Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 14:10:34 -0400 (EDT) From: "J. Seth Henry" <jshamlet@comcast.net> To: George Vagner <george@vagner.com> Cc: questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Looking for *reliable* low-power/heat solution with FBSD in mind Message-ID: <20030416140826.K1551-100000@whitetower.gambrl01.md.comcast.net> In-Reply-To: <009001c30429$105545e0$0b1a6141@sandy>
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Thanks for the info. I settled on a barebones system, the FIC Falcon CR51. It has the older board style with the 933MHz C3 processor. This should be fine for a HA controller. Combined with a 10Gb laptop hard disk, I'm guessing runtime on a 650VA UPS should be considerable. Now I have to find a FreeBSD supported USB-> serial adapter. Thanks, Seth Henry On Wed, 16 Apr 2003, George Vagner wrote: > I am using one of the VIA ITX formfactor mb's and it works > very well. it is very small and uses only 28 watts of power. > > they have them up to 1Ghz or up to 600Mhz without a fan. > > check out lin-itx.com for some examples. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "J. Seth Henry" <jshamlet@comcast.net> > To: <questions@freebsd.org> > Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 9:53 AM > Subject: Looking for *reliable* low-power/heat solution with FBSD in mind > > > > This isn't strictly on-topic, but I am hoping a few readers of this list > > may have some experience in this area. > > > > I currently have my home file server acting as a home automation system. > > This works well, given the light load, but unfortunately the system has to > > be physically located in a closet to perform this function. I have to take > > great care, as the server is a dual P3 system, and gets quite warm. More > > than once, I have been awaken by the thermal alarm system. > > > > I would like to install a low power, quiet system that is still capable of > > playing MP3/OGG audio, while handling the home automation tasks. This > > would allow me to move the server to a more cool location, avoiding risk > > of it overheating. Space isn't an issue, but I would like to keep it > > small. The ITX and FlexATX boards are about the size I'm interested in. > > > > The obvious thought was the VIA EPIA series mainboards. They are fanless > > in many configurations, powerful enough to play MP3 audio, and some are > > even capable of DVD video (though I'm not interested in that for this > > system). They also use very little power, most being powered by laptop > > style PSU's - which bodes well for UPS battery time. > > > > If those don't cut it, I'm also looking at the shuttle boxes, as they are > > still small, but use more "standard" components. They are > > vast overkill for this application, but reliability is key. Unfortunately, > > they also draw more power, meaning a shorter UPS battery life. > > > > The question is, does anyone know how reliable these systems are under > > FreeBSD, or even in general? I don't want my HA controller going down > > randomly, for hopefully obvious reasons. Also, does anyone have any > > recommendations for a similar system? > > > > I would prefer to stick with FreeBSD because I know the operating system > > fairly well, and because all my other systems are running it. I'd prefer > > to keep the network as homogenous as possible (with the only notable > > exception being my "game" machine) > > > > I know that this may seem like a "google" question, but I am looking for > > real-world thoughts, not sales pitches. This system will need to be up > > 24x7 nearly all year (save for maintenance and patches). If anyone has, or > > knows about, a favorite piece of gear that fits these requirements, I'd > > love to hear about it. > > > > Any help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. > > > > Thanks, > > Seth Henry > > > > _______________________________________________ > > freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list > > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions > > To unsubscribe, send any mail to > "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" > > > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.471 / Virus Database: 269 - Release Date: 4/10/2003 > >
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