[asterisk-users] New Pico-ITX

[Darrick Hartman]

Gordon Henderson wrote:
> On Sun, 12 Aug 2007, Dermot Bradley wrote:
> 
>>> I'm sure it will run linux+asterisk just fine with a 1GHz Via C7
>>> processor as there are many platforms out there using that
>>> combination (or the Via C3)
>> I recently gave up trying to use Jetway J7F2 motherboards (VIA C7 and
>> VIA IDE/SATA/Ethernet) as they proved too unstable with Linux. I never
>> managed to find the root cause - there's 1 box here that's rock solid
>> and two others that keep locking up (only powercycle will clear) - one
>> of the boxes locks up on average once per day.
>>
>> I'm not the only person having lockups on C7 systems either - there's
>> chats on the VIA Linux forum about this.

Just because someone is using an old kernel or doesn't know what they 
are doing doesn't mean the hardware is bad.  I've had very good success 
with dozens of different VIA boards (from the original mini-itx board up 
to current C7 models, the Jetway boards included).

>> I'm now using Micro-ATX systems with Dual Core Athlons (the EE versions)
>> - it ends up the same price to build as the Mini-ITX systems but has
>> more horsepower and is better supported in Linux.
>>
>> VIA C3 & C7 systems have been known to have DMA-related issues for some
>> time.

I've seen those issues, but have never experienced them myself.

> Intersting/Worrying!
> 
> I've not yet had any issues with the boards I've deployed - all CN1000's 
> (Fanless 1GHz, Via C3 and my dev/test ones are older fanless 533MHz) ... 
> Lots out in the field with Digium TDM400 or Sangoma analogue cards and 
> Beronet ISDN2e cards (or none).

<snip>

> # uptime
>   22:02:46 up 73 days, 10:59,  2 users,  load average: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00
> 
> # asterisk -rx 'show uptime'
> System uptime: 8 weeks, 4 days, 12 hours, 18 minutes, 9 seconds
> Last reload: 7 weeks, 5 days, 8 hours, 53 minutes, 57 seconds
> 
> And another:
> 
> $ uptime
>   22:12:48 up 109 days,  9:19,  1 user,  load average: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00
> 
> # rasterisk -rx 'show uptime'
> System uptime: 15 weeks, 4 days, 9 hours, 19 minutes, 52 seconds
> Last reload: 12 weeks, 4 days, 4 hours, 2 minutes, 23 seconds
> Verbosity is at least 9999
> 
> I've also built routers & small NAS boxes out of the same motherboard...
> 
> I compile up a custom kernel for them & don't use the on-board audio 
> hardware (nor printer port, but I use the serial ports on the routers!) 
> and I always turn them off in the BIOS...
> 
> So what am I doing wrong.... (or not as the case is!)

Gordon,

I don't think you're doing anything wrong.  My experience with these 
little creatures is similar to yours.  They perform well under load and 
just plain work.

Darrick
-- 
Darrick Hartman
DJH Solutions, LLC
http://www.djhsolutions.com