> Dirt cheap too. Even w/ Fry's specials it would be hard to put > together a comparable machine for that amount. > > Given that it has VIA's C7 chip which has extra instructions for > crypto, including SHA1 > (http://www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives/padlock/), it should make a nice > venti server--although you would probably need to upgrade the 80 GB > drive... What would be involved in patching Plan 9's libsec to use > the C7's crypto instructions?
we have been getting similar machines for <$150. they're sold as thin clients with a gigabyte mainboard and case. they pxe boot but don't have power or room for a hard drive. they work very well, but i don't think they would make very nice venti servers with only 10/100 ethernet, regardless of the processor. a single disk would scare me, too. i guess i'm just a paranoid performance weenie. - erik
