On 05/23/2012 01:51 AM, Ian Perkins wrote: > You make excellent points. I should stop thinking like an x86 server > admin with a wishlist.
Not quite - I think you should replace your wish list with an actual _requirements_ list. x86-ness has nothing to do with it. :) > Let's face it, whatever you get, it won't be the last computer you > ever buy. And by the time you really decide you need that new killer > feature, the chances are that you'll have more options. > > For example, this is scheduled for release some time in July, allegedly: > > http://www.reghardware.com/__2012/05/22/chip_maker_via___outs_49_dollar_raspberry_pi___alike/ > > <http://www.reghardware.com/2012/05/22/chip_maker_via_outs_49_dollar_raspberry_pi_alike/> > > *TX form factor (i.e. it'll fit in a standard case), VGA out, USB > ports. No SATA or PCI/PCIe, but it's priced comparably to the ever > elusive Raspberry Pi while being better and more convenient in just > about every way. > > > I will give CuBox a hard look. I do most of my work via SSH, although I > have been known to mess with NX server If you're happy with the serial console and ssh, SheevaPlug is the way forward. Unlike the GuruPlug and DreamPlug, you won't need an external JTAG module since on the SheevaPlug it is built in (which makes it much cheaper overall). Then again, SheevaPlug vs. CuBox is $99 vs. ?99, and given your "future proofing" feature loaded preference, you'll probably prefer the CuBox for the difference. I guess it comes down to how soon do you want it. http://www.globalscaletechnologies.com/p-46-sheevaplug-dev-kit.aspx > They are always sold out, but all the people I know that got one got > theirs within a month of ordering them. > > > > DreamPlug is quite nice, but it is also a lot more expensive than > the SheevaPlug (newer Sheevas have a SATA port). But I guess you get > extra USB ports and audio for the difference. > > Note, however, that there is no video out of any sort on the > Sheeva/Guru/Dream Plugs. You would be limited to using a MIMO USB > monitor. I don't know about you, but I find 1024x600 to be > absolutely unusable. I swapped the screen in my AC100 out for one > that can manage 1280x720 just to make it usable. But that's just me. > > > I have seen references to the AC100, but no specs. I'll see what is out > there. UK seems to be the place where they are nice and cheap. On most other eBay sites they are either outrageously expensive or just plain unavailable. Note that there are at least 15 AC100 variants: http://tosh-ac100.wetpaint.com/page/Hardware And this will give you an idea of what hacks and upgrades you can apply: http://www.altechnative.net/tag/ac100/ > Depending on what country you are in, a Toshiba AC100 might be a > good option. The downside is that they were never released in the US > so are non-existant there. Here in UK, OTOH, the are easily > available on eBay because nobody wants them but us heavy Linux users > - they came with Android, and Android without a touchscreen is too > painful a concept to give serious thought to. The only people who > love them are those of us that put nomal Linux on them. > > But if you specifically want a desktop rig with a high res monitor, > SATA disk and the other niceties, the choice becomes more limited: > > - CuBox (by far best value) > - Trimslice (pretty good performance-wise, but the binary GPU > drivers are very unstable) > - D2Plug (same hardware as CuBox but more expensive, and from what I > can tell, not yet available) > - Genesi Efika MX (Freescale iMX51 based) - they do both a desktop > and smartbook variants. Not as good or as cheap as the CuBox, though. > > But if you just want a server, a SheevaPlug is hard to beat on price > and support. They have been around for long enough to have been > hacked every way imaginable, and all the hardware is very well > supported. DreamPlug is essentially the same on the inside, but it's > a lot more expensive. I guess you have to ask yourself whether a few > extra USB ports and audio out are worth the difference if you just > want a small server. > > FWIW, all the redsleeve.org <http://redsleeve.org> stuff (website, > wiki, mailing list) is running on a DreamPlug running RedSleeve > (purely because I got my DreamPlugs second hand on eBay for less > than new SheevaPlugs cost). > > Honestly, no. I just figure that pushing the envelope now means it won't > be obsolete/unusable as quickly. Admittedly, that may not be the best > way to look at it. It'll only become unusable if the software bloats overnight (not a real risk unless you are "upgrading" software for the sake of upgrading - and RedSleeve is derived from a distro that very much favours long term stability over bleeding edge). As for obsoleteness, I wouldn't worry about it - ARMv5 supporting distros are going to be around for a long time. Gordan
