On Mon, 2007-08-27 at 10:28 -0700, Paul Bartell wrote: > I would like to hear about some of these tricks. Its sounds like fun.
Alternate ports, IP redirection, hosts.allow, complex multiple login paths, who knows what else (see firewall manuals in the first place). But the point is that a Soekris box is perfect for use as a central access point for a network: logins don't require huge amounts of processing power, and it's power usage while running 24/7 is eco-friendly by any standard. Also note that the difficulty to break into a system will grow [more or less] exponentially with the number of different passwords required for access (which makes sudo vs. su an unsafe program to use, surely in ALL:ALL config). So using a surplus Soekris box as such a central RAS definitely makes sense. > I have also thought about controlling a robot with a soekris, but > wouldent you need more GPIO? or would you use a simple AVR program to > drive the servos etc? What I have in mind is a program that reads a command language and sends/receives bytes over RS232 to the microcontroller, which runs a program that translates these bytes into actions (and sensor input to bytes sent back). Such a translator would only have to be written once, and programmed once per AVR (save for extensions and, of course, bug fixes). Gain: a comfortable programming environment without all the size constraints of traditional AVR (or PIC) programming. In other words the possibility to run enormous programs, somthing which can't be done with the standard tools. It will requires developing a command language of course, so this is obviously not something done over a weekend.. Timing will definitely be an issue due to latencies in program execution and the connection, but that's where a great part of the challenge lies. Motion doesn't require real-time operation at all (we aren't real-time systems ourselves), and timing issues could be resolved in the hardware, through anticipation and by setting message priorities. Maybe having to deal with those latencies will even enhance the robot's motion in the end. I'm by far not a robot expert, I just stumbled into robotics by chance about 1 1/2 year ago. From what I've seen so far it's not really a stupid idea. It's just like controlling a robot from a PC, but with the PC sitting on the robot itself. It does at least look like a nice challenge. Can't wait to see the first robot run, "Powdered By OpenBSD". So if anyone is interested in starting a SoekrisBot project, I'd be happy to contribute whatever I can. Bill > On 8/27/07, Bill Maas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi, > > > > (1) (Almost) identical config for load-balancing and/or cases where > > the 4801 breaks down or needs to be pulled down for maintenance. > > CARP is tailored for such setups, but I couldn't get it working > > together with SSH (that was on OpenBSD 3.9, using the local > > ethernet interface for SSH logins - with a separate maintenance > > network it should give no problems). > > > > (2) In case you are offering external SSH access to any "live" device: > > set up the 4501 as an "SSH RAS" for your network. You'll have to log > > in twice or more to reach a particular machine, but at least it > > won't have to be directly exposed to the Big Bad World anymore. > > And you can play all kinds of tricks to make a cracker's life more > > difficult - fun!! > > > > (3) Use it for controlling a robot. Would require some real-time > > capabilities from the OS though. But if you've ever programmed an > > AVR directly, you'll know how incredibly comfortable high-level > > languages running with MB's rather than kB's of memory are. I'd very > > much like to give this a try, in case anyone's interested. Should > > provide Soekris Engineering with a great boost too. Robots are hot! > > (it seems). > > > > Bill > > > > On Sat, 2007-08-25 at 10:14 -0500, Ronald L. Rosson Jr. wrote: > > > I currently have a NET4501 sitting on the shelf doing nothing since > > > it was replaced by my NET4801 as a firewall running pfSense. > > > > > > I am looking for a low cost solution to have this system do something > > > that can benefit my network that the NET4801 is not doing at the moment. > > > > > > any idea? > > > > > > TIA > > > > > > -Ron > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Soekris-tech mailing list > > > [email protected] > > > http://lists.soekris.com/mailman/listinfo/soekris-tech > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Soekris-tech mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://lists.soekris.com/mailman/listinfo/soekris-tech > > > > _______________________________________________ Soekris-tech mailing list [email protected] http://lists.soekris.com/mailman/listinfo/soekris-tech
