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Asus A8N-VM CSM as diskless frontend?
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Author:  FAF [ Tue Feb 07, 2006 5:22 am ]
Post subject:  Asus A8N-VM CSM as diskless frontend?
Need some advice, plz.

My plan is to run a diskless frontend over a 1000mbit/s network, I have it,
why not use it :).

As you can see from the specs below, the two machines are quit different.
The frontend is an 64bit AMD whereas the backend is a 32bit Celeron.
Nevertheless, I will, for the ease, run 32bit on the AMD.

The frontend is a new board on the scene, and requires kernel =>2.6.14.
It also require a bios fix, to get the ACPI working, "Taiwan is working on it",
until they get it done, I need to modify the system and include the bios fix.

I could use MiniMyth or something similar and run from the CF, but I would like
to utilise the Terminal Server option in KnoppMyth, just for the ease of it.

What would be the most logical solution here, a remastering of KnoppMyth
and place it in the /terminalserver or a dedicated distribution on the CF?

Anyone have experience with Asus A8N-VM CSM as a PXE booting frontend?

Would be nice to have an ISO for CF or TS, customized for Asus A8N-VM CSM,
anyone already have build such a thing? If not, I will see what I can do.

Thank you for your time.

/FAF

Backend specs:

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-8SQ800 Ultra motherboard.
Intel Celeron Willamette 2.1 GHz /478.
2x Samsung Spinpoint 250 GB ATA133.
1x 512 MB Kingston DDR PC333 (PC2700).
Aopen Aeolus FX5200-DV64 Nvidia.
Hauppauge PVR-350 TV-Tuner. (48139 Rev. k257) "will be replaced with a PVR500"
DVD: Pioneer 110D will be installed.
Realtek 8169S - 1000 mbit/s NIC.
Antec SX835II Performance Serie II chassis.
Zitech "OEM" 120mm 300W PSU. (17db)
Zalman CNPS7700-AlCu cooler, 120mm fan /1000 RPM.
Zalman chipset heatsink NB47-J passive.
Onboard Sound.

Frontend specs:

Motherboard: Asus A8N-VM CSM mATX
- Support AMD Socket 939 Athlon 64FX / Athlon 64 X2 / Athlon 64
- NVIDIA GeForce 6150 + nForce 430
- Dual-channel DDR400
- PCI Express architecture
- Integrated GeForce6 GPU
- Dual VGA Ouput:DVI-D & RGB
- NVIDIA Gigabit LAN with NVIDIA ActiveArmor Firewall
- 4 x SATA II (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5)
- 1394a Support
- High Definition Audio
Chassis: Silverstone LC17S
CPU: AMD Athlon64 3000
CPU-Fan: Foxconn (to be changed)
Ram: Geil 2x512 MB PC3200/400
PSU: Raptoxx 1.3 350W (16db)
DVD: Pioneer 110D
Zalman FAN controller, runs ca. 5-7 volt on the fans.
Zalman chipset heatsink NB47-J passive, on the southbridge, no space for pci.. DOH.
CF to IDE adaptor is installed, just in case.
Remote: "need to buy one".

I will build a VGA to SCART lead, like this (Swedish!): http://www.nada.kth.se/~feldt/vgascart/

My initial plan for the frontend, was to make a dual boot, so that I could
play some win98 kid-games on it, but the harddrive was just to darn loud.
Will rely on MAME for the gaming.

Maybe I will make a raid on a couple of CF's but thats another story.

I will keep it as it is, in case I need to run a dual boot solution on it.

I have been running KnoppMyth succesfully on an epia v10000, with a PVR350 w. tv-out,
but the setup was to noisy for my taste, the wife too. It was kinda slow too.

Now it's time to move on and build a solid permanent noiseless Linux solution.

I will eventually summarize the whole setup on http://www.linux-htpc.dk (danish).
Will maybe make it in English as well. The site is under construction.
Author:  hotspoons [ Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hmm...you will probably want to do some tweaking first to get that motherboard working in a normal environment, then maybe you can switch it to diskless. I played with it for a bit and gave up, but low and behold, it seems others have gotten it working since I last looked, so its time to give it another shot. See here for more info: http://mysettopbox.tv/phpBB2/viewtopic. ... light=asus .
Author:  mad_paddler [ Wed Feb 08, 2006 2:53 am ]
Post subject: 
Yeah I got mine working, quite a bit of tweaking needed tho!
Author:  FAF [ Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:20 am ]
Post subject: 
Thx

Well, was thinking about installing a harddrive on the frontend, just for the tweaking of knoppmyth, but it's all a bit fuzzy right now, need to understand how KnoppMyth implements the terminal server. I will try to search the wiki/docs to see if I can find more info on this.

<mad_paddler> Do you use a harddrive or do you boot from the network?

<hotspoons> Thx for the link.

/FAF
Author:  mad_paddler [ Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
Currently booting from a hard disk. I guess you need to remaster knoppmyth substituting a freshly compiled kernel. Write it to a cd, then run prep-ts on your backend with the new cd in the drive.
Author:  FAF [ Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:26 am ]
Post subject: 
>mad_paddler< wrote:

Quote:
I guess you need to remaster knoppmyth substituting a freshly compiled kernel. Write it to a cd, then run prep-ts on your backend with the new cd in the drive.


Thx.. yes that was my idea too, but I guess it's too much of a hassle for me right now, have so many unfinished projects going on, I have to careful not to fry the skull.

I'm about to buy another motherboard for the frontend, since my chassis support ATX formfactor. Actually, I think I have a Asrock mobo somewhere, with 512MB Ram, rtl8169S Nic 1Gb/s, Nvidia 5200 passive or a Nvidia 6600 active - have both, that should be able to do it for now. just need to get a Zalman CNPS7700-AlCu..

I can use the Asus for a small "wife" friendly desktop in a small mATX chassis or something else, maybe wait for Nvidia and Asus to mature...

It's a shame to use it for less, but atleast I will save some time with the setup, you know, familly/kids and all.

Thank you for your time.

/FAF
Author:  FAF [ Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
Update:

Ok, I have to admit it, I don't want to disassemble the HTPC box, was just about to pull out the Asus board, when I felt sad for the poor thing. I quickly put those things I disconnected back in the case.

The Asrock K7SBX w. AMD2500 just have one USB connector, and just feels inadequit compared to the Asus board. Another reason is that I don't want to unplug everything once I got it to fit so nicely, the Asus feels just like it's made for the case.

So I guess I will have to give the Asus a try :)

I will install a HD in the case and start the remastering asap.

Thx for the inspiration.

/FAF

PS. I just got a confirmation that the diagram for the VGA to SCART works for the board, atleast under windows, so there is a very good chance that it will work under KnoppMyth. Link to the diagram: http://www.nada.kth.se/~feldt/vgascart/
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