Linux-Hardware Digest #820, Volume #10 Thu, 22 Jul 99 09:13:54 EDT
Contents:
Re: Why Build Box? (Robert V. Grizzard)
Re: building efficient fileserver on Linux - hardware questions (Jeff McWilliams)
Re: hook a normal printer directly up to a network? (Marc Mutz)
CD-RW YAMAHA 4416S Timeout/RH6 Mand.6 (Jib�)
Re: Syquest ez135 ("Holger Thiesemann")
Smart Card Readers ("John Smith")
Re: Why Build Box? (Mike Hall)
Re: Why Build Box? (Mike Frisch)
Re: PCI Modem Driver for Linux (about to attempt one) (Id Est)
Re: SCSI 53C416 and RH 4.2 (Robert Sheskin)
Re: Building a Linux Box - comments? (Johan Groth)
Re: Building a Linux Box - comments? (Johan Groth)
Re: 19in racks for PC motherboard, PCI, IDE etc.... needed ("John de Rivaz")
Use CD-R for every day CD Use? (John McKown)
New user needs help with video card! ("David Casey")
Re: Creative 3D Blaster Banshee AGP (Sinner from the Prairy)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Robert V. Grizzard)
Subject: Re: Why Build Box?
Date: 22 Jul 1999 11:08:01 GMT
In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED] says...
>
>On 22 Jul 1999 02:25:13 GMT, Robert V. Grizzard
><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED] says...
>>
>>[snip]
>>
>>>I can also throw in a home improvement video for $4.99. This video
>>>retails for $9.99. Basically my prices will be cheaper than
>>>any one else. Ok?
>>
>>Forty bucks for the case I want, 78 for the MB and a buck and a half for the
>>processor. Lessee, that's -- ummm, 118 + 150 -- $268.00.
>
>I have ibm ps/value point for sale at $100. Running red hat 6.0.
Guess I need to look at the specs for that Value Point and see where they are
in relation to the pieces I need.
>>Can you beat that for a full tower 250W+, an Aopen AX59Pro and a K6-III 400?
>>
>
>There is no noticable performance difference between my $100 system and
>system based on dual pII boxes unless you are doing fluid dynamics
>calculations.
I've seen reports of as much as a 30% difference in compile speeds between a
dual PII and a single PII. Of course, the Aopen AX59Pro is a Super Socket 7
board, not a dual Slot 1.
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jeff McWilliams)
Subject: Re: building efficient fileserver on Linux - hardware questions
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 11:18:36 GMT
In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, gus wrote:
>See inline ...
>
>Bartlomiej Jarocki wrote:
>>
>> I got a fund to build efficiecient fileserver and application server on
>> Linux (FastEthernet, aprox. 20 Win9x SMB clients and 5 netbooted
>> X-workstations, with NFS-root) and I would like to ask for your kind
>> advice on following questions:
>>
>> 1. What sort of disk interface will be most efficient UDMA or SCSI U/W?
>>
>
>U/W SCSI definately. It is easier to add capacity, has better redundancy
>features, and provides better performance in multi-disk situations. Look
>in to software RAIS on Linux, and investigate mechanisms to keep your
>data secure.
>
>UDMA is OK for one or maybe two disks. It is cheaper than SCSI, but my
>experience is that you get what you pay for.
>
>> 2. Is dual processor board worth its price - does it give a noticeable
>> system load advantage?
>>
>
>In a File server, the CPU plays little toward performance. It is almost
>entirely the bus, disk subsystem, network interface, and available
>memory. Use a single processor, and do not go for the fastest, latest,
>and greatest, it willbe overkill. For the system you describe, even a
>233mhz will be more than enought ;-). Use the money you save to buy
>memory! Gigs of it.
>
Are those 5 net booted workstations gonna be running apps on the server CPU?
In that case, I'm not sure I agree with gus's advice of avoiding DUAL CPU's.
Wouldn't DUAL CPU's significantly increase the performance of all those X apps
running and being exported to the 5 X workstation displays?
Jeff
--
Jeff McWilliams - Advanced Development Engineer, ACE Technologies
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 01:09:21 +0200
From: Marc Mutz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.networking,comp.os.linux.misc,comp.os.linux.setup
Subject: Re: hook a normal printer directly up to a network?
Gaiko Kyofusho wrote:
>
> I was wondering if there was a way that I could hook a normal (hp desk
> jet model ???) directly to my home network (consisting of 1 winnt box
> and 2 linux boxes) without having to hook it directly to one of the
> computers? (I admit that it would be for purposes of convenience
> <arranging the network ing the house> not necessity, for those that
> might ask "why")
>
HP sells 'JetDirect' printservers that have an Ethernet and a parallel
port. They start at $100, so it might not be convenient fo you.
Marc
--
Marc Mutz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://marc.mutz.com/
University of Bielefeld, Dep. of Mathematics / Dep. of Physics
PGP-keyID's: 0xd46ce9ab (RSA), 0x7ae55b9e (DSS/DH)
------------------------------
From: Jib� <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: CD-RW YAMAHA 4416S Timeout/RH6 Mand.6
Date: 22 Jul 1999 10:31:11 GMT
Grettings!
I have a problem with my cdrw when I want to start Linux:
After the message
'1 host'
I have a message
'...aborting due to timeout lun0 pid3' or something like that...
during the boot, when the scsi card (TEKRAM) wants to detect my cdrw...
After that, Linux displays some debugging informations and the boot
stops... And I have to reboot.
What can I do ?
================== Posted via SearchLinux ==================
http://www.searchlinux.com
------------------------------
From: "Holger Thiesemann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Syquest ez135
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 12:35:17 +0200
The IDE EZ 135 worked for me as well - no problems... until that damn drive
kept on dying (I replaced it 3 times and finally I skipped it alltogether)
Iomega appears to be more robust :-)
Holger
------------------------------
From: "John Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
comp.lang.java.security,comp.os.ms-windows.misc,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.admin.misc,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.admin.security,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.setup.hardware,comp.security.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.classic,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.m
Subject: Smart Card Readers
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 11:51:27 +0100
Smart cards are becoming commodity items in every day use across the world
Phone cards
Satellite tv cards
Digital tv cards
Transport cards
Id cards
PC access cards
Network access and payment cards
Bank cards
Electronic purse cards
Windows 2000 access security is via smart cards. New PCs will have built in
smart cards readers.
SUN Solaris will have access control via JavaCard smart card
Add a smart card reader to your legacy system (via a serial port)
Learn to handle smart cards
Learn to write smart card applications
Be ready for Windows 2000
GIS in the UK is a leading long term player in the smart card marketplace.
The GIS SM1 smart card reader is a low cost fully ISO compliant reader.
Buy now special offer ending 31 August 1999
1 X SM1 smart card reader with serial port attachment
Win32 DLL drivers
PC\SC drivers for W95/98 and NT
All for 40 US dollars plus shipment
Other software support routines available upon request.
Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
------------------------------
From: Mike Hall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Why Build Box?
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 09:48:57 -0500
John Doe wrote:
> I am against building your own computer. But there are many
> advocating this 'build your own' thing.
> 1) Manufactures enjoy the economy of scale because they buy
> tons of componets at a time. If you build your own you
> buy one piece of each and you are paying retail price for
> each piece.
And decent retailers compete with each other for your hard-earned
dollars, and have very good prices. I don't think Gateway, Dell,
or Compaq would sell me a Asus P2B, 400Mhz Celeron, 128MG RAM,
8GB disk, 44x CD, Viper 550 AGP, case, floppy, keyboard, mouse,
etc. for $700.
Or would they?
Remember, we also save about $100 by _not_ paying for some
crappy OS that we don't want!
> 2) Every hour you spent doing research and reading manuals
> means money unless you are unemployed.
It also means you _understand_ what your system is all about.
If all we want to do is make PowerPoint presentations, then by all
means let's give our money to IBM, HP, Dell, Compaq and MS.
> 3) Factory workers are clearly better at building computers
> than than you who build one computer ocassionally
"Doh!" as said by an experience new-cle-ar technician.
See #4 -- how much experience do I need to turn a screwdriver?
("clearly better" -- what a grand, sweeping generality! Nice effect!)
> 4) Building computer is not intellectually challenging; it
> involves turning screws and reading manauls.
Sounds like a perfect relaxing hobby after a crappy day at work!
--
Michael Hall
http://www.enteract.com/~mghall
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Mike Frisch)
Subject: Re: Why Build Box?
Date: 21 Jul 1999 14:43:03 GMT
On 21 Jul 1999 09:16:26 -0500, John Doe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>tons of componets at a time. If you build your own you
>buy one piece of each and you are paying retail price for
>each piece.
If you purchase OEM components (which you are permitted to do if building
a new machine), you are not paying retail prices.
>2) Every hour you spent doing research and reading manuals
>means money unless you are unemployed.
Compared to what? Plunking down several hundred more to purchase a
prebuilt machine?
>3) Factory workers are clearly better at building computers
>than than you who build one computer ocassionally
Sometimes, but not always...
>In short if you want to enjoy maximum quality over price ratio
>DO NOT BUILD YOUR OWN.
So you're saying it's better to purchase a machine from any vendor selling
prebuilt without any idea of what's actually in the box? How many
pre-built buyers have been burned by the Winmodem they didn't know they
had? DIY is definitely not for everybody, but the wise consumer can build
a machine to his/her own specification and not have to worry about
component x is not going to be compatible with their intended application.
Mike.
--
======================================================================
Mike Frisch Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Northstar Technologies WWW: http://saturn.tlug.org/~mfrisch
Newmarket, Ontario, CANADA
======================================================================
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Id Est)
Subject: Re: PCI Modem Driver for Linux (about to attempt one)
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 15:30:30 GMT
>Sounds like a romance/fantasy novel to me. Why do you want to support
>products and companies that are trying to eliminate choice for all of
>us? Support of Winmodems, Winprinters, WinPC's or anything else where
>hardware is dependent on a single operating system only reduces all of
>our choices in the future.
it might sound like fantasy to you, but i assure you we're very serious.
90% of laptops have winmodems. when (not if) we get winmodems to work
under linux, more people will be able to run linux on their laptops without
having to buy more hardware or boot to windoze, thus more linux mindshare.
linux programmers will get even more respect from hardware makers because
our code will be better/more robust, whilst certain arrogant captive
programmers ("a bunch of unpaid hackers will never figure out MY code")
will dine on humble pie. maybe we'll even cause a dip in micro$oft's stock
when Business Week writes up a blurb about how those Amazing Linux Hackers
did the "impossible", yet again.
writing a winmodem driver increases, not decreases, choice. you can
choose to run a crappy windoze winmodem driver under a crappy glorified
boot loader, or a feature-rich robust linmodem driver under a robust
feature-rich real OS.
>No thanks. Find somewhere else to make a contribution.
*shrug* it's our time to waste.
------------------------------
From: Robert Sheskin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: SCSI 53C416 and RH 4.2
Date: 22 Jul 1999 06:28:03 -0500
>>>>> "Alex" == spam? no thanx <Alex> writes:
Alex> Thanks a lot for the link, Robert. I've already downloaded
Alex> it and the latest version of IsaPnpTools (1.18).
Alex> I have only one problem left: I cannot find a suitable IO
Alex> address for the card. Although isadump says that the IO
Alex> address is in the range 0x0200 ~ 0xff10 (32 bytes), I cannot
Alex> find a suitable address in that range.
Alex> do you by chance have a clue on what is a good IO address
Alex> for the Sym53c416 ?
Alex> Thanks.
Alex> Alex
I set mine to 240 and it works. The problem is every system is different. That
puts it above my sound card. You will most likely just have to do the trial and
error for a while ;-). Sorry cant be more help than that.
--
Robert Sheskin
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Replace "nospam" with "tidalwave" for email
ICQ 5788323
AIM RobertLS
------------------------------
From: Johan Groth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Building a Linux Box - comments?
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 13:29:57 +0200
Marc Mutz wrote:
>
> Buy IBM DTTA instead. They make the most silent HD's I've ever seen in
^^^^?
> my whole life!
Pardon me, but how did you SEE that :-) (sorry, couldn't resist).
///Johan
--
! Ericsson Infotech AB ! ECN: 863 3554 !
! Johan Groth KS/EIN/T/R ! Phone: +46 54 19 3554 !
! Box 1038 ! Fax: +46 54 19 3466 !
! Lagergrens gata 3 ! Email: Johan.Groth(at)ein.ericsson.se !
! S-651 15 Karlstad, Sweden ! Email: Johan.Groth(at)ks.ericsson.se !
------------------------------
From: Johan Groth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Building a Linux Box - comments?
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 13:32:00 +0200
Chris Mauritz wrote:
>
> Mark <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > wizard wrote:
> >
> >> Not bad at all. I would consider the ASUS P2B line of boards. Do
> >> realize also that Linux currently has little if any support for the P3
> >> extended instructions. Not knowing what you intend to do with the
> >> machine I might reccomend that you go the dual Celeron route. Abit has
> >> just the board for this. The reallity is that you will get much
> >> better overall performance if you run multiple programs or servers.
>
> > Dual Celerons would be great, I didn't realize how cheap they are. I
> > will probably go with 2x Celeron 433 and the Abit BP6.
>
> Not a bad plan. BTW, you can get Celeron 466 chips for about US$140
> these days. Check www.pricewatch.com. A pair of those is only slightly
> more expensive than one PIII-450.
Can you use two Celerons in SMP mode out of the box so to speak? I've
heard that you have to do some drilling and soldering to get SMP from
Celeron.
///Johan
--
! Ericsson Infotech AB ! ECN: 863 3554 !
! Johan Groth KS/EIN/T/R ! Phone: +46 54 19 3554 !
! Box 1038 ! Fax: +46 54 19 3466 !
! Lagergrens gata 3 ! Email: Johan.Groth(at)ein.ericsson.se !
! S-651 15 Karlstad, Sweden ! Email: Johan.Groth(at)ks.ericsson.se !
------------------------------
From: "John de Rivaz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,comp.robotics.misc,uk.adverts.computer,uk.adverts.other,uk.comp.os.linux
Subject: Re: 19in racks for PC motherboard, PCI, IDE etc.... needed
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 11:34:22 +0100
I have not done it with a PC I must admit, but when in industry in the 60s I
simply withdrew 1 1/2" brass angle from the stores and worked it to fit the
sides of non-rack equipment and it made a fine smart job. If panel
protectors (handles) are required, there is usually enough room to fit them
as well.
Later, I have even used sheet aluminium to make similar brackets for
myself - the result is not as robust as brass, but surprisingly good
especially if painted a similar colour to that of the unit being rack
mounted.
--
Sincerely, John de Rivaz
my homepage links to Longevity Report, Fractal Report, my singles club for
people in Cornwall, music, Inventors' report, an autobio and various other
projects: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JohndeR
Stan Barr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> On Mon, 19 Jul 1999 13:57:57 +0100, Mark Hamlin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
> >The time has come to rack some of the old and some of the new gear in my
> >studio. What is the cheapest way to rack a PC. Any links to vendors or
> >tutorials would be much appreciated. (I have RS & Maplin!!!!!). I'd
like
> >to know all my options, so far I know little.
> >
> >For �500 you can get a great specially built rack from RS, with removable
> >chassis for 2 3.5in IDE drives etc. Near perfect solution but well over
> >budget. For �500 I'd expect a lot more than that, hard core temperature
> >control or something!!!!!
> >
> >For �50 quid I can get a standard 19in unit enclosure. I'll need tools
to
> >work on it (acceptible as I need several). Don't know how much work each
> >one would take. Does anywhere sell generic accessories such as mounts
and
> >drive cages to put in such a box??????
> >
> >Any help, direction or offers (old / unused kit) much appreciated.
> >
>
> You can get an atx case from Universal Control Systems (www.ucs.co.uk)
> but at 179.00 + vat is not much cheaper than Maplin!
> I did see an advert somewhere for cheek pieces to fit a standard case
> in a 19inch rack - but I can't remember where ;-(
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Stan Barr [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> The future was never like this!
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (John McKown)
Subject: Use CD-R for every day CD Use?
Date: 22 Jul 1999 11:45:32 GMT
Reply-To: comp.os.linux.hardware
I currently have an IDE CD-ROM and a SCSI external CD-R. I also have 3
IDE hard disks. I want yet another IDE hard disk. Is there any reason
that I shouldn't use my CD-R as my every day CD-ROM? I vaguely remember
somebody, somewhere saying not to.
Thanks for any feedback!
John
------------------------------
From: "David Casey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: New user needs help with video card!
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 12:58:17 -0000
Reply-To: "David Casey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hiya! I have a 200MHz Pentium MMX Packard Bell with 64MB of RAM, a S3
graphics card which came with the computer, a Diamond Monster Fusion video
card with 16MB RAM. I am using Windows 98 on one part of the hard drive,
and have loaded Linux-Mandrake 6.0 on the other side. Problem is, the probe
software detects the S3 video card which I'm no longer using. Under Windows
98, I would just disable it in the Hardware Manager. I can't disable it in
the Bios controls, nor do I know of a way to disable the card using hardware
means (i.e., jumper, etc.). I can't remove the S3 card as it is part of the
motherboard (what genius came up with that idea?? oh wait, packard bell...
say no more...). I can't just swap the monitor connector because the
computer doesn't use the S3 video card (tried that idea). Does anyone out
there have ANY idea of how I might be able to get the GUI of Linux up and
running?? I would hate to have to remove the Diamond video card to use
Linux. And I *really* want to get into Linux as I am tired of dealing with
Windows 98 and the large number of bugs it seems to have. Heard a lot of
good stuff about Linux, including the bad stuff about the graphics cards
being problems, but want to fix this quickly!! ANY help would be greatly
appreciated! Thanks...
Dave
------------------------------
From: Sinner from the Prairy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Creative 3D Blaster Banshee AGP
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 13:01:49 +0200
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
CHUD wrote:
> Was wondering if anyone has had experience with a Creative 3D Blaster
> Banshee AGP and linux? Problems? Works great?
I own a Creative Banshee PCI. AGP is a fancy way to say 'PCI in a
slightly moved slot', 'cause AGP bus is a PCI bus for any Linux AFAIK.
And if Linux sees it as a PCI it's a PCI.
Then, nowadays only SuSE 6.1 comes with a Banshee server in the box.
Anyway, the best (and most advvanced) X Server is Daryll's one. At his
page http://glide.xxedgexx.com you go to Hardware Link and then Banshee
Link.
>From there, clik on the Bansee Link and you'll get the directions to
install it and the needed files. Then, run the XFree86 setup program
and select the SVGA server (this is now the Daryll's Banshee server).
Adjust your screen resolutions and go!
I've been using Daryll's servers for 3 months and it works.
> Thanks,
> Todd
Sinner
--
...I've already seen STAR WARS I: The Phantom Menace...
[MaDuiXa PoWeR] http://www.maduixa.8m.com
__________________
|\ Linux User # 89976
=====Sinner==== >=--[]>- a Mach 2.5!!
__________________|/ Linux Machine # 38068
------------------------------
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End of Linux-Hardware Digest
******************************
