[olug] Damn Small Linux install on WYSE thin client

Mon May 19 18:27:04 UTC 2008

F2 is mentioned in the manual limked earlier.  Not exactly sure that
it will work for this, but try it and let us know.

Do you have a PXE server on your LAN?

On 5/18/08, DYNATRON tech <dynatron at gmail.com> wrote:
> i've never made it to an installfest, but i'd really like to see what it's
> about. i have thought about going to one for a while.
> if i don't get this figured out by the next one, i'd be honored to bring a
> couple in to mess around with.
>
> i've tried using a compactflash reader to access the CF card, but as the
> first poster mentioned, they are either locked or have some wierd format.
> there is no write-protect switch on it, it may be permenantly write
> protected for all i know.
> one hope on this front is finding a 64 MB CF that is not locked and putting
> a bootloader on it. there is the grim possibility that it will not boot
> anyhow if the CF is not locked to the key the mobo provides.
> i.e. i may have to lock the replacement before using it...that would suck.
>
> when the compact flash is attached to my workstation....
> linux, in general, crawls with it attached. windows explorer crawls with it
> attached.
> i can't access it in windows "please insert disc", i can not mount it in
> linux (PHLAK).
>
> do you think there might be a BIOS configuration to enter on boot of the
> thinclient?
> that may allow me to tinker with boot sequence/options.
> On 5/17/08, Rob Townley <rob.townley at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> 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
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