[Server-devel] Cubox Solidrun Prototype Packaging

[George Hunt]

On Sat, Jan 4, 2014 at 11:49 AM, Jon Nettleton <jon.nettleton at gmail.com>wrote:

> As for the connectors, I don't think an esata connector is either less or
> more vulnerable than a cat5 connector, which we will have two of, one via
> usb, or any other connector.  Yes they are possible failure points, but as
> long as we make sure the esata cables have the locking connectors things
> should be fine.
>
> The new beta kernel is making progress.  I spent more time than I had
> wanted debugging some problems with another user that had a Cubox-i in
> regards to u-boot, device-tree, and the 3.10 kernel.  I have one last
> intermittent bug that I think is fixed and then it should be ready for
> testing.  If everything runs fine overnight it will be ready tomorrow
> morning.
>

That's excellent!



>
> -Jon
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 4, 2014 at 4:44 PM, George Hunt <georgejhunt at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> My experience tells me that connectors are the weak link in most systems.
>>  So I'm not excited about a connector that is part of the essential data
>> path, exiting the enclosure and exposed to being bumped/damaged.
>>
>> Jon, I'd really like to start working on your kernel, and getting it to
>> play nicely with the XSCE. Is that possible? soon?
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Jan 4, 2014 at 10:14 AM, Jon Nettleton <jon.nettleton at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> I figured we just put the cubox at the back of the case for now and loop
>>> the esata cable back around into the box to hook up the drive.  Is there
>>> any reason to even worry about making the hdmi cable available?  In the
>>> back of my head I do have a dream where the XSCE could sit attached to a
>>> monitor/projector for teaching materials, but that seems far enough out not
>>> to worry about it.
>>>
>>> What does everyone else think?  You guys obviously have more "in the
>>> field" experience than myself.  Those sorts of cases just seemed like a
>>> relatively cheap solution to a problem that was brought up.
>>>
>>> I did talk with Rabeeh about the cooling for the i4pro and he said the
>>> external case didn't need any sort of special cooling it just radiates as
>>> is and should be fine completely enclosed.  There is actually a team that
>>> is building an i4pro into their RC surveillance plane :-)  My i4pro should
>>> be here this coming week and I can box it up, stress test it, and monitor
>>> thermals from the on-board sensor as well as my IR thermometer to make sure
>>> things look reasonable.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Jan 4, 2014 at 3:48 PM, George Hunt <georgejhunt at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>> What's the best strategy long term? The cubox has all its connectors on
>>>> one face. Most of these need to be available to the outside. We can open
>>>> the cubox and solder a esata connector that comes out the back. Picture is
>>>> at http://imx.solid-run.com/wiki/index.php?title=CuBox-i_Hardware.
>>>>
>>>> Or we can try to project the essential stuff from the cubox mounted
>>>> internally, and not really accessible from the outside.  The second item
>>>> ending in 231 looks like it has pigtails to project the usb to the outside.
>>>>  We'd need to do the same for the internal ethernet adapter. This approach
>>>> still leaves the hdmi, and console usb that might need to be available
>>>> occasionally.
>>>>
>>>> So maybe in the long run, we need something intermediate between the
>>>> two Jon has suggested, so that when it is necessary, we can get a hand into
>>>> the box to make insert the hdmi or console cables.
>>>>
>>>>  I'm in favor with going with number ..231 this time around.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Jan 4, 2014 at 8:56 AM, Jon Nettleton <jon.nettleton at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Well from taking some basic measurements I was thinking we could pack
>>>>> a 2.5" sata drive and connector along with the cubox into a 5.25 external
>>>>> case like this
>>>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817145090  That
>>>>> with a few dremel modifications and some soldering I think it would make a
>>>>> nice compact holder.  Given the time constraints that is probably not
>>>>> happening.  I did look around and found this which is more than enough
>>>>> space to do whatever is needed without much more cost,
>>>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163231  It
>>>>> also has excellent ventilation.
>>>>>
>>>>> Of course these are just suggestions to help create a more
>>>>> self-contained product right now.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
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