off topic: CF -> IDE Where and which to buy?

[Joey Nelson]

Nicholas,

As an alternative to CF, I'm using PQI IDE Disk on Modules.  For PC/104
embedded systems that have the 2mm 44pin IDE connectors they plug right
in without needing an additional power wire.  40 pin versions require a
separate +5V power input.

Programming them takes a bit more ingenuity.  I found that you can buy
IDE -> USB2.0 enclosures that work under Linux just like the SDDR-31.
The one tricky part is connector gender is wrong and the pins are
flipped, so you have to take a 2mm IDE cable and put pin headers in both
ends to hook the DOMs to the IDE->USB2 perverter.  Once the target
system is up and running I update tend the DOM across the network, which
is good till I test a kernel that won't boot.

It's a good solution for me because I don't have to find a place to
mount the CF adapter board, and don't have the extra cable.

The DOM price is a bit more than CF at around $40.

Joey Nelson

-----Original Message-----
From: linuxbios-admin at clustermatic.org
[mailto:linuxbios-admin at clustermatic.org] On Behalf Of Nicholas Mistry
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 11:19 AM
To: linuxbios at clustermatic.org
Subject: Re: off topic: CF -> IDE Where and which to buy?

I too am am running the Imagemate (SDDR-31) USB -> CF adapter.  It is
great for development and debugging.  Used it many times when porting
linux to the Ipaq!   My only frustration is that i am unable to boot of
it.  Once the kernel is loaded i can mount the CF card and make it the
root filesystem, but that is about it.

What i am aiming to do is completely eliminate the harddrive in my
machine.  And swapping out the card is not something i will be doing
regularly.   I just want a reliable and inexpensive solution that gets
the
job done.

-N