Distro for VIA

[stehlajz]

Hello,
I've got two old astaro firewalls (110). It's regular computer based on VIA chipset, motherboard VIA DNB830, but I dont know what CPU's are inside. RAM was changed from 256 to 512MB, HDDs 160GB 2.5 ide (but inside are also two sata). Also inside is one CF slot so I decide to put inside a Wifi card, can you recommend me which works under linux?

Thanks

80345629-200x200-0-0.jpg

E: Sorry for my english

[cynwulf]

According to their site and assuming it's the "110" it's a "1.6GHz Intel" CPU: Astaro Security Gateway 110

An x86 kernel would probably be the best bet. As to the distro, that's up to you, and also depends on what you want to do with them?

DNB830 is not a VIA chipset but the board model number - that's not to say that it isn't VIA based. It's a Nexcom single board computer, but the specs are so far proving elusive to me...

[stehlajz]

You're looking to new 110/120, which have new CPU, more RAM and other. I have the old version, because this old cannot run the lastest version of ASG (Astaro Security Gateway).

I said that DNB830 is motherboard. I can remove the heatsinks and write here CPU model, if it will help you.

I'm looking for some use, because this old 110 still working.

[elija]

It may be worth trying something along the lines of crunchbang. The openbox edition idles at about 50-60MB RAM and flies on an old Pentium 4 laptop of mine. I'm trying to remember where I put my AMD K6 II to see if it installs on that . It's slighly less beginner friendly than the heavier distros, but if you are prepared to poke around a in a menu and do a bit of internet searching it's not too bad.

[cynwulf]

You're looking to new 110/120, which have new CPU, more RAM and other. I have the old version, because this old cannot run the lastest version of ASG (Astaro Security Gateway).

I said that DNB830 is motherboard. I can remove the heatsinks and write here CPU model, if it will help you.

I'm looking for some use, because this old 110 still working.

I see, I wouldn't go removing heatsinks just yet. You might want to try and boot some kind of live distro from a CD or USB flash first. That will allow you to see if it works at all and identify hardware, including CPU.

I'm trying to remember where I put my AMD K6 II to see if it installs on that

It should but you'll need a "486" kernel build as the 686 kernel won't boot on a K6-2/III.

[velikij]

For a live CD to try, I suggest Knoppix - versions 5.0 on. That should boot on most systems, depending on your display hardware. To determine the cpu type, look at the file /proc/cpuinfo - it will give you some details about the cpu.

If Knoppix boots, your system will probably run Debian or Slackware.

[stehlajz]

Thanks, i'll try it, but I forgot to say what I want to use it. I think it can be good FTP server or use it as a download client, when I have my desktop PC shutted down.

[stehlajz]

CPU is VIA Eden 800mHz

[cynwulf]

There are quite a few different Eden core types, they go way back. They are x86 class and I believe most of them can run a 686 (Pentium Pro) kernel ok, except for the very early cores. Judging by the clock speed you have there it looks like you have one of the later cores, so 686 should be fine. You should be able to just go ahead and download a 32 bit distro and take it from there.

Because of the spec and because of what you want to do, I would suggest Debian, it's stable, solid, flexible and can be installed very minimally. Ultimately it's up to you of course.

[elija]

Because of the spec and because of what you want to do, I would suggest Debian, it's stable, solid, flexible and can be installed very minimally. Ultimately it's up to you of course.

Hence my suggestion of Crunchbang. It's Debian, very light and nicely set up out of the box. You could probably get a lighter Debian set up but it would take some serious effort.