StarOS v1.13.2b9-3775 ready for testing

[tony]

Changes between v1.13.2b8 and v1.13.2b9:
Update: Bridging code has been updated to work more like those in pre-1.13.x releases.
New: Keys can now be entered for Ethernet devices that are not present in the current system.

Atheros support is early in development, and should be considered BETA.
Known problems include: System may stop responding if the Atheros card is set to 'auto' for rate, and the link quality is low. Solution is to place the Atheros card to a fixed rate. This problem is being investigated, and will be resolved soon.

To enable Atheros support, you can purchase an Atheros-enabled key from your reseller, or online via www.license-keys.com. All Server keys include the Atheros license.

Atheros cards tested: D-Link DWL-AB520, DWL-AG520, DWL-G520.

Any and all comments are welcome.

DESKTOP SYSTEMS
Desktop Server Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strs-1.13.2b9-3775.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strs-1.13.2b9-3775.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strs-1.13.2b9-3775.raw

Desktop Router Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strr-1.13.2b9-3775.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strr-1.13.2b9-3775.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strr-1.13.2b9-3775.raw

SPECIAL PURPOSE SYSTEMS
Soekris Router Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrs-1.13.2b9-3775.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrs-1.13.2b9-3775.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrs-1.13.2b9-3775.raw

WRAP Router Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrw-1.13.2b9-3775.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrw-1.13.2b9-3775.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrw-1.13.2b9-3775.raw

Routerboard Router Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrb-1.13.2b9-3775.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrb-1.13.2b9-3775.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrb-1.13.2b9-3775.raw

CPE SYSTEMS
SBC CPE Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/cpe-1.13.2b9-3775.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/cpe-1.13.2b9-3775.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/cpe-1.13.2b9-3775.raw

Desktop CPE Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/cpev-1.13.2b9-3775.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/cpev-1.13.2b9-3775.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/cpev-1.13.2b9-3775.raw

[Davader]

Any status on testing a Dlink DWL-2000 as a Client?

:)

[dkii]

Just heads up, I put a Netgear WG311(Atheros 5212) in my routerboard. Star-os did not detect it. Did some searching and found the routerboard's PCI slot is only PCI 2.1 :(

[tony]

Here is a thread people who wish to use Atheros should monitor.
http://forums.star-os.com/viewtopic.php?t=1604

Thanks!

[tony]

It could be a problem with the PCI, or perhaps the Netgear card does not use the standard Atheros PCI IDs. We'll do some looking to see if this is the case and add support for it if possible.

Just heads up, I put a Netgear WG311(Atheros 5212) in my routerboard. Star-os did not detect it. Did some searching and found the routerboard's PCI slot is only PCI 2.1 :(

[dkii]

the WG311 is a mini-pci card in a pci carrier. They had the clips that hold the mini-pci into the carrier soldered(crappy solder job) to the card. There was a little solder bridge between the crappy solder job and a pin on a chip. Removed that and it's working fine in my routerboard and my wrap board.

[tony]

Glad to hear! When you have some performance numbers from testing, feel free to post them.

Btw, the problem mentioned in the release post regarding the Atheros problem with auto-rate select has been resolved, and if testing proves successful, we will release a new version in the next day or two.

Is the WG311 a 'G', or A/B/G ?

Thanks!

[dkii]

it's a "G" only.

Performance:
setup:

AP: WRAP 1b with Router build 3775
Card: Netgear WG311(Atheros 5212) in AP 11g mode, Chan 1, Rate: 54
IP: 192.168.2.1

Client: Routerboard 230 with Router build 3759(Atheros won't be used in this board, don't want to purchase key for it)

Card: Same as AP Signal: -45dbm Noise: -102dbm Rate: 54
IP: 192.168.2.2

Speed tests done from WRAP board SSH interface, max value reported. 60 seconds each, rx/tx is as reported by tcp throughput test utility.

54mb/s fixed, WRAP interface:
recv rate: 1221 KB/sec
send rate: 369 KB/sec

54mb/s Fixed, Routerboard interface:
recv rate: 774 KB/sec
send rate: 1014 KB/sec

Rate changed to 108 and turbo selected, both sides.

108mb/s Fixed, WRAP interface:
recv rate: 998 KB/sec
send rate: 1889 KB/sec

108mb/s Fixed, Routerboard interface:
recv rate: 1686 KB/sec
send rate: 822 KB/sec


Same tests, roles reversed (Wrap is client, Routerboard is AP)
recv rate:

54mb/s Fixed, Wrap interface:
recv rate: 759 KB/sec
send rate: 2172 KB/sec

54mb/s Fixed, Routerboard interface:
recv rate: 2243 KB/sec
send rate: 370 KB/sec

108mb/s Fixed, Wrap interface:
recv rate: 1030 KB/sec
send rate: 1565 KB/sec

108mb/s Fixed, Routerboard interface:
recv rate: 1560 KB/sec
send rate: 820 KB/sec

One thing I noticed was the routerboard was sluggish during testing, while the WRAP board was not. Here are the system load number for both of them immediatly after the test:


WRAP board:
1 5 15 (in minutes)
0.54 0.71 0.61

Routerboard:
1 5 15 (in minutes)
1.81 1.70 1.42


The turbo(108mb/s) mode number may not be accurate, I'm doing these tests about 100' away from a micro-cell that is using chans 6 and 11. The 54mb/s tests were done on channel 1.

[tony]

The routing performance is much greater going 'through' the system, rather than too them as the bandwidth tester (server and client) on the WRAP and Routerboard seem to take up a good chunk of CPU (~80% or more).

We have also found that the WRAP has better performance on both ethernet and Wireless than the Routerboard, even though the routerboard has a quicker CPU. (266 compared to 233).

To take full advantage of the cards, we found that a more powerful system, Celeron-400 or higher class is needed.

Thank you for your testing results!

[dkii]

I just sent lonnie an email requesting a couple of upgrade licenses, once I get those installed, I'll post some "through" numbers.

[lonnie]

The G cards will slow down if they hear any B systems. I would really like to see some A to A numbers. Anybody doing this yet?

[bobbyc]

To take full advantage of the cards, we found that a more powerful system, Celeron-400 or higher class is needed.

Do you know of any such boards with minipci, or are you thinking of using the minipci cards in pci carriers? I know the dlink cards you've been testing are minipci already in pci carriers, but the higher spec cards from fament/netgate are minipci only and a pci carrier would have to be purchased from routerboard.com.

Then we could run DC cable up the towers to the board.
Thanks,
Bob C

[lonnie]

We are moving towards the WRAP boards from PC Engines, but volume delivery will not be until Jan 2004. They have dual Ethernet and dual mPCI slots as well as having POE ability.

[go.fast]

Is the wrap board powerfull enough to replace the via 733?
Will you eventually do both?
George

[lonnie]

We are having a bit of a You Snooze you Lose sale to clear out the last 20 or so ATX-733 motherboards. We'll be using the WRAP borads and they will certainly replace the ATX-733, especially for outdoor and remote since they are lower powered and do POE.

1) price of server has gone to $100
2) Server includes Atheros

We have the remaining 20 boards at the old price so this basically means at 10 pack pricing you get a Server License and almost get a free motherboard, ram and dom.