XSX Server Implementation

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XSX limited-production prototype school server.

The implementation of an XSX School server is described on this page. You can also view the specification. The software running on this server is described in Trial1 Server Software.

Introduction

This is a server machine with a primary goal of supporting development of the School server/laptop software, including early trials. As this is a very limited production model (12-40 ?) and the design criteria are still undefined, flexibility wins out over cost. Off-the-shelf consumer PC hardware is being used.

Components

Guts of the XSX prototype school server.

These are the particular components being used:

Motherboards

The mini-ITX form factor seemed to be the ideal in terms of meeting the requirements for relatively high processing power without a processor fan.

EPIA EN12000EG

The Via EPIA EN12000EG is based around Via's C7 processor, w. matching chip set.

Relevant features:

• 1.2 GHz VIA C7 (686) processor
• up to 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM
• 10/100/1000base-T (VIA VT6122)
• two SATA-1 ports (VIA VT6420)
• two UltraDMA-133 IDE ports (VIA VT82C686)
• four USB 2.0 ports (two off-board)
• one PCI slot

Documentation

• User's Manual (pdf) - includes jumper block descriptions
• Operating Guide (pdf)

EPIA CN10000EG

The Via EPIA CN10000EG is also based around Via's C7 processor, w. matching chip set.

Relevant features:

• 1.0 GHz VIA C7 (686) processor
• up to 1 GB DDR2

Documentation

• User's Guide (pdf) - includes jumper block descriptions
• Operating Guide (pdf)

Memory

The memory used in all motherboards is 1GB of 533 MHz (PC-4200) DDR2 SDRAM, in a 240 pin DIMM. The particular parts are:

• Kingston, KVR533D2N4/1G
• Corsair, VS1GSDS533D2

Disk Drives

Seagate HDD

Capacity ???

Model ???

Raid 0 ???

Hitachi HDD

Capacity ???

Model ???

Raid 0 ???

Floppy

N/A

Drivers

Ethernet

VIA Velocity

This is the driver for the 1000base-T interface on the EPIA EN10000EG motherboards.

Assembly Notes

Side view of the XSX prototype school server.

Mechanical Assembly

With the motherboard sitting on the conductive foam it is shipped in, insert the DIMM.

Swap out the back panel on the case to use the one included with the motherboard. From the outside of the case, push in on the bottom of the old one to remove. You will have to bend up the new shield over the ethernet and PS/2 mouse connectors. If using the EN10000 MB, punch out the holes for the video connectors. Test the shield on the MB BEFORE placing it in the case!

Attach the motherboard using the brass standoffs included with the case and four screws. Be careful not to "slide" the motherboard into place, you are likely to scrape components off the underside.

Remove the back panel piece blocking the first slot (normally AGP, but used for PCI on mini-ITX). Place the NIC into the PCI slot and screw the back flange down.

Cabling

The front panel switch cabling has to be rerouted up next to the mounts for 3.5 in. floppies in order to reach the MB.

Attach the MB power connector, and the front panel USB cables.

The system fan is currently left disconnected.

BIOS settings

Much more detail needed here. For now, assume that all defaults from the manufacturer are the same (not likely...)

Change the following BIOS settings:

• First boot should be from USB-CDROM, Second from USB-FDD, and third from HDD
• Change the SATA mode from RAID to IDE
• Halt on no errors

Component Tracking

In order to determine if problems are related to a particular supplier of a component, we must track the deployed components carefully. Here is the table where we store this information:

Serial #	Motherboard	Memory	Disk	Net I/F	Case	Location
001	EN10000EG	Kingston	Seagate	LNE	AT	Cambridge
002	EN10000EG	Corvair	Seagate	-	-	Cambridge
003	EN10000EG	Corvair	Hitachi	LNE	AT	Cambridge

Where for Network interface cards:

• LNE indicates the Linksys LNE100TX
• DFE indicates the D-Link DFE-530 TX

and for Cases:

• AT indicates the Athenatech A602BS, using supplied power supply
• ?