> > > So I'm not sure external print servers would be a good open hardware
> > > proposition...
> >
> > I am not suggesting a print server. Existing devices in the market
> > are probably good enough as print servers.
> >
> > I am suggesting a DEVICE server.
> > Yes it could be used for a printer.
> > More importantly, it could also be used for many other devices.
>
>
> Device server? How about a motherboard that breaks the 16-interrupt
> limit of the classic PC? It could use multi-level vectored interrupts, like
> the 68000 on VME bus, which gives practially unlimited interrupts. Then it
> could have a whole lot of PCI slots, and the resources to actually use them
> in an I/O-heavy application.
Two very different products. Both good ideas, IMHO.
My device server would be small, inexpensive, low power, and only have a few
ports,
one or two each of rs-232, parallel, USB and Firewire/1394. For applications
where
you want some device in a location away from the main computer(s). Plug it into
Ethernet, plug device(s) into device server.
I see a mainboard as being a bigger project. I think we should do the pieces
first,
then do a mainboard and have a complete, full-function computer.
Pieces:
video-out (currently being worked on)
video-in, including tuner
audiophile-grade audio I/O
super combo I/O board (Ethernet, SATA, USB, FW/1394, RS-232, ...)
Ethernet controller
SATA controller
USB controller
FW/1394 controller
RS-232 UART
...
Then,
mainboard
CPU
chipset (can be simplified if we use super combo I/O board)
misc (keyboard & mouse, power conversion ...)
Yes, "breaks the 16-interrupt limit of the classic PC" is definitely
something we would want. There is no reason this machine has to be
pee-cee compatible at all.
"whole lot of PCI slots" is another great idea. The only downside I
can think of is that we would need to find or build a case that is
set up for more slots. I suggest several PCI slots for legacy cards,
plus several PCIe slots, since that is clearly the future.
One problem I have with standard PCI/PCIe style slots is that they are not
set up for cooling. The I/O panel should be opposite the bus connector.
Then you can have a fan blow air across the boards. Another problem is
the small amount of space available for external connectors. This could
all be easily solved with custom formfactor boards and a custom case,
but going that way would require doing it all at once. Also there is a
LOT of value in being able to plug our boards into standard computers
and visa-versa.
The firmware does not have to be a "BIOS" style firmware.
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