News Linux servers go teeny

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2005/08/11/blackdog_linux_server/

 

Very cool. Even without the linux, the whole concept is awesome. Guess my EPIA system no longer wins for smallest comp in the neighborhood... ah well. I can definately see people creating some sort of box that's basically a USB port with KVM plus enough to actually load it up (let's assume you could boot from the stick too, for simplicity's sake, as it's not stated, not just plug it into a windows box). Maybe dual lan ports - one for power, one for network

 

The next logical step would be to make something that does the same thing-but actually takes advantages of the resources of the host system.

 

Roto... I think we call that installing linux. It's been done I think the whole point of this is that it doesn't need to steal resources from the host PC.

 

Mmmm imagine the scene laptop and pda users showing off what they can do with their comps, and then you pull that out.
I want, i want, i want

 

If they strapped a .85" 6GB drive on the back of that it would be awesome.

 

Actually, I think Roto has a point. I don't mean using the CPU, memory etc. of the host system, but this device is pretty hamstrung if it can't use the HDD and, most importantly, the network connection of the host. Not much of a server if it can't connect to clients, is it!?

 

*drools on his keyboard*

This is da shizzle. I agree with Roto, though...it would be great to see this use the USB port to usurp CPU/Ram/HDD power. It's already hijacking the USB interface to route the K/V/M. Honestly, that would be bordering on computers being nothing more than a piece of hardware with hard drive in it...we could load individual OSs with individual preferences off of our keychains. It would be like having laptop docking stations everywhere you go.

It does already takes over the network connection for you. Implementing that is be nothing more than a USB network card driver for Linux. I also like the MMC card reader built in.

The *only* downside to this is that USB transfer is MUCH slower than native buses. So using the HDD would be like having a USB hard drive connected to it. Using the CPU or RAM of the host would be subject to the USB transfer limits, which is limited to say the least. It WOULD work, though, because Linux has supported multiple processors for years...I couldn't see why this would be much different.

I love the idea of USB for this, but perhaps Firewire would have been a better option? More throughput...though I'm not sure if FW gives a dedicated line of power. It does seem, though, like Firewire is getting to be ubiquitous on mobos, just like USB (though not as many ports).

 

That is in fact amazing.

I don't think I've seen anything that groundbreaking in years. In ten years time, we might all have one of those, and we'd be able to take our computer everywhere in our pocket. All you'd have to do is find a docking station (which could be in all sorts of public places - How about a phonebox dock?) and you're away.

Needs a bigger hard drive to be completely amazing though.

 

The 6 pin fw port (rectangle with curved end) does have a power line like usb, the 4 pin fw port (little square) is without the power.

Nikumba

 

Cool, it's the best parts of LiveCDs and USB sticks combined.

But calling it a server isn't accurate - just because it's running Linux doesn't mean it's a server! It's supposed to be a personal computer on a pendrive, not a server. (even though Blackdog themselves seem to call it a "server"... meh)

 

<linux fanboyism> drool drool smiley omgomg!!oneone etc. </linux fanboyism>

this is pretty impressive, even more so because it actually does usurp the hosts resources (its linux, mount the hdd, it can use the host's network, and when you plug it in it autoruns, the software is running on the host system). i suspect the built in processor is more used for sleeping the system safely when its force removed etc, oh, and running that awesomely sexy biometric thingummy.

this is linux-in-a-box-in-a-usb-stick-with-shiny-goodness. in short, this rocks, and im willing to swap any named body parts for one.

 

hehe this is going in Project Uber keyboard V. 2 . . . might wait for the price to drop a bit though (and maybe the HDD capacity to grow). Technical note: since it supports MMC, will it support SD, too?

http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=96051
Uber Keyboard V. 1 (just to see what it's about)

 

I am out looking for some linux server info for an unrelated topic.
This is not a bump, but it seems the owning company http://www.realmsys.com/ is out of business.
Sorry guys/gals.

 

It sure as hell beats dragging around my laptop all of the time, just to use the OS that I want.

 

Support was handed to Echo Identity Systems,
http://www.echoidentity.com/products/products_ultra_mobile_server.htm
So that's sort of a replacement.

 

It may be just me, but doesn't the design and function of that site look very familiar to realmsys' page? And that it is not finished,, is this going to be a phantom piece of hardware, or is it someone trying to run a "fly by night" operation to gather funds?

 

they are going to pull a phantom on this.