Thoughts on Soekris board for HD install
-
There's a lot of talk about ALIX here, both on embedded install and embedded with added HD.
But what about Soekris? I've been looking at them for some time now, for example the net5501
http://www.soekris.com/net5501.htm500 Mhz CPU and 512 Mbyte RAM is sufficient for many deployments yes?
I would however (like many others asking about embedded installations on HD) like to use some kind of HD.
I was thinking of this solution
http://soekris.eu/shop/net5501/25_sata_hard_drive_mounting_kit_for_the_net5501_en.htmlLike this
http://www.soekris.com/pictures/net5501/net5501_BC_angle_SATA_mount_int_big.jpgIs this a good solution?
Will there be heat problems inside the case?
If so, what could be done- opening up the top and attaching passive cooling directly onto the HD?!
- adding a PCI-fan in the free PCI slot and perhaps opening up the case in the side adding some air flow through the case?
Anything on ALIX vs Soekris?
Also, there are many comments on the quality of Intel NICs here, what about the NICs of those boards, are they good?Comments, ideas?
–-------- Adding
Actually I must have searched in the wrong section of the forum or something (wrong spelling perhaps) I didn't find much hits on 'Soekris' but now all of a sudden I did... hhmmm
So part of my thoughts have been addressed afaict.
I do however remember having seen discussions online concerning 2,5" HDs being too hot in small cases and failing, hence the cooling related question above. Can someone verify if this is an issue or not adding a HD to the setup like on the pictures on the above link?
TIA
-
I've deployed a lot of Alix boxes and they have been great. I'm currently playing with a net5501 with an Intel GB card and a 2.5 SATA SSD running a full install. The hardware is pretty similar to the Alix, but the docs are sparce- I've found this site helpful in filling gaps- http://wiki.soekris.info
Haven't done much testing yet, but it's a nice box. So far, my only complaints are that the SATA drive is a tight fit and the stock color is pretty terrible. It seems a nice middle-point between an Alix and full server-based box. -
Been looking at this box as well. Aesthetics aren't everything, but you can find a nice enclosure here http://www.yawarra.com.au/en-net.php if the shipping doesn't kill you.
–Seth
-
I do however remember having seen discussions online concerning 2,5" HDs being too hot in small cases and failing, hence the cooling related question above. Can someone verify if this is an issue or not adding a HD to the setup like on the pictures on the above link?
I had a lot of problems withe HD's in Soekris 4801 boxes - head induced failures- I switched back to using CF (actually some old 4G microdrives out of a couple of dead ipod nano's) and haven't had any problems until …
Right now I'm looking at hardware to upgrade my 4801 - I need ipsec throughput and the 4801's reboot under high ipsec load for reaons I don't have time to debug (1.2.2)
Has anybody run a 5501 under high ipsec loads? Does it reboot? I'd really like to avoid the power consumption of a "real" server if I can.
J
-
I went with a SSD primarily because it should run cooler. Haven't tested the system under significant load tho.
-
Can you recommend a small 6-10GB SSD that works in the ALIX boards?
-
I'm using a SuperTalent SATA SSD in my Soekris. (It was the cheapest one I could find at newegg) The Alix (assuming it's a revision with a HDD header on board) would need a PATA interface. I still don't know where you are going to mount the HDD- I haven't seen an Alix case with space for a HDD. If I was hell-bent on running a full install on an Alix, I'd just get a good CF and run full off of a CF card.
-
If I was hell-bent on running a full install on an Alix, I'd just get a good CF and run full off of a CF card.
I would, but I can't get a good idea of how long a typical full install of pfSense will last on a CF card. When I deploy these out in the field, they could be a thousand miles away.
-
I would, but I can't get a good idea of how long a typical full install of pfSense will last on a CF card. When I deploy these out in the field, they could be a thousand miles away.
Yeah, that's why I decided to go with the net5501 where I needed a full install and leave the Alix boxes running embedded.
-
I would, but I can't get a good idea of how long a typical full install of pfSense will last on a CF card. When I deploy these out in the field, they could be a thousand miles away.
Industrial SLC flash is based on the same technology whether it's housed in a SATA/IDE SSD or a CF card. You can get industrial CF fairly inexpensively, and I'd say it's the way to go.
-
I would, but I can't get a good idea of how long a typical full install of pfSense will last on a CF card. When I deploy these out in the field, they could be a thousand miles away.
Industrial SLC flash is based on the same technology whether it's housed in a SATA/IDE SSD or a CF card. You can get industrial CF fairly inexpensively, and I'd say it's the way to go.
SLC on CF? Any pointers where?
-
I've found InnoDisk iCF 4000 modules and Transcend Industrial. There are probably others…
-
cool. Thanks.
-
I´ve been running both WRAP and ALIX boards with full installs of both IPCop and PfSense using 4GB microdrives. One of these units has been running now for over 2 years without an issue.
When I first started using microdrives they were silly expensive. Now, however, they can be purchased on eBay for under 10.00€. These drives produce no noticeable heat and make little difference to power consumption.
Based on price and performance I can´t see any reason to go with a standard CF card with ALIX boards when for the same price you can have a full install with access to all the add on packages as well.
