$2,000,000 parking fees at a hacked meter! (Score:5, Funny)
-Program the meters to play "We're into Money" in beep tones whenever somebody swipes their card.
-Program the meter to prompt the user to find out what class of car they drive. If it's a SUV, the meter will refuse to let them park because the gargantuan heap blocks out the sun the meter needs to run.
-Program the meter to randomly scramble PIN numbers that users input.
-Program the meter to randomly pop up Microsoft error messages. We wouldn't want parking meters to give Linux a bad name now would we?
Re:I know little about embedded devices (Score:5, Funny)
It's all yours! (Score:2, Funny)
*grin*
Hello Kind Sir (Score:2, Funny)
500 to 800 wireless, solar-powered PDA's based on embedded Linux. These PDAs run kernel 2.4.19 on a 206MHz StrongARM SA-1110. Each system has 64MB of RAM. (Display not included)
Saddly, they were imprisoned in metal cases by my dastardly cousin who sold them to the City of Montreal.
If you would send me $1100 for a sledge hammer and airplane ticket to free my property, I would gladly repay you with half of my stolen goods.
Please do not inform the authorities as they will most certainly move my property to another city.
Please e-mail me at scams-r-us@upyours.com
-1, pun (Score:5, Funny)
*ba dum bum*
Re:I know little about embedded devices (Score:4, Funny)
GPRS? (Score:2, Funny)
Two words. War parking.
Re:I know little about embedded devices (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Imagine... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Is it just me... (Score:5, Funny)
It runs Java.
imagine beowulf of those ... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Solar powered? (Score:2, Funny)
Let the hacking begin! (Score:1, Funny)
OK, I didn't type with a French accent. Sorry.