Re: [gentoo-embedded] personal compile-farm ?

[wireless]

Christopher Friedt wrote:


> I'm primarily interested in something that uses a smaller form-factor
> for power, noise pollution, and space reasons, but 4 to 8 cores
> probably doesn't fit in that class.
>
> Most certainly I'll be installing the maximum amount of RAM possible -
> i do practically all builds now using tmpfs, since RAM has gotten so
> amazingly cheap and fast, so yes, RAM is key.
>
> CCACHE also helps out considerably, but I haven't been using it lately
> out of fear that it had some interference issues with ${CROSS}-emerge


Hello Chris,

I feel you pain..... I've longed for an embedded, low power system
that I can use to replace traditional servers with and use for a
variety of tasks. Maybe we have some commonality of need for such
a cost-effect board that we can use for a distributed cluster
for compiling and other needs?


My need is to also use the same low power mobo to stream video to,
as a local box attached to the back of a big monitor for video
surveillance. Sometimes that means running a Doz OS on the mobo,
or installing Doz software, via wine.......

Here's what I'm looking at:Portwell  WEBS-1010
http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Portwell-WEBS1010/?kc=LXDEMNL082609

Intel Atom-based PC that uses less than seven Watts and measures just
4.5 x 4.0 x 1.05 inches. The WEBS-1010 includes a miniSD socket and a
2.5-inch disk bay, HDMI video output, an IR receiver, and six USB
ports. Portwell says that the WEBS-1010 uses only six Watts in normal
operation, and seven Watts when playing 1080p H.264 video. "Absolutely
silent" when employing only its miniSD slot for storage, the device
can also accept a 2.5-inch, SATA hard disk drive internally.


My idea world would be one mobo both for the cluster, so I can grow it
as necessary, and the same mobo to distribute to anywhere my friends
need a monitor to watch their network resources or their remote video
surveillance streams......


I like AMD, they seem to have their priorities straight with Open
Source, but the Intel Atom does attract my attention. Ideally,
I'd prefer something based on the latest ARM chip (13?) or such
but, I'd prefer not going it alone in support.


So, I mention this, so you know that my needs(desires) are not very
far off from what you are seeking (a nicely support video chip(gpu)
my be more than you want. Certainly similar cores with max ram are
ideal.



hth,
James