Small Linux Box Buying Guide?

Question

Hi,I would like to do some network experimenting and maybe even run a small experimental web server.  For this I am trying to find a small box capable of running Linux or BSD, ideally without harddisk and low power consumption (think of a device much like the DSL router you probably have at home).  First question: is this realistic?Second part: I searched the web and did indeed find some sites (see below) but still have the feeling that I am not looking for the right terms or in the right locations.  I still could not get to a site that has a shopping guide or at least sells products from multiple vendors so I can compare features and prices.  Here's what I found so farSystems presented there still seem larger and more power consuming than what I have in mind.They also have some product infos but this does not really seem to be the major focus of the site and hence it feels a bit unordered.?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=53Both look promising, but these are just singular devices.EPC-200 looks a bit like what I am looking for but again this is just one vendor.So, do you have some pointers or at least terms I should be looking for?   I tried phrases like "embedded PC", "embedded system", "embedded Linux", "fanless pc" so far - should I rather be looking for particular processor names or board sizes ( mentions "PC/104")?Thanks for any hints!	robert

spam · Accepted Answer

Have you considered the Atmel NGW100 ?Cheers,Rob Sciuk       ---- Posted via  - Premium Corporate Usenet News Provider ---- offers corporate packages that have access to 100,000+newsgroups

larwe · Answer

Consider this product perhaps:  - it's on the tiny end of Linuxdevices but could run a BSD port. $69.00 and includes Ethernet as wellas various other features.

Peter K. · Answer

Try gumstix, e.g. the world's smallest flying web-server:Ciao,Peter K.-- "And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extendedAnd at night the wondrous glory of the everlasting stars."

Clifford Heath · Answer

You could do worse than get a Linksys WRT54GL, which is a wireless router based on Linux, and customise the Linux software from . Folk have even hacked MMC interface on to them to use as a flashdrive.

Clifford Heath.

Tim Wescott · Answer

The Linksys WRT54GL is a Linux box that happens to be a wireless router, or maybe a wireless router that happens to be open source.At any rate, you can get one and the source, too.WRT54G models earlier than version 4 are also Linux boxes -- for v5 they stripped down the hardware and changed OS's.-- Tim WescottControl systems and communications consultingNeed to learn how to apply control theory in your embedded system?"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" by Tim WescottElsevier/Newnes,

Robert Klemme · Answer

Tim & Clifford, thanks for that info!  This looks exactly what I was looking for.  The hardware list at  also gives a good overview over devices.Kind regards	robert

Robert Klemme · Answer

Thanks but I'd rather have a preassembled device and as far as I can see this is just the board plus software.Kind regards	robert

CBFalconer · Answer

It appears to be a fully assembled and tested board, with adisplay, interface, OS etc.  I am amazed at what people consider tobe 'parts' these days.--  Chuck F (cbfalconer at maineline dot net)      Try the download section.-- Posted via a free Usenet account from

Stephen Pelc · Answer

Our current favourite in this area is the Ebox 2300, which can bebought from many sources. 1 off prices start from around $120,but expect to pay more if you want serial ports. We use a versionof Puppy Linux on them, which uses less than 100Mb for a fairlyfull distribution with GUI. See  Stephen-- Stephen Pelc, MicroProcessor Engineering Ltd - More Real, Less Time133 Hill Lane, Southampton SO15 5AF, Englandtel: +44 (0)23 8063 1441, fax: +44 (0)23 8033 9691web:  - free VFX Forth downloads

larwe · Answer

What do you mean "preassembled" - you mean, in a housing and packagedas a commercial device? This is a development board. You could put itin a jiffy box if you wanted a housing.

Warren Block · Answer

See also -- Warren Block * Rapid City, South Dakota * USA

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