> now... to really mess things up.... I have a couple
> SMP mother board I would like to put to use..
> actually my LEAF is running on one now... I know
> its probably over kill, but I have no other use for it
> but I thought I would add a lot of packages (LaBrea)
> and such, and wondered if there would be any benefit
> of compiling a kernel for it... its a dual Pentium pro 200
> 132 meg ram.

Go ahead...it's pretty easy to re-build the Dachstein kernel if you've got a
linux box around, and you can get that second processor running SETI@Home,
if nothing else ;-)

Note that you won't see much benifit to SMP on a basic LEAF system...linux's
network code was extensively re-worked in the 2.4 series kernels to make
better use of SMP...AFAIK, adding more CPU's doesn't help 2.2 kernel
networking that much, since a lot of the code is tied to one processor...

> this is also the machine that I would implement the gigabit
> router on, if it turns out feasible, looks like it would save me
> about $1000.

Give it a shot, and let us know what happens!

> I also have an idea that LEAF could make a great sprinkling
> control system, Im pretty good with external interfaces.

Yeah, but you're probably talking about a 4-way machine to handle that kind
of work-load ;-)

Actually, that's kind of what I'm looking at doing if/when the company I
work for craters and I find myslef needing a new job.  No, I'm not planning
on going into the sprinkler business (although now that you bring it up...
:), but essentially building a minimal linux system that's cheap enough to
consider it as a replacement for more conventional micro-controller (like
you'd find in a sprinkler controller).  Using "standard" linux pushes the
hardware cost up (requires a 32 bit CPU with MMU, and more RAM and flash
than a micro), but you get a lot of "free" features, like ease of
development, and instant network connectivity.

I figure the hard (parts) cost on a minimal linux system is probably $50-60
right now, kind of depending on how much RAM and Flash you need, vs maybe
$20-30 for an embedded micro (less, if you're using an all-in-one device
that's not real smart, like for your dishwasher or sprinkler
controller...I'm talking about stuff like cold-fire, 68K's, H8's, 80186's &
the like).  That's a big difference for something that sells for $100-$200,
but there's a lot of industrial stuff selling for $500-$1000, where you'd be
more able to take the price hit for the additional features...

Charles Steinkuehler
http://lrp.steinkuehler.net
http://c0wz.steinkuehler.net (lrp.c0wz.com mirror)


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