[Beowulf] Clusters and Distro Lifespans

[Geoff Jacobs]

Robert G. Brown wrote:
> On Wed, 19 Jul 2006, Jim Lux wrote:
> 
>> And, what I'd really, really like is a small standalone server
>> (headless) that is like a pocket sized network attached disk storage. 
>> Like those portable drives with a Firewire or USB interface, except
>> with an RJ45 Ethernet jack. If it could run things like DHCP,
>> tftpserver, etc., all the better.
> 
> I think that you can come really close to this now with OTS components.
> I have a lovely little 80 GB USB/FW drive (about the size of a
> paperback).  Pair this with one of the ultra-small-footprint systems out
> there (maybe micro-ATX?).  That gives you a system maybe 10"x10"x3".  Or
> see if you can get a USB equipped PDA or Zaurus or something (although
> getting all the software you want running in their available memory
> might be a problem).  You might be able to get a Zaurus connected to a
> small USB bridge, and hang a paperback drive and a network interface on
> it in something like 4"x6"x4", including a little mini keyboard and VGA
> display... would that work?
> 
> Mind you, the network performance would probably suck in anything with
> less than a 10x10 base -- a bit less than laptop sized -- but that's
> really pretty small.  The paperback hard drives suck power from the USB
> port, BTW, which might stress the USB power capacity of even a plugged
> in PDA.  Something else to think about.
> 
>    rgb
> 

Wouldn't an NSLU2 with third party firmware (for NFS support) do the
job? Along with a pair of 3.5" external enclosures?

-- 
Geoffrey D. Jacobs

Go to the Chinese Restaurant,
Order the Special