It's about turning a dedicated "Thin Client" box into a general purpose computer that can then be tailored to meet an individual's requirements through the addition of the appropriate software. To this end we need to be able to get them to run a version Linux that we have complete control over. Depending on the make and model of the hardware this can be a trivial or not so trivial task.
What's here is my own personal record of what I've done. Reasons for putting it up on the web site are twofold:
If you have any observations/comments/complaints about what's here feel free to email me.
The index on the left shows the models I've had my hands on and clicking on the button will bring up more details about that particular model. If you click on the manufacturer's name you may be taken to page that provides outline details of that manufacturer's model range. (Not all manufacturers are covered).
It is a physically small low-powered (both in terms of computing power and electrical power consumption) computer. It has no mechanical disk and has an operating system and a few basic applications embedded in some flash memory along with some RAM. It's been designed to effectively act as a terminal to a central server. Usually the operating system is an embedded version of Windows CE, Windows CE.NET, Windows NT or Windows XP and the "applications" are implementations for Windows Terminal Services (RDP) and Citrix ICA.
The concept behind them is for businesses to run all of their applications on a central group of servers and have users remotely log onto a desktop session on these servers to access their applications and data. The advantages with this type of set-up are centralised management and reduced hardware cost as users only need a small, inexpensive client device (the thin terminal) instead of a fully functional desktop computer.
Also, in my trawlings of the Web, I've come across one individual with a largish family who has actually used them this way at home to reduce his own personal IT budget!
As they reach the end of their useful commercial life they end up for sale in places like ebay where they sell (or not!) at prices between 0.99p and several hundred pounds depending on the age and specification of the hardware and the aspirations of the seller. So for not-a-lot of money you can pick up a small footprint computer that you can potentially press into service in a way not envisaged by the original manufacturer and along the way maybe have some fun bending it to meet your requirements.
A couple of examples of setting up small compact-flash based web servers are documented on this website:
Note: All measurements quoted here and elsewhere were made with a mains power monitor so the efficiency of any power supply is also factored in. Some external switch mode power supplies can draw 5W-10W with nothing actually connected to their outputs.
