CMHunter's MultiCM Flasher Speeds Up Mass Deployment of Raspberry Pi Compute Module Boards

Bulgarian hardware maker CMHunter has designed a board to speed up mass deployment of Raspberry Pi Compute Module computer-on-module (COM) boards — by simultaneously flashing up to seven modules.

"The MultiCM Flasher is a professional device for parallel programming of up to seven eMMC-based Raspberry Pi Compute Modules (CM3, CM3+, CM4, CM4S, CM5 High-Efficiency)," CMHunter explains of the gadget. "It streamlines production, prototyping, and industrial deployment with fast, reliable, and simple operation."

Designed around the same Broadcom systems-on-chips as their generational single-board computer equivalents, the Raspberry Pi Compute Module range swaps the usual credit card footprint for a more compact modular format — using a SODIMM edge connector in some models, and high-density board-to-board connectors in the more recent variants. Models are available that rely on external storage, identified by their "Lite" suffix, or with on-board eMMC — and it's the latter targeted by the MultiCM Flasher.

The idea is simple: instead of having to flash an operating system image onto each module individually, or deal with multiple carrier boards, the MultiCM Flasher plays host to up to seven eMMC-equipped Raspberry Pi Compute Modules and programs them all simultaneously — even if you're mixing and matching different models, so long as they're all to receive the same image. Each module slots into a vertically-oriented SODIMM socket, with adapters available to convert the board-to-board connector versions to SODIMM for flashing — leaving only the China-exclusive Compute Module Zero (CM0), with its castellated headers for surface-mount installation, as incompatible.

The MultiCM Flasher is available to order on Tindie at $155, plus $110 for a full set of seven of the adapter boards for Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 and Compute Module 5 boards.