[NTLUG:Discuss] linux and diskonchip

[severian@pobox.com]

Howdy,
   I can comment on aspects of this, but I can't give you a final 
answer.  I have researching this for a while and I have never come up with 
a great solution.  The disk on chip devices work as advertised, but they 
have a theoritical problem.  Then underlying storage medium is compact 
flash memory and compact flash memory has a limited number of write 
cycles.  I have a couple of these drives and they have not given me any 
problem.  They look just like an IDE drive to the system.  But, I have not 
run any of them on long term tests.  I use a small hard drive on my 
firewall router because that seems best for now.
   If you want to experiment fairly cheaply, look here:
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3403308340&category=11157
   It is an ebay auction for an adapter that you install in your system 
just like a standard IDE drive.  You plug a standard compact flash card in 
the front and boot.  Note that this type of adapter is typically not 
hot-plugable.  You should power the system off to remove or inset the card.
   I have other compact flash to IDE adapters.  One looks like a 2.5 inch 
IDE drive.  One is a card that has mounting holes that match those on a 3.5 
inch drive and a socket to plug in a CF card.  And a few other types that I 
can describe if you are interested. But that auction show a version that is 
quite good for beginning your tests.
   Theoretically, the best solution would probably be a storage medium that 
was standard ram with a batter backup to the power supply.  If you ever had 
a power outage long enough to run the batter down,it would be reloaded from 
CD-ROM.  But, I have never seen a system for sale except in a greater than 
$1000 price range.
Good luck,
Ralph

In response to the welcome remarks of Rob Apodaca at 06:20 PM 2/24/03 -0500:

>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