Looking for SBC hardware

[TristramCheer]

I'm looking to install a medium sized network and i'm looking for a suitable SBC that will support 4 radio's, i would prefer 4 minipci slots and atleast 400mhz of grunt, it must work with Star-Os, so far the only one i have found was a xscale board


Cheers

[go.fast]

Do you have a url for that board?

Thanks
George

[TristramCheer]

www.gateworks.com/avila_gw2345.htm

[go.fast]

Ok thanx.
I didn't think star supported risc systems.

George

[TristramCheer]

yeah, its not RISC and its intel Xscale based, there is a post below this about its support. having 2 systems up a pole is not a option for me, i need it to run the whole node.

[ninedd]

yeah, its not RISC and its intel Xscale based, there is a post below this about its support. having 2 systems up a pole is not a option for me, i need it to run the whole node.Hi TristramCheer - Lonnie has said that StarOS will not work on this board and that they will not be porting it. Lonnie has said that StarOS will not work on the new Routerboard 500, and that they will not be porting it. Lonnie hasn't said what the future plans or direction are for StarOS and what StarOS will run on, but these for sure it he was said it won't run on. :(

I too have been on the prowl for suitable hardware to run StarOS on, and frankly, without any luck after month's of searching. If you find something that it can run on, let me know. I've got 12 towers currently in the works, and I'd LOVE to be able to forward with StarOS. I'm not sure how that's possible with unknown hardware and unknown future plans. :) I don't mean to be negative, we all wouldn't be struggling so hard if we didn't love the software so much. :)

If you find any 4 port hardware, let me know. I'll buy a dozen at least.

[go.fast]

yeah, its not RISC and its intel Xscale based, there is a post below this about its support. having 2 systems up a pole is not a option for me, i need it to run the whole node.

I did some googling and here is what I found on one of the sites:

The Intel® XScale PXA255 (http://www.applieddata.net/products_bitsyBX.asp) as in the BitsyX is Intel's first RISC-based processor that runs at 400MHz at such low power consumption . The product combines a robust I/O set and is ruggedized for industrial use. BitsyX specifications may be found here: PXA255 based BitsyX Specifications (http://www.applieddata.net/products_bitsyX.asp)

George

[ninedd]

Intel's first RISC-based processor that runs at 400MHzYes, but Lonnie has said that they will not be porting StarOS to alternative boards.

[go.fast]

Lonnie hasn't said what the future plans or direction are for StarOS . :(

I'm not sure how that's possible with unknown hardware and unknown future plans. :) I don't mean to be negative, we all wouldn't be struggling so hard if we didn't love the software so much. :)

If you find any 4 port hardware, let me know. I'll buy a dozen at least.

I too feel like I'm in the dark and not sure how to proceed for the future.
Mainly because Lonnie has hinted that something big is in the works and he won't say anything more. Except that those who wait will be happy.

The confusion for me is what is this new thing, will I need to replace hardware, and what will it do differently that is usable to me.

But for almost 5 years I've been following Lonnie and he has never let us down yet.
I assume his secrecy is based on not tipping his hand to the competition until it hit the streets.
I have trust in Lonnie.

So I patiently wait.. with a little bit Of HURRY UP GUYS in the back of my mind.

George

[TristramCheer]

i really think staros is shooting its self if it stops support for other boards but dosnt supply something to fill the gap, WRAP is nice but come on, other than small meshs how the hell do you build a decent sized network with 2 radios.

Oh but you can just put 2 WRAP's together, but thats 2 Star-Os keys. So perhaps its not in their intrest to suport a platform that allows 4 radios. Even a platform with 3 would be nice

[David L. Vrablic]

I have "Dropped back" to a separate WRAP for each sector.
Better for me many reasons.
It is the backhauk at max speed I have been having problems with.
I installed a 2.4G P4 MOBO last night in a box that was locking up.
Not to jinx myself but it has been running all night and all morning so far.
The system is pulling 5Meg "Pseudo" Full Duplex.

The mother board had an on board NIC / video and 3 slots.
It isn't anything I would want to hang in the air but it would get the job done for a short antenna run app, in style, until Santa Gets Here with the goodies! ;-)

[lonnie]

I too feel like I'm in the dark and not sure how to proceed for the future.
Mainly because Lonnie has hinted that something big is in the works and he won't say anything more. Except that those who wait will be happy.

The confusion for me is what is this new thing, will I need to replace hardware, and what will it do differently that is usable to me.

But for almost 5 years I've been following Lonnie and he has never let us down yet.
I assume his secrecy is based on not tipping his hand to the competition until it hit the streets.
I have trust in Lonnie.

So I patiently wait.. with a little bit Of HURRY UP GUYS in the back of my mind.

George

Thanks.

[go.fast]

I have "Dropped back" to a separate WRAP for each sector.
Better for me many reasons.
It is the backhauk at max speed I have been having problems with.
I installed a 2.4G P4 MOBO last night in a box that was locking up.
Not to jinx myself but it has been running all night and all morning so far.
The system is pulling 5Meg "Pseudo" Full Duplex.

The mother board had an on board NIC / video and 3 slots.
It isn't anything I would want to hang in the air but it would get the job done for a short antenna run app, in style, until Santa Gets Here with the goodies! ;-)

I have a few p4 boxes in production working fine.
One of them though might have too many adapters and that may be a reason one of the sectors is not going as fast as it should be.
I am assuming irq issues.

Recently I had tio rebuild a p4 box that died. I tried installing some additional intel nics to feed a wrap bard or something else and the box keep locking up.

I removed the extra intel nics and haven't had an issue yet.
Never had a problem with the cheaper realtek ones though.

George

[David L. Vrablic]

I jinxed myself.
No more than 5 mins. after I posted that message the new box went down like a rock.
The only thing I did find is a rather strange spec on the power supply.
It say that it has a 1.5 MINIMUM current draw.
Hummm I cut the yellow ps wire , inserted an amp meter and found no more than 600Ma with that kick butt P4.
Has anyone ever thought about this as a source of problems?
---------
It did drop again later in the day BUT not as often as the EPIA board that had shared IRQs.
(This P4 board does not have any shared recources)
----------------
The only last thing I can try is replacing the Mini PCI adapters with the CM-9 with a Dlink DWL-AG530 card.
(Both ends of this double hop link have the 530s the middle two have CM-9) The ends have never stopped working.
---------
I know it isn't supposed to make a difference but it is one of the few things left to try.
I have them ordered and they will be here on Monday.
------------
I can hang a light bulb or load of some kind to get the current up to over the 1.5 amp min. if that is the problem.
I really hate this "Bleeding Edge Stuff" No wonder Lonnie doesn't want to support all the MOBOs in the world.
There are just to many things to factor in that are just beyond ones control..
Oh yes the throuput is awesome even running encryption.
----------
On the NIC issue I used the on board and only put the radio in a angle riser for the single PCI adapter. This adapter has the 6 active chips on it. I guess I could try one of the plain adapters also. I am running out of options and the clock is running on how many outages the customers will tolarate.

[phendry]

Does anyone know if StarOS supports the Geode NX CPU's or the Geode GX 2?

[bradg]

I jinxed myself. The only thing I did find is a rather strange spec on the power supply. It say that it has a 1.5 MINIMUM current draw. Hummm I cut the yellow ps wire , inserted an amp meter and found no more than 600Ma with that kick butt P4. Has anyone ever thought about this as a source of problems?


I didn't read the entire thread, but if you're using a computer or other SMPS (switch-mode power supply), you need to heed the minimum current draw warnings, and in some cases to the letter.

A fair amount of SMPS's (particularly ones that are older, cheaper, or high current output models) are designed to maintain voltage regulation on their primary output at a minimum load level - which is rarely at zero current draw.

Are you using only the 12V part of the supply on a PC type power supply? That's generally not the "primary" output - the primary output is usually the output with the highest power rating (often 5V in a PC supply). The primary output is usually what the power supply gets it's feedback from to give it voltage regulation. Again, with no load on the primary output, it could do some really wierd things regulation-wise, and maybe even shut down because of an overvolt condition.

If you have a good DMM (Digital Multi Meter) that can read AC voltage to a few hundred kHz, check the DC supply outputs for AC ripple. You shouldn't see much (<100mV, usually quite a bit less) if the supply is working correctly with decent regulation.

A light bulb would work for a load, but would not be the ideal situation as far as heat load goes - unless you need the heat that is.


Brad

[David L. Vrablic]

I figured that the power supplies would be a pretty good quality if they are Hawking the TRAVLA 1U rack cases as "Ideal for server use".
The power supplies that come with them are made by FSP Group.

http://www.fsp-group.com.tw/english/02_products/01_pc_power_supply.asp?modelid=8&modelname=FSP180-50PLA&factorname=FLEX%20ATX12V

The PS model is FSP180-50PLA
Don't forget this is a 1U case so not everything will fit.

I have never seen a minimum current before.
The current measures at 600 Ma that is well below the min.
How do you find a power supply that you wouldn't consider cheap that doesn't have a min current rating?
Also I can't find anything that is not a switcher anywhere.
I have searched for hours and most of the "expensive units" don't even publish any detailed specs.

The box in question has stayed running with some rather spectacular results. I would sure like to get to the bottom of this lockup problem that so many of us that are doodeling with high speed CPUs and eeking out higher throughput with encryption turned on.

[rbolduc]

AHHHHH The gods have heard you.......

http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?T1=113+0282&dept=lch28&search=&child=

you can make one yourself though, all you need is a molex connector and a 5ohm 5 watt resistor or even somewhere in that range would be fine.. just use ohms law (E=I x R)to figure current draw

Have a super day :)
Reed

Also similar thing done here to help "load" the powersupply to have good regulation
http://web2.murraystate.edu/andy.batts/ps/POWERSUPPLY.HTM

[bradg]

AHHHHH The gods have heard you.......

http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?T1=113+0282&dept=lch28&search=&child=

you can make one yourself though, all you need is a molex connector and a 5ohm 5 watt resistor or even somewhere in that range would be fine.. just use ohms law (E=I x R)to figure current draw

Have a super day :)
Reed

Also similar thing done here to help "load" the powersupply to have good regulation
http://web2.murraystate.edu/andy.batts/ps/POWERSUPPLY.HTM

Lots-o-info from Google on minimum supply loading: http://www.google.com/search?q=pc+power+supply+minimum+load

I've always used the "benchmark" that a given primary SMPS output should be loaded to at least 5% of it's rated capacity as a minimum to maintain something resembling regulation. Some can get away with less, and I've seen a couple instances where it's much higher, but that rule of thumb has worked pretty much all the time for me.

As a side "design note" related to the CyberGuys load resistor, be very aware that the aluminum "finned" power resistors in general will NOT support the dissipation wattages stated unless they are heat-sinked appropriately! That means basically attaching the resistor to a metallic (or other dissipative) surface to pull the heat out of the resistor and help it radiate the heat into the surrounding air.

In fact, even some of the very high power ceramic wirewound resistor's require airflow over them to achieve the dissipation rating they are given.

It's all in the fine print :)


Brad

[ninedd]

I too feel like I'm in the dark and not sure how to proceed for the future. Mainly because Lonnie has hinted that something big is in the works and he won't say anything more. Except that those who wait will be happy. The confusion for me is what is this new thing, will I need to replace hardware, and what will it do differently that is usable to me.Yes, I can fully understand that they don't want the competition to know all their secrets. If you tell everyone the what, when, how much and everything - then that's bad.

HOWEVER, as a customer I would like to know EITHER the WHAT or the WHEN. We sit and wait in the dark, but we don't really know WHAT we are waiting for. Is it new SBC AP Hardware? If so, great - we'll proceed with our other projects and wait for the SBC AP Hardware. On the other hand, if the 'big thing' is Ver 3, then we'll proceed with developing AP hardware and we'll wait patiently for the software. Or is it a new CPE? Again, either way we're 100% with StarOS on this - but it would be far less frustrating to know either WHEN to expect the 'big thing' or to know what the 'big thing' is, and then it can arrive whenever it arrives. :)