Hello Stuart, Yes it is correct that the Intel atom is 32 bit i386. Just out of curiosity why would you not recommend it for a router / internet appliance application? Not everybody needs 10G Ethernet or AC wifi on their home or office LAN. Is it a security issue, a performance issue, or a lack of developer attention issue (i.e. there are more eyes / there is more focus on the 64 bit code base than the 32 bit code base at this time)?
Here is the Intel info on these N280 processors in these thin clients. https://ark.intel.com/products/41411/Intel-Atom-Processor-N280-512K-Cache-1_66-GHz-667-MHz-FSB If it is a perfomance issue I beg to differ. This machine more than capable for normal LAN use for a home or small business assuming one is not generating massive continuous traffic. Compare to microtik routers, for example. Many if not most routers are 32 bit MIPS based even today. If it is a security issue due to W^X or something about memory / execution protection are there not similar issues on other platforms used in routers such as MIPS or not? If your firewall rules / open ports are prudent shouldn't that prevent remote execution anyway? Is the Atom effected by Meltdown? I use this machine myself as my home router, although I guess maybe that is not saying much because I also use a ten year old Thinkpad as my daily driver machine...kind of stuck in 2008 I guess lol. But I really don't think most home or business applications really need anything more than 1G ethernet or 802.11n wireless it is like 1080p vs 4k in HD TV. At a certain point the marginal returns to increased capability diminish, and diminish at an accelerating rate. Last year I was using a 128mb RAM 200 mhz Soekris based router. I could watch HD Youtube videos on that without issue. Not trying to flame. Just conversing. On 8/28/18, Stuart Henderson <s...@spacehopper.org> wrote: > On 2018-08-28, Z Ero <zerotetrat...@gmail.com> wrote: >> I have a bunch (about 50) of atom based HP T5740 thin clients that >> work great as an OpenBSD based VPN gateway, router, firewall, print >> server, wifi or other network appliance. > > Those are i386 (32-bit) only aren't they? > > I think I would not recommend i386 for any new installations > at this point .. > > >
