The Raspberry Pi 4 is pretty powerful by single-board computer (SBC) standards, but what if you could combine up to four of them into one super SBC? Well, IPTerra seems to think that is a good idea and has created the CloverPI for that purpose. Theoretically, the CloverPI is compatible with any SBC that has a 40-pin GPIO.
The Raspberry Pi 4 is a versatile SBC, and one that requires active cooling to reach its full potential. There are a few options for combining several Raspberry Pi units, of which the CloverPI is the latest. Produced by IPTerra, the CloverPI has four 40-pin GPIO headers for connecting four Raspberry Pi units together.
The CloverPI is actually on its fourth edition, and is suitably called the CloverPI 1.4. The board also integrates four 6-pin Ethernet headers, one Gigabit Ethernet port and two power connectors. Echoing CNX Software, we are unsure why IPTerra needed to included two power connectors, rather than one. The CloverPI 1.4 has a five-port Ethernet switch, too.
According to IPTerra, the CloverPI 1.4 also features four "individually addressable" RGB LEDs, along with link lights and power switches for each Raspberry Pi. The company stresses that the CloverPI 1.4 is compatible with all Raspberry Pi units that have standardised GPIO pins. IPTerra states that the CloverPI 1.4 could be used in the following ways:
- K8s
- Docker swarm
- Full stack development via openstack
- Small office server stack
- Open Flickr stack
Price may be a sticking point for some people, though. The CloverPI 1.4 is available to order now on Kickstarter for US$120, with IPTerra hoping to deliver to backers by November 2020. Shipping will cost US$8 for within the US and US$20 elsewhere. However, the company is offering to ship two units by July 2020 for US$170 plus shipping. The CloverPi 1.4 will apparently eventually retail for US$149.
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