[cctalk] Old UNIX Systems

On Sun, 2 Jun 2013, Dave McGuire wrote: Right... The problem is that those small-scale Linux "distributions" are poorly maintained, at best. Heck, a good example are HP's Print Server Appliance devices. The PSA device itself is nothing more than a purpose built x86 embedded board (no video/VGA output, etc) with a Geode GX1-300 CPU and 128MB of memory (upgradeable to 256MB, the maximum the GX1 can support, by swapping in a different SDRAM module). HP rolled their own Linux distribution for these things*, yet today these PSAs are completely unsupported and their software is full of security flaws. A general purpose embedded Linux distribution would be ideal for these sorts of applications, but Debian could certainly fit the bill if there were enough of a push to put it on a diet and begin trimming the accumulated bloat. *HP failed to follow the GPL and this is one of the things that got them into serious trouble with the FSF and other groups, ultimately forcing them to create their Open Source Program Office. There were three models of these PSAs, the HP Print Server Appliance 4000 J4107A (aka the HP JetDirect 4000), 4200 J4117A, and the 4250 J7941A. Even now, you can still download an outdated Linux software image (which they call "Firmware") for the 4200 and 4250 from HP's website, but they still don't offer any of the sourcecode. At one point HP also attempted to scrub all traces of the 4000 Among other software, these PSA devices use the Linux kernel, Apache, Samba, and lots and lots of GNU software. AMD Geode GX1 Processor Data Book http://support.amd.com/us/Embedded_TechDocs/goede_gx1_databook-rev5.pdf HP Print Server Appliances http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Home.jsp?prodTypeId=18972&… 2.3.76, 2.5.143 "Firmware" http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&… Open Source Software HP Print Server Appliances [Despite the page title and where it is linked from, there is no PSA 4000/4200/4250 sourcecode to be found here.] http://h10010.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&dlc=en&docname=c0… Firmware 2.5.137 Release Notes http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=c00… Firmware 2.5.139 Release Notes http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=c00… Firmware 2.4.35x Release Notes http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=c00… Hewlett-Packard software license agreement http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/softwareLicense.jsp?lang=e… "[...] If the Software includes Ancillary Software licensed under the GNU General Public License and/or under the GNU Lesser General Pubic License ("GPL Software"), a complete machine-readable copy of the GPL Software Source Code ("GPL Source Code") is either: (i) included with the Software that is delivered to You; or (ii) upon your written request, HP will provide to You, for a fee covering the cost of distribution, a complete machine-readable copy of the GPL Source Code, by mail, or (iii) if You obtained the Software by downloading it from a HP website and neither of the preceding options are available, you may download the GPL Source Code for GPL Source Code may be found in the ancillary.txt file or, if an address is not listed in that file, at the following website: www.hp.com [http://h20000.www2.hp.com/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/ Documents%20and%20Settings/kimjee/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/ Documents%20and%20Settings/kimjee/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/ Documents%20and%20Settings/kimjee/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/ Documents%20and%20Settings/norrisj1/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/ Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Documents%20and%20Settings/ norrisj1/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Documents%20and%20Settings/ norrisj1/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Local%20Settings/ Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Documents%20and%20Settings/norrisj1/Local%20Settings/ Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK3/www.hp.com]." End-of-Life Strategy and HP's Recommended Alternative http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=c01… "As an alternative to the PSA 4250, HP has introduced the HP Proliant DL100 G2 File and Print Appliance. This innovative network appliance is optimized to manage both file and print for distributed workgroups with file sharing and print serving needs. This will allow an entire P/I System solution to be contained and localized in one device that can also support localized storage." [Let's see... replace a Linux based 300MHz Geode GX1 device that draws ~18 watts maximum with a Windows Server 2003 based 3GHz Intel Pentium D server that draws ~6 amps... Sure, that sounds like a /great/ idea....] http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c004… http://h10057.www1.hp.com/ecomcat/hpcatalog/specs/provisioner/99/J4107A.htm http://h10057.www1.hp.com/ecomcat/hpcatalog/specs/provisioner/99/J4117A.htm http://h10057.www1.hp.com/ecomcat/hpcatalog/specs/provisioner/99/J7941A.htm