[ale] Designing hardware that runs Linux

[Derek Atkins]

Hi,

"Michael B. Trausch" <mike at trausch.us> writes:

[snip]
>   * Two to four Ethernet ports
>   * At least one or two USB ports that are user-accessible
>   * An easily implemented "expansion bus" that would make a stackable
>     unit possible without sending the cost through the roof and provided
>     no less than 6 Mbps of usable net bandwidth
>   * <= 512 MB each of RAM and software storage, <= 4 GB of redundant
>     data storage
>   * A CPU capable of running Linux and a limited userland, in the 
>     300-600 MHz range
>   * No spinning platters, and passive cooling if possible
>   * The ability to use next to no power when idle
>   * The ability to use no more than approx. 90 watts when under full
>     load (the last two requirements being the most flexible, but still
>     strongly desirable)
>
> Is there anyone on the list that would be willing to be paid for an hour
> or two of time to sit and talk with me about this idea, and help me to
> figure out how feasible it would be to actually create the
> implementation?  I can do all the software stuff involved (I think,
> though if any drivers need to be written that might take me a bit longer
> than I'd want, but I'd still be willing to do it), but I am seriously
> lacking in the domain of hardware knowledge that would be necessary for
> building around the software.

Um, this sounds remarkably like the Global Technologies GuruPlug.
Have you looked at that hardware?  The server-plus configuration has
2xGigE, 2xUSB-2.0, 1xeSATA, 1.2GHz ARM, ...

   www.globaltechnologies.com

-derek

-- 
       Derek Atkins, SB '93 MIT EE, SM '95 MIT Media Laboratory
       Member, MIT Student Information Processing Board  (SIPB)
       URL: http://web.mit.edu/warlord/    PP-ASEL-IA     N1NWH
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