little boxes [was: DECtop]

[Dave Germiquet]

How would the WOOT device stack up with NAS? Could i attach a USB hard
drives to it with Linux/USB Hub :)

Is this possible? Maybe its nicer than my SLug lol..

On 6/25/07, John Van Ostrand <john-Da48MpWaEp0CzWx7n4ubxQ at public.gmane.org> wrote:
>
>  On Mon, 2007-06-25 at 13:31 -0400, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote:
>  I'm a sucker for little boxes.
>
>
>
>  Me too. I have some business cases where I can use appliance like devices.
> Things like firewalls, Asterisk systems, network monitoring appliances, etc.
>
>  I would love to hear what people are using for devices like that.
>
>
>  What is missing that I'd like:
>
> - serial port (usb + dongle would do, except for "serial console")
>
> - more ethernet
>
> - HD expansion?
>
>
>  My main issue would be more Ethernet, nix the video, go with serial console
> and add external flash slot. Minimum Ethernet is 2 with options for 4. USB
> Ethernet would be tough since USB doesn't have good retention and I'd hate
> to see it fall out when brushed. Flash makes a great place to store
> configuration so replacing a dead unit is easy. A single PCI slot would also
> be good. PoE would be great with an optional power brick when needed.
>
>  I'd really like to see three case options: 19" rack mount, wall mount and
> desk-top boxes. The PICs look great for a desk-top box. I'd want the 19"
> rack to have all the ports on front and look like a switch or router. The
> wall mount would essentially be the same as the rackmount.
>
>
>  They probably take more power than non-x86 little boxes.
>
>
>  Low enough for PoE would be great, less than a standard PC would be fully
> expected.
>
>
>  In theory wireless routers are great cheap hackable boxes. Some even
> come with USB2.0.
>
>
>  But they can't be branded and many look too "consumer".
>
>  Here's *my* dilemma: I want to see this in the sub $300 range, case
> included.
>
>  The EPIA mini ITX are almost there, we just need a cost effective case.
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