eBoxPup-2.13-0.1alpha released

[pakt]

Edit 28Jul11: eBoxPup can still be downloaded from here:
http://puppyisos.org/isos/2007-01-to-06 ... 1alpha.iso
md5sum: 0b61aae2611f933c0cdc239130ea2a76

NOTE: If the download or page asks for username and password, try username = puppy, password = linux. You may have to type these 2X.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

These links no longer work:
http://puppyfiles.org/isos/eboxpup-2.13-0.1alpha.iso
http://puppyfiles.org/isos/eboxpup-2.13 ... ha.iso.txt

I've uploaded eBoxPup-2.13-0.1alpha.iso, my first unleashed Puppy Linux, adapted for the eBox-2300/TU-40/MicroClient Jr.

This is a 'slimmed' Puppy 2.13 to suit the eBox's low power CPU but will run on other old PCs as well. It is not 'barebones' but contains most of the usual apps needed for daily use.

The eBox does not have a CD or DVD, so I have removed those apps that require them, also from the menu.

Opera 9.02 is the browser and email client, Bluefish the html composer, sluggish Geany is replaced by the much faster Beaver, Gxine media player is replaced by GQmpeg for playing MP3 and OGG.

I have included some updates not in Puppy 2.13 - rarsa's 'net-setup-2.14-1' and his 'mini-volume-0.4' and Dougal/plinej's optimized 'pmount'. Barry's pmount is still available as 'pmount_bk' if that version is preferred, but it is much slower.

My 'autorun' patch of .xinitrc is also included. This can be useful for certain applications for the eBox, e.g., speech synthesis. Among other features, autorun does not need a pup_save.2fs file to work. See this thread on autorun for details: http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=14415

The size of pup_213.sfs is 57MB and the stock zdrv_213.sfs (included in the iso) will be needed on the CF card or USB stick. So all drivers included in 2.13 are available. This is good if you want to try a USB wifi device with the eBox.

If you have an eBox-2300, TU-40 or MicroClient Jr, please give this Puppy a try. Feedback is, as always, welcome

Enjoy,
Paul

[Lobster]

Congratulations. Have put you on the wiki news. These are the small units that run from a SD or other internal flash card? Is that right?
Very interesting.
Have you contacted the manufacturers?

[Bert]

This is pure magic! A complete Puppy, with all the luxuries Puppy Standard offers, in only 57 MB!

Congratulations Paul!
I am writing this from within eBoxPup and my puppybox loves it ..

My via c3 mobo is probably too powerful to be a useful testbed for eBoxPup...can a via c3 be underclocked?

This release is modestly called "alpha", but it looks rock-solid and finished to me.

Thank you Paul!

[nyu]

Congratulations on releasing eboxpup, pakt. I have tried it on my eBox-2300
but the performance is rather disappointing because of low CPU speed and 128MB
RAM. I have tried Edubuntu before on this same box and the response was much
faster. This is because all of the processing was done at the server side.

[pakt]

Congratulations on releasing eboxpup, pakt. I have tried it on my eBox-2300 but the performance is rather disappointing because of low CPU speed and 128MB RAM. I have tried Edubuntu before on this same box and the esponse was much faster. This is because all of the processing was done at the server side.

I assume you mean you were using the eBox as a thin client. That's actually what the eBox was made for and that also requires a server to connect to to do the actual work.

However, there are not to many 'complete' distros that will run acceptably fast - stand alone - on the eBox. That's what I am attempting with eBoxPup.

There is not much to be done about the eBox's lack of 'horsepower'. All you can do is to run it with the 'lightest' equivalents of the usual apps.

The only 'heavy' app in eBoxPup is Opera 9.02 - and that starts up in 12 seconds after having been run once. That's about as good as you can get with a fully-featured browser on the eBox. And I don't think that's too bad

The only other choice is to get a more powerful PC ...

Otherwise, what do you think of eBoxPup - is it a complete waste of time? If not, any suggestions for improvements?

Anybody?

I would love to get more feedback on this - preferably constructive

Paul

[nyu]

Hi Paul,

Please don't misunderstand me, you have done a great work on eboxpup. I admire you. Not to mention there are so many enthusiastic people in this puppy community selfishlessly contributing. This is why I love puppy.

I just want to use my eBox-2300 to do some very basic tasks, e.g. serf the net, listen music and write e-mail in Chinese or Japanese. Before I can write Chinese or Japanese, I need to check out the capability of hardware and the English version of eboxpup. I was so happy sis7019 worked without any tweaking. Opera worked satisfactory so does GQmpeg. But if I used them at the same time, problem occurs. If I opened Opera to serf the net and at the same time I listened music, music gets stuttering. It was very annoying. This will happen when I jump from one web page to another. Dillo was much better but I don't want to use it if possible. Am I asking too much? Another thing is when I move my mouse arrow up and down on the Puppy Start Menu, music gets stuttering as well. I want eboxpup to be successful but at this moment, from user's point of view, I think it needs to be improved.
Sorry about my bad English. If I hurt your feelings, I am sorry as well.
nyu

[raffy]

Maybe it will be useful to look at this other set of specifications (useful especially to Nyu):

- AMD GX2-466 processor on board.
- 128MB DDR Memory on board *
- Small Form Factor ¡V case size 1.26"(W) x 6.58"(H) x 5.1"(D)
- Fan-less, Low Temperature design
- Low-power consumption ¡V 5W typical, 1W standby
- Display resolution up to 1600x1200
- 4 USB 1.1 ports
- 1 x 10/100Mbps High bandwidth Ethernet
- Diskless with non-volatile storage via Flash-IDE-Chip
- Additional audio peripheral connectivity
- Support multiple protocols (ICA, RDP, PXE, TCP/IP)
- Support Local Application (Web browser)
- Support embedded Linux operating systems
- Flexible design supporting various size alternate with all-in-one LCD Thin Client.

So if you can look around for some used GX2 machines, it will be good to start testing. Hope that helps.
--------------------
* (older boards may not have this DDR feature)

[pakt]

Hi nyu,

Am I asking too much?

Yes, I'm afraid so, and this is really the fault of the hardware. The eBox-2300 is such a low-powered PC that the CPU just doesn't have time to do all that you ask of it at the same time. It works fairly well if you stick to running one app at a time, but running more than one just won't cut it

Sorry about my bad English. If I hurt your feelings, I am sorry as well.

Your English is actually very good and, no, you didn't hurt my feelings. I'm just as frustrated as you that the eBox is underpowered. I still would like to have a small, silent, low-powered (in the sense of 'using very little electrical power' ) PC on my desktop to run my usual Puppy applications on. I know that these machines are coming, but I am just too impatient. Perhaps Raffy's suggestion in the post above could be something to consider?

Paul

[pakt]

Maybe it will be useful to look at this other set of specifications (useful especially to Nyu):

- AMD GX2-466 processor on board.
- 128MB DDR Memory on board *
- Small Form Factor ¡V case size 1.26"(W) x 6.58"(H) x 5.1"(D)
- Fan-less, Low Temperature design
- Low-power consumption ¡V 5W typical, 1W standby
- Display resolution up to 1600x1200
- 4 USB 1.1 ports
- 1 x 10/100Mbps High bandwidth Ethernet
- Diskless with non-volatile storage via Flash-IDE-Chip
- Additional audio peripheral connectivity
- Support multiple protocols (ICA, RDP, PXE, TCP/IP)
- Support Local Application (Web browser)
- Support embedded Linux operating systems
- Flexible design supporting various size alternate with all-in-one LCD Thin Client.

So if you can look around for some used GX2 machines, it will be good to start testing. Hope that helps.
--------------------
* (older boards may not have this DDR feature)

Raffy, are there any specific 'GX2' machines you're thinking of? Are they available anywhere? Expensive?

Sounds like a better solution than the eBox. Even uses less power! Too bad though that USB is just 1.1 (same as the eBox), but I can live with that.

Paul

[nyu]

Hi pakt and raffy,

Actually DMP Electronics makes more products other than eBox-2300. I think you know it from their web site already. In case you didn't know, here is their home page: http://www.compactpc.com.tw

[bobn9lvu]

Hi pakt and raffy,


Actually DMP Electronics makes more products other than eBox-2300. I think you know it from their web site already. In case you didn't know, here is their home page: http://www.compactpc.com.tw

You know, all the systems talked about need ONE thing added to make em
viable ( my feelings ) is the ability to add and onboard DVD writer or rom drive...

Bob

[ecosprog]

Congradulations on a great little distribution. I installed it on my MicroClient Jr. last night and am running it now to write this.

Everything works as expected and the only issue I have is with the browsers. Dillo works without any lag after selecting an item but is too basic for general surfing. Opera has all the features I need but the lag can get annoying, especially if running another program such as Gaim. What´s needed is something in between - if such a thing exists.

I was hoping to use the eBox as a replacement for my regular desktop in an effort to save electricity. I live off-grid and produce all my power from Wind and solar. The difference in power consumption between the 2 setups is enormous. If I can make this little box for general surfing and e-mail I´ll be a happy chap. This version of Puppy is a great start and all that´s left to say is well done Pakt.

[pakt]

Everything works as expected and the only issue I have is with the browsers. Dillo works without any lag after selecting an item but is too basic for general surfing. Opera has all the features I need but the lag can get annoying, especially if running another program such as Gaim. What´s needed is something in between - if such a thing exists.

Thanks for the feedback. Opera 9.02 was the 'fastest' fully-featured browser I could find for the eBox. The next step down is hv3 or Dillo but hv3 is still in early development and Dillo is, as you say, too basic.

There are really only two alternatives as I see it:

1. Run only one app at a time on the eBox-2300 and performance will be (somewhat) acceptable.

2. Opt for a faster box such as suggested by Raffy in his post in this thread. Judging from the specs in his post, units running the AMD GX2-466 use even less power than the eBox-2300. I will be looking into this more.

I was hoping to use the eBox as a replacement for my regular desktop in an effort to save electricity. I live off-grid and produce all my power from Wind and solar. The difference in power consumption between the 2 setups is enormous.

I'm also interested in these units from an efficiency point-of-view. I have waited for years for the computer industry to wake up to lowering power consumption, thus reducing the need for large power supplies, minimizing or eliminating the need for noisey, irritating fans (which in themselves draw power) thereby also reducing the size of computers to small discrete units. Unfortunately, Vista will reverse this trend by requiring even more powerful computers to run 'acceptably' well (Here is a perfect opportunity to say once again - thank you Barry for Puppy )

Paul

[nyu]

According to the web page I mentioned, I think DMP Electronics's eBox 38xx series is more
suitable. The general specification:
Processor: VIA Eden Nano 800MHz
Onboard RAM: 256MB DDR2
USB 2.0 ports: 2 to 6 depending on which model
Display: up to 1280 x 1024
Audio: AC97 2.2(Codec) VIA VT1612A
Ethernet: 10/100 Base-T 1 to 2 , depending on which model
You can find out more detailed specification in their web page.
Unit price is around USD180.00 F.O.B. Taiwan.

I wonder if puppy has the audio driver.

[pakt]

According to the web page I mentioned, I think DMP Electronics's eBox 38xx series is more
suitable. The general specification:
Processor: VIA Eden Nano 800MHz
Onboard RAM: 256MB DDR2
USB 2.0 ports: 2 to 6 depending on which model
Display: up to 1280 x 1024
Audio: AC97 2.2(Codec) VIA VT1612A
Ethernet: 10/100 Base-T 1 to 2 , depending on which model
You can find out more detailed specification in their web page.
Unit price is around USD180.00 F.O.B. Taiwan.

I wonder if puppy has the audio driver.

Thanks for the info, nyu. That spec looks quite atractive. I think that would be cheaper than trying to build your own. I'm definately going to check out these units

Paul

[pakt]

You know, all the systems talked about need ONE thing added to make em
viable ( my feelings ) is the ability to add and onboard DVD writer or rom drive...

Should be able to attach a USB drive without too much trouble. IIRC, the BIOS can be set to boot from such a drive. Of course a box with USB2.0 would be a lot faster...

Paul

[Bert]

I was about to mention the 3800 series, but nyu beat me on this
It is the only eBox offered by the dutch importer, which I guess means something (http://www.bnc-distribution.nl/producten/ebox)

There are no prices on this website, but in a discussion on a dutch forum, I read about €260,- for the basic box and about€280, including a CF adapter.
This company has a nice proposal for developers or other professionals: you can try out an eBox for a month and if you're not happy with it, you just send it back to them.

A real drawback, imho, is the fixed RAM...
For power consumption, they say is "less than 20W"

The 3800 series has USB 2.0

[bobn9lvu]

I was about to mention the 3800 series, but nyu beat me on this
It is the only eBox offered by the dutch importer, which I guess means something (http://www.bnc-distribution.nl/producten/ebox)

The 3800 series has USB 2.0

Nice!
It would be great to be able to put in a laptop optical drive instead of a HD.
There would still be a LOT of room for a CF drive too..

Bob

[Bert]

About CF drives..and building Puppy hardware on a budget, .what do you guys think of this chinese adapter ??

[pakt]

I was about to mention the 3800 series, but nyu beat me on this
It is the only eBox offered by the dutch importer, which I guess means something (http://www.bnc-distribution.nl/producten/ebox)

There are no prices on this website, but in a discussion on a dutch forum, I read about €260,- for the basic box and about€280, including a CF adapter.
This company has a nice proposal for developers or other professionals: you can try out an eBox for a month and if you're not happy with it, you just send it back to them.

A real drawback, imho, is the fixed RAM...
For power consumption, they say is "less than 20W"

The 3800 series has USB 2.0

Here is a similar one (same?) from a German importer: http://store.epatec.net/de/product_info ... ucts_id=40
They offer it in two versions: the standard one for €260 inc VAT and a thicker "Plus" unit with space for a 2.5" harddisk and more ports for an extra €17.85 inc VAT. You can download a pdf spec sheet from this site. Sounds quite attractive

Hmm, I wonder if the "DiskOnModule" flash memory uses the same interface as a Compact flash card...

Paul