Plug Computer

David

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Feb 12, 2011, 9:43:36 AM2/12/11

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This group is nearly dead, but maybe I can provide something of interest to
linux people...

I purchased, recently, a little device from BestBuy on a trip I took to
Ottawa... "PogoPlug".

This little device is designed as a small storage server in which you plug
one or more USB HDDs and then share that space. It looked good on the face
of it, and was only $100 so I bought it. I was very disappointed to realize
after getting home that this little sucker did "SHARE" the space, but not
using CIFS or SAMBA, but some proprietary crap that requires software to be
running on each machine you want to access your data from... AND the
machines all have to access the internet... even if you only want in-house,
LAN sharing - the internet link has to be there to the pogoplug web site....
OH JOY!

Anyway, frustrated I thought I had lost $100 but then found pluglinux!

I now have a very small, "ARM Processor" based linux server running in my
home, using only under 10 watts of power. I have it running SAMBA, Apache
Web Server, and many small utilities. It is my home NAS device, my home web
server, and has capabilities for just about any linux-server based items. I
did read an article about how one guy in the UK used a couple of cheap solar
panels and a battery to power a similar plug computer "off grid".

My only regret on this machine is that it has a 100Mb Ethernet interface,
and not 1Gb.... which would be nicer for the SAMBA sharing/NAS function on
my LAN.

So... I am happy to say I have a fully-functional Linux server running with
no moving parts (no fans, etc) except from the spinning disk that I have
connected to multi-TB of storage... and I was even able to install a simple
package to spin the disks down when not in use. The thing is capable of a
full LAMP stack... and is a great little linux server. PogoPlug is not the
only device... actually, I have to do a bit of work to get the branded pogo
crap off the device and get the open-sourced OS loaded (which including
using a small USB memory key). There are others available - the "sheeva
plug" being the most common hobbyist's device....

My next step might be to try the "off-grid" thing... not that the power
costs in NL are any concern, but more just for the experience of doing it.

I am happy to discuss with anyone interested... email me at this posting
address for a quicker reply!

David.

Corey

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Feb 14, 2011, 7:29:41 PM2/14/11

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Is there any on-board storage in this plug? What does the OS reside in? May be a nice replacement for my home server for that price and power consumption.

David

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Feb 23, 2011, 11:34:52 PM2/23/11

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Really sorry for the long delay for reply.

The pogoplug does have internal flash memory but it is pretty small... the
full linux kernel I have running required more space. I have a small 1GB
USB stick inserted which holds the core OS and applications. My OS with
application packages, compilers, web site files, etc is using about 800M
total. I did have to flash the internal memory to have a bootloader in
place, though... I will dig for the directions and post a link. Was pretty
easy to do.

I am exceptionally pleased with it so far... the only drawback is that the
device only has a 100Mb ethernet interface in it, I would prefer a 1Gb
interface to get full performance out of my home file sharing.

Cheers,

David.

"Corey" wrote in message
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David

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Feb 23, 2011, 11:48:30 PM2/23/11

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwPN7jp_A24

Not a bad video... and you can see, quick and easy.

Cheers,

David.

Corey

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Feb 25, 2011, 6:53:03 PM2/25/11

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This sounds pretty neat. I have a home "server" that's basically just running a small website, and a BNC for about 6 users, so I don't need a whole lot of space. Nothing is stored on it really because all my home media stuff is on an external drive that's attached to my HTPC in the living room. Right now, looking at my server, there's only 4GB in use, but I think a lot of that is from a bunch of websites I used to hvae hosted there that are now hosted elsewhere, and I just never cleaned it out.

I'll definitely have to look into this for space saving and cost saving. Thanks!

dkbg

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Feb 28, 2011, 12:13:00 AM2/28/11

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These types of plug servers could represent a useful tool in the
decentralisation of the Web and the Internet in general (see
http://www.freedomboxfoundation.org for a recently begun effort
towards that goal). Unfortunately, poorly designed and overly
proprietary models like the one you've gotten won't do any good in
moving towards that goal, since most people will be unaware of how to
install or maintain a more flexible system (or be completely unaware
of the problems with what they have).

It would be amazing for everyone connected to the Internet to
eventually have one of these in their homes running an open OS, along
with perhaps their social profile, an email forwarder for a custom
email address, encrypted storage accessible everywhere on the
Internet, or whatever services they might want. Providing the
awareness of benefits and the usable tools with which to accomplish
these things is the real obstacle.

David

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Mar 2, 2011, 9:06:13 PM3/2/11

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Here is a pic of the Plug computer alongside a 1TB USB HDD and my DSL
router... full home server room sitting on a dresser in a spare room...
not bad I figure.
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5884/1005433.jpg

Here is a closeup of the PogoPlug machine itself
http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/169/pogo.jpg

One nice thing is:

PogoPlug Server = 5W power
IOMEGA 1TB HDD = 16W max power (normally less than 2W when idle)
DSL Router = 12W max usage

If I run everything full out, non-stop, 24x7.... it will cost me about
$2.40 per month to operate. In reality, this setup is really costing me
about $1 per month.
A PC will drive upwards of Compare that to a standard PC server without a
monitor. It will run more like $10/month as a low estimate. I may pay for
the PogoPlug with one years power savings alone... lol.

Cheers!

David

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"Corey" wrote in message
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David

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Mar 8, 2011, 8:03:57 PM3/8/11

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I found a great new product that would interest people who would consider a
plug computer like I have....

http://www.globalscaletechnologies.com/c-5-dreamplugs.aspx

It is a "monster" of a plug machine... 2 gigabit ethernet, Wireless-G,
eSATA, audio-out, and more! Nice little rig, and only $149.

While many options are not important to me, a Gigabit ethernet connection
would be great... the eSATA connection may be useful (though a USB 3.0 port
would be better!)

Cheers!

----------------------------

"David" wrote in message news:4d569c98$0$4296$9a56...@news.aliant.net...