Re: [Soekris] net6501: are the E6xx LVDS pins available as pads anywhere?
Geoff Adams wrote: On Mar 2, 2012, at 1:53 AM, Andrew wrote: Soren, I understand why the E6xx integrated video is not useful because of the supervisory LPC processor, and you would have to implement a video BIOS. Have you considered using the supervisor MCU as the terminal emulator to generate the VGA video? It could pass through the serial data and only inject characters if a PS2 keyboard were used. Hmm. I understand that your needs are different, but to me, the comBIOS combined with the utter lack of video output and keyboard input on these boxes is a huge selling point. It raises the Soekris boards to the realm of serious network appliance (whose console gets connected to one of my console servers), rather than merely one of the large array of PCs masquerading as the real thing. I do understand that it might be possible to satisfy both uses, though, at the (possibly modest) cost of some additional complexity and power requirements. But driving VGA just seems so out of place, here. I'd say you'd be much better going with one of the external solutions mentioned (to include building something inside the case yourself), but keep in mind that you lose all ability to capture and log output or remotely maintain the box if all you use is VGA/kbd and a KVM. Even if that doesn't appear to be useful right now... - Geoff Geoff, you have a point, and that's why I suggested the VGA terminal emulation as a pass-through, so the function of the serial console is not impacted. The interfaces could be left as headers on the board. and only used if desired. My network is smaller, and so my firewall is my console server. Also, I use remote syslog for logging my firewall, and SNMP for monitoring. And an ssh session to manage the ipfilter as I see probes and attacks. Yes, I am planning on the MicroVGA approach built into the PCI slot cut-out in the Soekris box: VGA out, PS2 in, COM1 in, COM2 out, and USB2-4 out if there's room. If the MicroVGA had a pass-through serial port, that would be perfect. I need the USB connectivity to manage the bank of UPSs without resorting to an external hub. As an aside, I wonder how much longer PS/2 keyboards will be available as the PC world goes legacy-free? Andrew ___ Soekris-tech mailing list Soekris-tech@lists.soekris.com http://lists.soekris.com/mailman/listinfo/soekris-tech
Re: [Soekris] net6501: are the E6xx LVDS pins available as pads anywhere?
On Mar 2, 2012, at 1:53 AM, Andrew wrote: > Soren, I understand why the E6xx integrated video is not useful because of > the supervisory LPC processor, and you would have to implement a video BIOS. > Have you considered using the supervisor MCU as the terminal emulator to > generate the VGA video? It could pass through the serial data and only > inject characters if a PS2 keyboard were used. Looking at the MicroVGA, > we've come a long way from Don Lancaster's TV Typewriter (I still have the > "Cookbook," dog eared, packed away in a box some where). Hmm. I understand that your needs are different, but to me, the comBIOS combined with the utter lack of video output and keyboard input on these boxes is a huge selling point. It raises the Soekris boards to the realm of serious network appliance (whose console gets connected to one of my console servers), rather than merely one of the large array of PCs masquerading as the real thing. I do understand that it might be possible to satisfy both uses, though, at the (possibly modest) cost of some additional complexity and power requirements. But driving VGA just seems so out of place, here. I'd say you'd be much better going with one of the external solutions mentioned (to include building something inside the case yourself), but keep in mind that you lose all ability to capture and log output or remotely maintain the box if all you use is VGA/kbd and a KVM. Even if that doesn't appear to be useful right now... - Geoff ___ Soekris-tech mailing list Soekris-tech@lists.soekris.com http://lists.soekris.com/mailman/listinfo/soekris-tech
Re: [Soekris] net6501: are the E6xx LVDS pins available as pads anywhere?
> If you only need VGA, mouse and KB to manage your system within a text > console using a KVM, I suggest you take a look at http://www.microvga.com/ > They produce a small and cheap (VGA + 2x PS/2 connectors) <-> (RS232) > conversion module that could solve one of your problem. Also, consider the PockeTerm: http://www.brielcomputers.com/wordpress/?cat=6 ___ Soekris-tech mailing list Soekris-tech@lists.soekris.com http://lists.soekris.com/mailman/listinfo/soekris-tech
Re: [Soekris] net6501: are the E6xx LVDS pins available as pads anywhere?
Hi Andrew, > -Original Message- > From: soekris-tech-boun...@lists.soekris.com [mailto:soekris-tech- > boun...@lists.soekris.com] On Behalf Of Andrew > Sent: Friday, March 02, 2012 2:29 AM > To: soekris-tech@lists.soekris.com > Subject: [Soekris] net6501: are the E6xx LVDS pins available as pads anywhere? > > Hi, I've been looking into upgrading my aging firewall from a pentium-m > running FBSD > 4+ to something more recent. > > Since I've stumbled over the net6501, I have tried researching it as much as > possible. > My firewall is also my GPS strat-1 NTP server, UPS monitor and DHCP server, > among > other services. Because I use a KVM to switch VGA between servers, I am > looking at a > simple VGA solution for the net6501. Options using the PCIe x1 are > constrained by > Intel's crippling of the bus to version 1.0a - the AMD FirePro 2270 x1 is > PCIe 2.1, the > nVidia Quadro series is PCIe 2.0, and HIS ATI Radeon HD5450 is 2.0 (as well as > doubling the power requirements). The onboard Atom E6xx does include Intel's > third > tier graphics on the die, with separate pipes to LVDS and SDVO outputs. > Converting > LVDS to VGA is a simple $30 problem. Does anyone know if the LVDS signal are > exposed as pads or are the balls not connected? I found a Matrox Solution that was launched in 2005 and called out Matrox Millennium 550 PCIe x1 This video card can be obtained or ordered at several internet shops for something around 110 €, hard to pay but perhaps it will fit and no other power is needed. In their description Matrox was talking about Linux and Unix like systems driver support. I don´t want suggest you to buy it, but a look at the followed links is for free ;) <http://www.hartware.de/press_3469.html> <http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/graphics_cards/g_series/g550pcie/> As an external GPS solution to use with net6501 and also perhaps interesting for you, it is a complete closed system, but the description was on German, so here is a short translation (tech specs.) for you: Galleon GPS System for building NTP-Server, Network timeserver and time receiver <http://www.galsys.co.uk/de/antennas/gps-antenna.html> Tech specs: Waterproof (IP65) case with internal antennas For outdoor and indoor use Sorted with an 10 m cable RS 232 or RS 422 Port High sensitivity up to - 143 dBM minimum Internal GPS time signal receiver and decoder Reaction < 100 ms World Wide usage 1 Pulse per second PPS L1 1575.42MHz, C / A-Code 12-channel fast tracking Update-Rate 1Hz Position: <15 m (95%) ohne S / A Speed: 0,1 m / Sek without S / A Time: ± 100ns to GPS time synchronisation Daten WGS-84 DGPSWAAS / EGNOS -30 ° C - 80 ° C Powering150mA max.> Protocolls NMEA-0183 v2.20 bei 4800 Baud-Rate, 8-None-1 Power using 9V - 34V DC As an internal GPS solution for use within the Soekris net6501, it is an internal GPS module in form of a mini PCIe card. But I don´t know the driver support! <http://www.locosystech.com/product.php?zln=en&id=39> A net6501 and a Matrox video card would be looking nice if they will work together. But the GPS modules are perhaps a little bit too much expensive, I really think it will be better to have a closer look to a cheaper one like Jed was advising. -- Best Regards Frank __ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version 6932 (20120302) __ E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com ___ Soekris-tech mailing list Soekris-tech@lists.soekris.com http://lists.soekris.com/mailman/listinfo/soekris-tech
Re: [Soekris] net6501: are the E6xx LVDS pins available as pads anywhere?
Thank you for that link. I have been looking for "terminal emulators" and I have found the PockeTerm http://www.brielcomputers.com/wordpress/?cat=6, the Spare Time Gizmos VT6 http://www.sparetimegizmos.com/Hardware/VT.htm and the $360 (ouch!) NTI SERIMUX Terminal Converter http://www.kvms.com/Product/SERIMUX-TERM.aspx. The MicroVGA seems like the lowest cost solution, I just need to add a bit of perf board, a header, a MAX231CPD and two (tantalum) caps. As a benefit, there's a spare pair of drivers for the second serial port. Soren, I understand why the E6xx integrated video is not useful because of the supervisory LPC processor, and you would have to implement a video BIOS. Have you considered using the supervisor MCU as the terminal emulator to generate the VGA video? It could pass through the serial data and only inject characters if a PS2 keyboard were used. Looking at the MicroVGA, we've come a long way from Don Lancaster's TV Typewriter (I still have the "Cookbook," dog eared, packed away in a box some where). Thanks again, Andrew RSL wrote: On Thu, Mar 01, 2012 at 03:28:47PM -1000, Andrew wrote: Hi, I've been looking into upgrading my aging firewall from a pentium-m running FBSD 4+ to something more recent. Since I've stumbled over the net6501, I have tried researching it as much as possible. My firewall is also my GPS strat-1 NTP server, UPS monitor and DHCP server, among other services. Because I use a KVM to switch VGA between servers, I am looking at a simple VGA solution for the net6501. [...] Thanks- Andrew If you only need VGA, mouse and KB to manage your system within a text console using a KVM, I suggest you take a look at http://www.microvga.com/ They produce a small and cheap (VGA + 2x PS/2 connectors) <-> (RS232) conversion module that could solve one of your problem. RSL ___ Soekris-tech mailing list Soekris-tech@lists.soekris.com http://lists.soekris.com/mailman/listinfo/soekris-tech
