Robert G. Brown wrote:
> On Wed, 19 Jul 2006, Jim Lux wrote: > > > And, what I'd really, really like is a small standalone server > (headless) > > that is like a pocket sized network attached disk storage. Like those > > portable drives with a Firewire or USB interface, except with an RJ45 > > Ethernet jack. If it could run things like DHCP, tftpserver, etc., > all the > > better. > > I think that you can come really close to this now with OTS components. > I have a lovely little 80 GB USB/FW drive (about the size of a > paperback). Pair this with one of the ultra-small-footprint systems out > there (maybe micro-ATX?). That gives you a system maybe 10"x10"x3". Or > see if you can get a USB equipped PDA or Zaurus or something (although > getting all the software you want running in their available memory > might be a problem). You might be able to get a Zaurus connected to a > small USB bridge, and hang a paperback drive and a network interface on > it in something like 4"x6"x4", including a little mini keyboard and VGA > display... would that work? > > Mind you, the network performance would probably suck in anything with > less than a 10x10 base -- a bit less than laptop sized -- but that's > really pretty small. The paperback hard drives suck power from the USB > port, BTW, which might stress the USB power capacity of even a plugged > in PDA. Something else to think about. forget going ATX, you could if you can get hold of one go ITX which is a ultra small form factor of 12cm square... stick that with one or two 2.5" HDD's in a 5.25" drive bay, and you've got what you need. if you can get hold of these ITX boards you can run w.e. software you like on them as they have 10/100 base networking, and you could probably get gagabit aswell. i would say that you dont need to have these as speced up as normal nodes, if their only file serving then a GHz processor with 256/512 RAM could be more than enough. you could use a PDA but they are often not well enough designed to host server type aplications. -- matt _______________________________________________ Beowulf mailing list, Beowulf@beowulf.org To change your subscription (digest mode or unsubscribe) visit http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf
