Low Power Workstation

Low Power Workstations

• Motherboard: Via Epia SN18000G
• RAM: 2gb
• Storage: Compact Flash
• Case: VoomPC Automotive Mini-ITX Case
• OS: Ubuntu 8.04 (with gnome)

General

• Jumpers for power switch are second two in from the right on the back row, with the rows of jumpers away from you

• Press F11 during POST to select boot device

• http://www.tkarena.com/forums/archive/index.php/f-20.html VIA EPIA (Mini-ITX, Nano-ITX, Pico-ITX) Arena

• http://www.tkarena.com/forums/via-epia-mini-itx-nano-itx-pico-itx-arena/37123-problems-updating-bios-sn18000.html

• http://www.tkarena.com/forums/via-epia-mini-itx-nano-itx-pico-itx-arena/36269-sn18000g-bios-update.html

• Sound: http://radagast.bglug.ca/epia/epia_howto/x331.html

• BIOS updates at: http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/mainboards/downloads.jsp?motherboard_id=550

To Do

*Set-up:

• Network user profiles

*Add:

• Java
• gedit

*Fix:

• Boot on PS/2 mouse and USB keyboard
• Solder power LED on prototype

*Check on:

• User/global config files for Ekiga to avoid sound device being set to "Default" on first run

Custom Stuff

• FUZZY XORG AFTER INSTALL: set driver to "vesa" in xorg.conf

• BUZZING -> Go to System -> Preferences -> Sound, and set everything to ALSA. Then restart alsa-utils and change capture device to microphone in alsamixer

• Knowplex and Ekiga don't play nice together unless /etc/asound.conf is added so that dmix works

• Sample /etc/asound.conf

  pcm.snd_card {
       type hw
       card 0
}
pcm.dmixer {
       type dmix
       ipc_key 1024
       slave.pcm "snd_card"
       slave {
               period_size 256
               buffer_size 2048
               rate 44100
       }
}
pcm.dsnooper {
       type dsnoop
       ipc_key 2048
       slave.pcm "snd_card"
       slave {
               period_size 256
buffer_size 2048
               rate 44100
       }
}
pcm.duplex {
       type asym
       playback.pcm "dmixer"
       capture.pcm "dsnooper"
}
pcm.!default {
       type plug
       slave.pcm "duplex"
}
buffer_size 2048
               rate 44100
       }
}

• via_ubuntu_7.04_linux_hd_audio_ig_ver0.8.tar.gz --> doesn't work because we aren't in 7.04. used linux_audio_driver_v30.zip from viaarena.com instead.

• install build-essential for most common stuff needed to build

Ubuntu Desktop Fails to Start

See: This bug report

The problem is that gnome-keyring-daemon segfaults on startup (apparently related to flash based storage?).

Solution:

• edit etc/pam.d/gdm as root
• remove all references to gnome_keyring
• save file and restart GDM

Power Consumption Tuning

• Consumes 2watts when plugged in and off
• PWM2 fan in BIOS controls cpu fan after boot
• PWM1 fan in BIOS seems to control fan before/during boot
• http://www.heatsink-guide.com/ awesome cooling info
• http://free-electrons.com/community/videos/conferences/ Embedded Linux Conference Videos
• Sensors