Alexandre Souza - Listas wrote:
Yes, single
board computers. I remembered it after I clicked send.
That's
a broader term than what I'm talking about I think though.
Eh...great...but...
Why?
You can get better systems for cheaper, and less clunky. Why use
something like that?
I would strongly argue "better" and "less clunky". Many of the
industrial SBCs I've worked with had a level of build quality you rarely
see from most of the mainstream motherboard manufacturers. Also, the
modularity of the parts means that if/when the board craps out (be it
from overheating or what not) replacement can be done
by the maintenance
shop on-site.
I see SBC-based systems infrequently in telecom applications. There are
some 386-based SBCs driving a fair number of voicemail systems around.
Some of these systems have been around for 20+ years now. I also know
of a national cellular company who's voicemail system runs on Pentium
SBC-backplane boxes. The form factor is familiar to most telecom techs:
there's guys I've worked with who have been replacing boards in switches
since the 1960's, and they don't need to have it explained to "slot this
board into slot A-1 of the chassis, and ship me the board that's in
there". I'd hate to have to step these guys through a motherboard swap
on a modern rackmount ITX chassis.