**** BEGIN LOGGING AT Tue Aug 30 02:59:57 2011 Aug 30 08:37:33 would anyone like to compare sheevaplug benchmarks? sha512sum? can't exactly imagine what to compare, but it'd be interested if there are large differences Aug 30 11:50:35 I was reading some reviews on various forums where people were complaining that the Guruplug tends to overheat and die, but I know that Fedora ARM's build cluster is built using these plugs. So someone in #fedora-arm asked me to ask here. Aug 30 11:50:54 I also read that replacing the power supply unit is a way to work around the problem. Aug 30 11:55:21 rishi: i can only talk for the sheevaplug. They come with a new power-supply (not the same like the broken ones shown on photos of users suffering from heat problems). Aug 30 11:55:56 most of the problems were caused because users drained too much power from the USB port Aug 30 11:56:00 rigid: So, if I were to buy a Sheevaplug today, then it would be ok? Aug 30 11:56:21 rigid: Yeah! I also read something about the PSU not being able to deal with 240V mains. Aug 30 11:56:22 rishi: some early sheevas have a faulty PSU, and even with the fixed one you still have a problem if you connect too many things through the usb Aug 30 11:56:25 Is that true? Aug 30 11:56:33 rishi: i'd say if you use it without power-hungry usb-hardware in a cool environment, you'll never have a problem Aug 30 11:56:38 a psu with higher amps solves that problem Aug 30 11:56:47 and so does only using selfpowered usb devices Aug 30 11:56:50 or low-powered Aug 30 11:56:52 but what do I know, my sheevaplug is only a few days old & in service :) Aug 30 11:57:01 my sheeva is 1yr+ Aug 30 11:57:09 rishi: it can deal fine with 240V here Aug 30 11:57:11 had the faulty psu, got it substituted under warranty Aug 30 11:57:14 and i'm on 240v here Aug 30 11:57:18 well, 220 Aug 30 11:57:26 kerio: rigid: Ok Aug 30 11:57:35 no, apparently it's 230v now Aug 30 11:57:56 rishi: apart from that, try not to connect it in a place where there are many power surges Aug 30 11:58:19 and if you can switch the internal psu with an external one (cellphone battery charger) it's even better, because you'll get less heat in the sheevaplug itself Aug 30 11:58:31 the dreamplug plus had problems with overheating, they solved them by putting fans on Aug 30 11:59:03 the dreamplug is the bestest Aug 30 11:59:16 because the psu is kinda external Aug 30 11:59:37 kerio: Ok Aug 30 12:00:15 rishi: you can't really buy guruplugs nowadays Aug 30 12:00:19 it's either the sheeva or the dream Aug 30 12:00:19 So these plugs have atleast 2 USB 2.0 ports. So what if I put in a couple of external HDDs? Aug 30 12:00:22 both work Aug 30 12:00:25 using a plug-computer with an external power-supply is somewhat senseless i guess Aug 30 12:00:32 rishi: you're talking about the dreamplug then? Aug 30 12:00:34 The external HDDs have their separate power supply. Aug 30 12:00:48 self-powered devices are perfectly fine Aug 30 12:00:55 Right. Aug 30 12:01:41 the dreamplug has no problems whatsoever, last i heard Aug 30 12:02:05 kerio: rigid: Ok. I am looking to make a cheap file server for my personal use. Aug 30 12:02:15 So I am not planning to move around a lot with the plug computer. Aug 30 12:02:31 So I can afford to have an externally powered HDD. Aug 30 12:02:32 rishi: then you can probably get by with a sheevaplug Aug 30 12:02:47 but the dreamplug is so dreamy *_* Aug 30 12:03:19 rishi: i'm using the sheevaplug with a USB->IDE converter + slow-spinning 2.5" hdd without excess heat-production for a few days now Aug 30 12:03:39 * rishi searches for a Sheeva vs. Dream comparison Aug 30 12:03:59 for more than one or faster hdd's they should be externally powered Aug 30 12:04:10 rishi: you could also wait for a raspberrypi Aug 30 12:04:37 rishi: sheeva == older,cheaper,slower Aug 30 12:05:01 can't really compare them Aug 30 12:05:51 of course you can Aug 30 12:06:01 they're both low-powered, small, ARM linux servers Aug 30 12:06:13 the dreamplug is faster and has more features, but the substance is the same Aug 30 12:06:44 1 sheevaplug = 3 or 4 raspberrypis though Aug 30 12:06:47 I wish there was something like this for the Sheevaplug: http://www.plugcomputer.org/development-kits/features.html The Wikipedia page is a lot of text, but no concise specs. Aug 30 12:07:13 Both the Dream and Sheeva have a 1.2 GHz Kirkwood, right? Aug 30 12:07:26 yeah, the cpu is the same Aug 30 12:07:35 i think the sheevaplug is the Plug Computer Basic there Aug 30 12:07:46 yep Aug 30 12:08:43 By the way, how good is the Wifi? Can I run a access point on it? Aug 30 12:08:59 I ask because I have tried running APs on Wifi USB dongles. Aug 30 12:09:17 The signal strength was too weak, I felt. Aug 30 12:09:33 hah, i have problems with a 200$ router/ap Aug 30 12:09:40 kerio: :-) Aug 30 12:09:55 (wrt610n, a sexy, sexy machine) Aug 30 12:10:16 :-) Aug 30 12:11:22 the only reason i keep the sheevaplug is because 300mhz really don't cut it for transmission Aug 30 12:11:29 the wrt610nv2 has 533mhz Aug 30 12:11:34 http://www.plugcomputer.org/development-kits/dreamplug.html says the Dream has 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports, but http://www.plugcomputer.org/development-kits/features.html says 1 GE. Aug 30 12:11:55 iirc it's two Aug 30 12:11:58 ok Aug 30 12:14:02 kerio: http://www.plugcomputer.org/development-kits/features.html also says the Dream has 2MB Flash, which I guess is wrong. Should be 512MB, right? Aug 30 12:14:19 no, that's true Aug 30 12:14:20 :) Aug 30 12:14:28 kerio: Only 2MB? Aug 30 12:14:37 http://www.plugcomputer.org/development-kits/dreamplug.html says 512MB. Aug 30 12:14:38 yeah, it uses an internal µSD Aug 30 12:15:31 i'm not sure about the size, but the internal flash only holds uboot Aug 30 12:16:15 kerio: Right. Aug 30 12:16:27 And you said that the Dream has none of the overheating issues? Aug 30 12:16:35 yeah, the psu is in a separate place Aug 30 12:16:38 it's actually detachable Aug 30 12:25:59 kerio: rigid: Thanks a lot for the information. Aug 30 12:29:04 np Aug 30 12:29:27 don't mention it **** ENDING LOGGING AT Wed Aug 31 02:59:57 2011