DSL 0.5.1 in Damn Small Computer
Forum: User Feedback
Topic: DSL 0.5.1 in Damn Small Computer
started by: Ihra
Posted by Ihra on Dec. 11 2003,09:01
Hello all,after few hours of wrestling with the bootdevices, I managed to install DSL 0.5.1 to "world smallest computer" (how many times have you heard that phrase?)... well, device is eBox1, Sis Vortex86 200 mhz machine with footprint of 133 x 63 x 111 mm. Machine includes AC97 standard sound codec (with line in/line out/phone connectors), ps/2 connectors for keyboard and mouse, 128 megabytes of ram, internal place for 2,5 inch harddrive (as in laptops), with 44 pin connector (that includes power), internal SiS vga-adapter (up to 1920 x 1440 with true color), ethernet card with Realtek 8100b chip, 3 x usb 1.1 (one is bootable) and it still supports apm (acpi) and network boot and weights 850 grams. Impressive? Well, atleast very tempting to hack with
External power dont make much noise, as only noise is generated with processor fan (very small) and actually hard disc scratching is only sound passing from the plastic case.More specs in Gadget Computers homepage (in Finland, I don't know who is the manufacturer).< Gadget Computer >
Now, I managed to get my hands on 2,5 inch disc with 850 megabytes of diskspace. From the old laptop, of course. And it was good as I didn't have to pay for it
I installed disc (it gets installed on the backside of the small motherboard) and tried to install DSL to usb memory stick (256 megabytes). No avail as that model was not bootable and even other linux distros did not recognize it. That thing wasted few hours and I changed plans.
Small footprint doesn't allow cdrom-drive but for the booting purposes there is standard ide-cable to use while install. Only problem is that as power is external, there is no power cords to run cdrom. So installation was made with two machines side by side, cases open, other just supplying power to cdrom-drive and eBox running. What a cable mess
DSL to the cdrom and YES! It booted and everything was fine. DSL recognized everything just fine, even SiS Vga adapter (it even said "not standard") and x-windows booted. It is pretty fast by the way in that machine (good amount of ram helps?). And Dillo-browser was in the net in the same time! First boot... impressive, I would say.
Then I opened DSL homepage with dillo and found "installation to hard disc" -part and just followed the script... it is easy to find hard disc if there is only one connector and one disc.
Next time boot went fine and ... everything was done. Mounting to other servers, games, ssh, all those works fine. Nice evening, I like to say
Jussi "Ihra" Josefsson
Posted by John on Dec. 12 2003,07:06
Hey, that really interesting. Do you have any pics of the inside? How much are those things going for?
Posted by Ihra on Dec. 12 2003,08:42
| Quote (John @ Dec. 12 2003,02:06) |
| Hey, that really interesting. Do you have any pics of the inside? How much are those things going for? |
Sorry, I have no camera but during the weekend, I am going to install my webcam to.... eBox (so it could take pics from itself). Strange thing is that actually there is plenty of space inside...
Nice pics can be found from < Probyte PC > (text is in finnish, but pics will tell all, expecially Vortex chart ("possibilities of Vortex processor") and one picture with case open (you see how "high" the case is, there is about 5 cm empty space)). Also backside is shown (little bit dark) and case open with hard disc installation visible.
Machine is IMHO too expensive but I managed to get "test version" via my company. Ebox1 single lan version costs about 230-250 euros (or dollars), dual lan with dvd decoder chip is about 400 euros.
And yes, I tested my eBox with webcam (didn't install to DSL yet)... really mobile solution (if you don't include the cables). Really installable to bathroom, too
Posted by DrWatt on Dec. 12 2003,17:23
One hell of a nice box! I saw one that looked even smaller at AutoZone, my local discount parts dealer. I was there the other day and they lost power. When it came back up, the splash screen said they were running Red Hat 7.2. Their box that controls all the dumb terminals in the store is about 8" x 1.5" x 5." I am dying to get my hands on one of these fanless boxes.
Posted by Ihra on Dec. 13 2003,11:10
Yeah, I just thought how many times I have heard that "smallest computer"... even with 80286 machines I heard that ("smallest home computer ever!!") And actually, there is about one inch worth of empty space between the case and motherboard. Don't know why, perhaps some issue with air flow? Both sides of the case contains plastic grill with holes in it...
Another thing to remember that with dual lan version, there is another Realtek chip and dvd decoder chip to include.
And I have printed those "Gadget Computer" stickers in the front of the case
(thats how I got my hands on the machine). Now to the webcam...
Posted by [GF]Burke on Dec. 22 2003,12:38
Nice!I like the way yours "looks" , that's tight.