[Cu-wireless] Found some equipment...

[Brian Foote]

Still, with a little creative cannibalization, these
could still make quite servicable Linux-based routers.
So much the better that you know 'em inside and out :-)
Were they new enough to have a flashable BIOS?

--BF

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bryan Cribbs [mailto:bdcribbs at onthejob.net]
> Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 16:51
> To: Brian Foote
> Cc: cu-wireless at lists.groogroo.com
> Subject: Re: [Cu-wireless] Found some equipment...
>
>
> I wouldn't expect the hd's or any other components in these
> boxes to be high quality (in 1996's terms), they were purchased
> custom built from Dell on a streamlined budget to be just enough
> for their intended use.
> I helped install and maintain them between 96-97 and there were a
> lot of DOA components direct from Dell (mostly dead network cards though).
> Also these machines aren't likely to have had detailed service, if
> a failure wasn't immediately obvious, the whole box was typically
> decommissioned and replaced instead of diagnosed and fixed.
> (I didn't come up with this strategy. I was merely a student employee).
>
> -Bryan
>
> * Brian Foote <foote at refactory.com> :
> > It turns out not all of the machines have been wiped clean.
> > Some of 'em still boot Windows NT 4.0 (SP5), and have
> > the BIOS access jumpers disabled.  So one might need to
> > crack the cases and find the website for the motherboards
> > to start tinkering with 'em.  I'd trust this would have proven
> > to be no major obstacle for anyone on this list, but seeing it coming
> > might save someone a few minutes.  These were UIUC public
> library machines,
> > so they were locked down on both the soft and hard sides to the
> > extent that Clinton-era technology would allow.
> > Also, the harddrive DOA statistics
> > haven't looked particularly good so far either...
> >
> > --BF, wireless on his porch at Iowa and Garfield...
> >
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