[NTLUG:Discuss] linux and diskonchip

[Rob Apodaca]

Hi all,
I am looking to create some small linux systems which do things like routing, vpn, print servers, dns cache, dhcp, etc...nothing really too new. There's LRP and all these other types of projects out there already doing these things but the issue which I always seem to come up with is: How to provide enough disk space so that all my goodies can fit and still avoid the whole harddrive-will-crash-some-day problem. Also, these projects never seem to provide adequate build environments to allow one to compile new packages.

I am working on a build environment to allow anyone to be able to compile and add packages... this might take the form a chroot environment or a boot-cd or both. Once this is done, I will add some type of script/program to allow a user to 'configure' and make the disk image.

Now here is what I want to ask the group. I came across m-sys' diskonchip http://www.m-sys.com/ which looks very interesting indeed - no moving parts. First, does anyone have any experience with this product. Does it work as advertised? Any failures? Second, does anyone know of a supplier - either in the DFW area or on the 'net. The website has a list of local sales reps and I will be contacting the one listed for DFW but I was just curious to know if there were any others.

Thanks for any input,
-rob