From owner-freebsd-isp@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Jan 12 20:35:24 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-isp@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 1A03516A4CE for ; Mon, 12 Jan 2004 20:35:24 -0800 (PST) Received: from taka.swcp.com (taka.swcp.com [198.59.115.12]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 62C3243D4C for ; Mon, 12 Jan 2004 20:35:22 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from deichert@wrench.com) Received: from shimi.swcp.com (shimi.swcp.com [198.59.115.14]) by taka.swcp.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id i0D4ZKsv001876 for ; Mon, 12 Jan 2004 21:35:20 -0700 (MST) Received: from localhost (deichert@localhost) by shimi.swcp.com (8.8.8/8.8.7) with ESMTP id VAA14824 for ; Mon, 12 Jan 2004 21:35:20 -0700 (MST) X-Authentication-Warning: shimi.swcp.com: deichert owned process doing -bs Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 21:35:19 -0700 (MST) From: Diana Eichert X-Sender: deichert@shimi.swcp.com To: freebsd-isp@freebsd.org In-Reply-To: <49540.192.168.42.24.1073964884.squirrel@otter.centtech.com> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.61 (1.212.2.1-2003-12-09-exp) on kaimen.swcp.com X-Spam-Status: No, hits=0.0 required=10.0 tests=none autolearn=no version=2.61 X-Spam-Level: Subject: Re: mini-ITX 1U dual servers?? X-BeenThere: freebsd-isp@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: Internet Services Providers List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 04:35:24 -0000 On Mon, 12 Jan 2004, Eric Anderson wrote: > tony@saign.com said: > > Just saw some a nifty dual ITX 1U server case, wondering if anyone knows > > how well or if these boards will run 5.x CURRENT. > > http://www.caseoutlet.com/NWPc/C147/C147_Barebone.html > > > > Woulds be pretty nice to co-locate dual servers in a 1U slot. > > Yes, these should run freebsd just fine in this environment. > > Eric You know what I see is the real drawback to these systems? They require a monitor and keyboard to set them up initially, and really you want to continue to have a monitor and heyboard immediately available. This doesn't really make sense in a rackmount server, what is better is a serial console that gives access to the BIOS remotely. I even talked to VIA about a serial console redirect feature and they referred me to General Software, http://www.gensw.com/, who has a PXE boot serial console BIOS for the VIA system boards. Unfortunately their pricing is not setup to work with small quantity purchases. I don't know why VIA doesn't create an alternate BIOS providing serial console support by default, maybe if more people contact them with this request. I would think in the embedded system world, which is where they appear to be focusing a lot of their marketing, serial console support would be a no brainer.