[olug] Damn Small Linux install on WYSE thin client

[Rob Townley]

On Sat, May 17, 2008 at 10:07 AM, Rob Townley <rob.townley at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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.
>


Further, many of these types of devices look for a tftp server on bootup or
upon bootup and holding down a special key.  For instance, Linksys routers
will look for a tftp server.

A search for WYSE Compact Flash got this admin manual.  All my SD memory
cards have a physical write protect switch, does compact flash?

http://www.wyse.com/products/winterm/quickstart/admin/pdf/0a342.pdf