[olug] Damn Small Linux install on WYSE thin client

Mon May 19 22:47:11 UTC 2008

MODEL #
WT8360SE

PART #
901996-01

this is from unit 4 out of 8(?).
i can't remember how many i have left.
i gave a couple/few out to people that might figure it out.

On 5/19/08, Shannon <ridgid at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> whats the model number of the WYSE?
>
> On Mon, May 19, 2008 at 4:01 PM, DYNATRON tech <dynatron at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >  yes, i've tried F2, but not in a combo (alt, ctrl, whatever).
> > i'll do that now....
> >
> > okay...it doesn't work.
> >
> > boot sequence is as follows.
> > before pushing the button (when power supply is attached) all three of
> the
> > "lock" buttons on the keyboard eminate a faint glow, but do not function
> > with the appropriate keys. this continues all the way through the booting
> > process as if the keyboards are locked out on boot. very strange.
> > after the power button is pushed, you get a 3-part macID display/flash
> > memory check.
> > after that you get the splash screen which has all your favorite
> corporate
> > logos (M$, citrix, wyse, etc).
> > this splash screen lasts for a good few minutes before the screen goes
> > black, and here comes..
> > OSLoader v4.xxxx (or some version that starts with a 4. v4.01, i think).
> > then you get the solid blue M$NT4sp5 loading screen which identifies
> 128MB
> > RAM (2ice the on-board flash!).
> > after waiting for windows to f around for about 3 more minutes, you get a
> > login box with the user "User" already typed in along with various other
> > dialogs telling me about failed drivers and unset clocks. so far, i have
> > not
> > been able to login. if there were some way to brute force it....i don't
> > know.
> > i can't do the NT (P)asscrack without something to boot it from. that's
> > back
> > to getting a LILO or grub or something like that running on it.
> >
> > as of now, i'm running out of ideas.
> > btw, rob- i forgot to thank you for the link.
> >
> >
> > no PXE server. not familiar with it.
> > should i be? i'll check it out if i remember after pushing send...
> > i'm gonna check out the link first.
> >
> > just to clarify, i'm being fairly scientific about it, so i've got 3 of
> > them
> > side by side while i do this.
> > so far, there are no anomalies between them.
> > #1 is stock (except no mouse) with the bootable thumbdrive inserted.
> thumb
> > drive never lights up.
> > #2 is stock (except no mouse)
> > #3 is stock, (except no mouse and has the WiFi card removed)
> >
> >
> >  On 5/19/08, DYNATRON tech <dynatron at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >  On 5/19/08, Rob Townley <rob.townley at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> 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
> > >> >> >> > _______________________________________________
> > >> >> >> > OLUG mailing list
> > >> >> >> > OLUG at olug.org
> > >> >> >> > http://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> > >> >> >> _______________________________________________
> > >> >> >> OLUG mailing list
> > >> >> >> OLUG at olug.org
> > >> >> >> http://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> > >> >> >>
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > 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
> > >> >> _______________________________________________
> > >> >> OLUG mailing list
> > >> >> OLUG at olug.org
> > >> >> http://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> > >> >>
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > --
> > >> > dynatron digital services
> > >> > box 191 - 68037
> > >> > www.dynatron.org
> > >> > dynatron at gmail.com
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > dynatron digital services
> > > box 191 - 68037
> > > www.dynatron.org
> > > dynatron at gmail.com
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > OLUG mailing list
> > OLUG at olug.org
> > http://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> >
> _______________________________________________
> OLUG mailing list
> OLUG at olug.org
> http://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
>

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box 191 - 68037
www.dynatron.org
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