>
> Well, the main reason we're replacing the BIOS is that we've had several
> requests from people who want relatively sane firmware in their
> computers. :) One of our (potential) customers needs to completely
> manage their rack-mount systems remotely using the serial port without
> video and without a keyboard - something that few motherboards support.
Intel are actually pretty aggressive on this (eg. EMP and IPMI), but the
boards they offer it on aren't cost-effective. 8(
> Another option is to create a custom ISA or PCI card with pretty much
> just a ROM on in, let the BIOS set things up, then completely take over
> control of the machine. This is a lot more work and more expensive, not
> to mention taking up one of the relatively few slots, but it would work
> in more computers. (Some BIOSes still refuse to run without video and
> keyboard though.)
It's actually not _that_ expensive, but you're right about
interoperability. By now, based on the timeframe I've watched you
through, I'd say that you should have a board that looks like a plain VGA
framebuffer and has a keyboard cable hung out the back, and software up
and running. Build cost at 100 off would probably be < $100.
> One problem with flash disks and such is that by the time the machine is
> ready to boot from one, it's already well past where you'd like to have
> control over the BIOS settings.
This is a problem, yes, but rewriting the BIOS, bootloader and parts of
the kernel isn't the path of least resistance, IMO. 8)
> Frankly, I'd just as soon support PowerPC or Alpha ATX motherboards with
> SmartFirmware. Anyone know of inexpensive ATX non-x86 boards? :)
Well, Alpha Processor now have SRM on the UP1000, but this isn't what
you'd call "inexpensive", and the board's not very compact either (Slot B
module mounted vertically).
If your customer's not _desperate_ for a super-low-cost solution, I'd
suggest any of the Intel boards that offer EMP (most of these also offer
BIOS-over-serial support, actually - as do a number of other vendors,
IIRC AMI do this on some of their boards as well).
--
\\ Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. \\ Mike Smith
\\ Tell him he should learn how to fish himself, \\ [EMAIL PROTECTED]
\\ and he'll hate you for a lifetime. \\ [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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