[olug] Damn Small Linux install on WYSE thin client

[Rob Townley]

On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 8:56 AM, Brian Roberson <roberson at olug.org> wrote:

>
> 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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Is the CompactFlash card removable?  Do you have an external USB Compact
Flash reader?  If so, try putting the CF into a workstation.