Hello friends!

I'm pretty new user of the at91sam7s256, and for my thesis, i need to run an operating system in this device.

But, i'm running in a lot of problems, since i don't have a tool to test and debug. So i got some interest in the AT91SAM7S-EK Evaluation Board. I have read some info and the user guide but i still have some questions before ordering one. So please, if you have experience with this boards, try helping me with this issues.

First -
does it have already installed an at91sam7s256 in the board? or do i have to get one? (it says in the user guide the word "generally" so i really dunno how the seller decide if it has or not)

second -
The user guide says
"The AT91SAM7S-EK is not delivered with the JTAG/ICE interface required to
start evaluating the device."

What does it mean? that the pins for JTAG/ICE of the at91sam7s256 are not connected to the evaluation board, and then, i have no way to connect a JTAG/ICE debugger link (unless i make a hack and add by myself a connection for this pins )?

third -
if is true, then how can i set the evaluation board for debugging process?

fourth -
does it have a good support for linux?
I'm using Ubuntu 8.04, and i have already been able to flash program my at91sam7s256 with the USB using the SAM-BA CDC program (the at91sam7s i'm using is actually inside a LEGO NXT), but i really don't know if this board can be connected the same way (you know, using modprobe usbserial command)

fifth-
Is there a better option for my needs than the at91sam7s-ek evaluation board?

Thanks to all of you, if you can answer at least one of this questions, it would be a lot of help.

Thanks!

in earlier days a at91sam7s64 was soldered on the ek. afaik at the moment at91sam7s256 are used.

with the jtag-interface a external hardware is meant which supports the integrated jtag-port of th at91.


for debugging purpose a jtag-interface like j-link or something similar is recommended.

it depends on your demand, which is not very clear for me.

regards
gerhard