[olug] Damn Small Linux install on WYSE thin client

[Brian Roberson]

Hey J --

That's a doozie! I have seen similar setups to this NT4 (embedded) thing
from HP, notably their older "Previo" Disk2Disk backup Vaults. The compact
flash was on board, and there was a front panel display hooked through the
floppy controller, I spent a few hours trying to figure out the boot sequence,
but got side tracked by work ;-) In any event, I think that would be the 
first thing to figure out, as in, what *exactly* is the boot process. I
would think from there, you could figure out a way to get a (linux friendly)
boot loader shoe horned into the process to take over. Once that was figured
out, the next step would be to sort out how to unlock the on-board compact
flash to allow yourself to load a DSL-type linux solution on the flash.

If you have a few of these, how about bringing it into the installfest tomorrow
and we could try to figure it out together? No promises, but I would be
happy to assist in the hard core hacking of this thing!





On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 01:31:22AM -0700, DYNATRON tech wrote:
> hello everyone.
> 
> i've got a pyle of wyse thin clients that i'm trying to convert into linux
> boxes (basically for web browsing, maybe simple office apps).
>  ideally, i'd like to install linux on the on-board compact flash so i don't
> need a thumb drive for each box.
> i decided to use damn small linux (good choice?), and after formating a
> thumb drive (thanks jay) for FAT32, i used syslinux to make it bootable.
> i then unzipped the embedded version onto the thumbdrive as instructed by
> the DSL-USB drive tutorial....
> http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/index.php/Installing_to_a_USB_Flash_Drive
> 
> 
> everything went well as far as preparations, but when i put the USB drive
> into the thinclient, it doesn't even light up.
> i boot the thinclient and rather than the thumb drive booting up, it boots
> from the on-board compact flash card into the crapfest that is windows NT
> 4.0.
> even worse, i can't use my NT password crack on it (no CD drive, can't boot
> USB), so i have a useless OS (even with the password), and i can't get into
> any bios configuration. i've tried all of the usual hotkeys, but to no
> avail. i tried checking out wyse's website, but they only have support/docu.
> for items less than 2 years old. this model was built april 2000. the
> tutorial suggested trying to format FAT16 instead of 32, but if the USB
> drive isn't even powering up, then i don't think the file system would be
> the issue (not yet anyhow).
> 
> i've been without a permanent linux installation for about a year now. all
> i've got is this PHLAK liveCD from 2005 that i'm using now to send this
> e-mail, so i'd really like to get these thin clients up and going. i plan on
> donating a couple them to the library down the street for web browsers, as
> they currently only have a couple crappy P2 boxes right now.
> 
> i'm open to any suggestions, but i usually just get flamed or ignored on
> OLUG.
> i guess i don't hate M$ enough or something...
> if anyone has some constructive advice, i'd be greatly greatful.
> 
> the thin clients have a 64MB compact flash instead of a HD, a single stick
> of laptop RAM, one USB port, onboard sound/ethernet/video, PCMCIA WiFi, and
> some wierd processor that might be a cyrix or some off brand like that. the
> thumb drive is a 64MB.
> 
> thanks for taking the time to read this.
> thanks even more for taking the time to respond.
> 
> -j
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