Just run a mining proxy on a RaspPi.
Want it even smaller: ARM + Ethernet PHY + ASICs + power. That's all.
Is Raspberry Pi code open source? I should ask Mineforeman for that I guess...
intron
Just go with a raspi with some USB based ASIC.. Otherwise it would be too much work putting together a package with arm. Not worth it unless you are doing it for academic curiosity.
Raspberry pi (> $35) is opensource. Firmware and OS (Raspbian - debian based) . I think power usage is ~ 2.5 Watt max. (standard USB powered)
Cgminer runs on it which is open source.
Beaglebone black (> $45) is another alternative.
Im sure itll cost you a lot more to make your own PCB with arm. Whats the goal or your project?
Thinking about making a miner with 16 Avalon chips that can be directly
connected to the net using Ethernet. So no PC/Raspberry/etc. running
gcminer in between, just a single PCB getting the work from a mining pool,
make the ASICs to do there work and send the found nonces back.
I think it should be possible. And you are right, it's a bit academic:)
intron