Gregg C Levine wrote:
Hello! I have a project taking shape that would eventually have a system booting a file-system from USB.
Sweet! I look forward to your results!
I remember that we had a method of doing something of a sort from USB, using the contents of the v1 release. To be honest I am not even sure I remember the details behind it, or the individual who was the developer behind it, just that it was possible. Up to a point of course.
FILO has support for USB, but unfortunately UHCI is broken and EHCI is unsupported. OHCI works AFAIK, but I can't even confirm that much. I started some hacking on FILO to use a USB interface similar to the linux kernel, so that EHCI could be put in place easier, but gave up. I'm no expert on USB (or IDE, or SCSI, or ATAPI), so I was in over my head.
Now the project, essentially it would be an EPIA type board with a USB device a file-system, when booted we'd have a Linux prompt and all of the usual features thusly. The networking card would be a commodity wireless one.
The problem is that of selecting the board, and then configuring it to do that. I would like recommendations. The problem is of course money I would like it to be under 100 dollars US for the board. Preferably below 60 dollars US for it.
Take a look at the Jetway J7F2WE. I'm working on the last stages of bringing it in to LB as I'm writing this. I think the cost is ~$150 USD. Other options include the ALIX.1C, ~$140 and fully supported, and this Elite C7VCM, seen here: http://www.mini-box.com/Elite-C7-1-5G?sc=8&category=99 which is unsupported, but shouldn't be too hard once the CN700 stuff is in for the Jetway. I'm not an expert, but I'd say from the looks of things Elite is another PCChips brand, so I'd be cautious. Each has its own advantages/disadvantages, all the features are listed on mini-box.com. There are of course other options (an ebay Epia-M, for instance), but these boards are all still in production.
-Corey
Currently the file-system I've chosen is that of RUNT Linux, the fact that is a UMSDOS based arrangement built using Slackware Linux is that of the reason.
And naturally when the thing came up and started the classic doing something specific phase, that's where I'd be ending up with designing a gizmo to do most of that. And coding the programs behind it. -- Gregg C Levine hansolofalcon@worldnet.att.net "The Force will be with you always." Obi-Wan Kenobi