Building a NAS Device w/ Embedded OS? 27
An Anonymous Coward asks: "I've been thinking about building a NAS device similar to the Quantum Snap Server Has anyone come across anyone else working on a similar project? One that at the very least uses a small integrated board and some sort of embedded OS? Ive seen several systems that run a full Linux OS and separate boot hard drives, but this solution seems a bit too bulky for whats really required. Something that features a FTP/HTTP/SMB interface would be pretty slick!"
Microware (Score:4, Informative)
THe OS runs on most chips from 6809(68K now) onward.
Re:Microware (Score:1)
In the 1980's, Microware ported OS-9 to the 68000 family of microprocessors, creating OS-9/68000, which is used in a variety of industrial and commercial arenas, including Philips' CD-i and most recently, set-top boxes for interactive television. Microware is constantly added processor support to OS9000. Currently supported processors include 68xxx, PPC, X86, Intel SARM / IXP, MIPS, SPARC, Hitachi SH.
Re:Microware (Score:1)
Re:Microware (Score:1)
OS-9 did not eat up much and you could really trim back even the OS-9 for COCO3. It could be cut down to leave over 60k+ for program. It needed a small block to handle switching under the COCO3 version. Just realize its like UNIX without a memory manager and slow tick's of 60hz.
Hated the hack and slash those morons at Microware did to the "BASIC" OS from MS when Tandy released the COCO3! What a utter mess they made of it and broke every copy protect scheme one could cookup!
Re:Microware (Score:1)
That baby ran OS-9 on a ROM pack. (-;
S
Re:Microware (Score:1)
But to really experience the OS you needed to run it from either a RAM disk with one of the 2MB memory kits, or from a hard disk from a company like Owlware.
Re:Microware (Score:1)
S
How about Linux on a snap server (Score:3, Interesting)
At present I use old PC's and throw a couple of 80Gb disks in them. Unfortunately this is a bulky solution that you can't just plop on somebodys desk.
Re:How about Linux on a snap server (Score:1)
[disclaimer: I work for this company]
Industry Embedded NAS projects. (Score:2, Insightful)
The only low-end box I am aware of was available from a company called Promise Technology, called the Connectstore 2. Nobody wanted to buy it so I think they dropped the product line. (P233, 64Mb, 160GB HDD, 10baseT network, embedded Linux, no idea about the price.) Disclaimer: I used to work for Promise when they released it.
For the low-end stuff it's simply too cheap and easy to get a Wal-mart special, stuff it into the telephone closet, load Linux onto it, connect it up to the LAN, and have cron do what it needs to do. Why pay more for special purpose hardware if the Wal-mart special will do the job?
I wish you luck on your search!
-C
holographic company hopes to make "all in one" (Score:1)
for data transfer rewritable storage will someday
allow it to replace all memory with a single device wanting to create a pocket pc.
www.colossalstorage.net
what's wrong with linux (or bsd for that matter)? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:what's wrong with linux (or bsd for that matter (Score:1)
not really nas (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.gctglobal.com/Products/Set_Top_Box/s
oh, and it runs linux (/me wishes fbsd, but oh well <g>)
--m
Your options: (Score:3, Informative)
Your main issue is that the permission system used on most Linux distributions is pathetically non granular and can prove annoying in even the most basic of office situations. Real OSs use ACLs, and no other distro than Mandrake supports these by default (and Mandrake, IMHO, in a not a choice for embedded Linux). With XFS, Samba 2.2 or greater, Linux can have ACL support, and Windows users can modify these ACLs from their client machines.
Why not?? (Score:3, Informative)
What's Wrong with Linux? (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't understand your aversion to Linux. Single floppy Linux distros (eg, Tom's Root Boot) + nfs-server + samba would do what you want.
If you're worried about using a second hard disk as the boot device, then you're in luck. Use a CompactFlash card and an IDE-CompactFlash convertor. A 16MB flash is cheap. Install the single floppy Linux distro onto the flash and use a ramdisk for the root filesystem. Log everything remotely and Bob's your uncle.
If you're worried about the size of the Linux box itself (power supply, motherboard) then spend some money and get a small PC. There are plenty of options available.
check (Score:1)
Why develop? Just Buy. (Score:2, Interesting)
That said, it's a solid product, and they could use the support
netzerver.com [netzerver.com]
is an embedded linux on a single board system, capable of SCSI or IDE.
I have one here in the home office. Speaks Apple, Netware, SMB, HTTP, etc. easy config, real reliable, real cheap.
Quick and (not so) dirty, it works.
Re:Buy where? How much? (Score:2)
Re:Buy where? How much? (Score:1)
Re:Why develop? Just Buy. (Score:2)
Must be very expensive.
Linksys Gigadrive (Score:1)
It doesn't seem to be listed on there site a s a current product, though.
Shuttle Barebones (Score:1)
Consider LinuxBIOS (Score:2)
Even though you'll need spinning media for the storage itself, LinuxBIOS [linuxbios.org] booting Linux either from Disc on Chip, or CF is worth considering. With that, even if a disc fails, at least you'll get a decent diagnostic, and the other discs in the system (if any) will still be usable. The 3 second boot (power on to init running) is also useful in an embedded box.