New device - best supported by mainline kernel?

[shankargopal]

Hi all

I've benefited greatly from the work the ALARM folks have done and am grateful. Until now I've been working on getting a Pogoplug Pro to work for our uses, but due to the fact that it's not supported by the mainline kernel, there are repeated problems - WarheadSE is working on fixing the biggest one, which is the lack of kernel modules.

But we recently came across a donor who is willing to get us another device. After the Pro experience it seems best that this should be one of the devices supported byt he mainline kernel, since it will be hooked up to a USB cable to a mobile phone, and possibly to a bluetooth dongle as well. Also, it needs a case etc. Which would be the best device with these constraints? It seems like there are two options:

* Go Flex Net
* SheevaPlug

But I wonder what others think. Price is also a problem.

Thanks a lot!

[kmihelich]

For mainline support in a plug computer, you're best off with a Kirkwood device like the two you mentioned. The best option would probably be an eSATA Sheevaplug or Guruplug, since that gives you SATA connectivity and more of the only real thing that differentiates models: RAM. The GoFlex Net has 128MB, Sheevas carry 512MB. If SATA doesn't matter, then a regular Sheeva is fine. Our Kirkwood support has been pretty finely honed over the years so things work great on that platform.

[shankargopal]

Thanks kmihelich for the advice. I was also leaning towards the Sheeva Plug, or possibly the guru plug (they seem to be the same price??), but there have been reports of the latter overheating. What is your view of the Pogoplug Series 4? I know you've done a lot of work on that. I only ask because there are a few discounts available (when dollars are converted into our currency (Indian rupees), even $15 is significant ).

[kmihelich]

The PPv4 is a significantly underpowered Kirkwood variant. I wouldn't consider it. You could probably find a GoFlex Net cheap, which is the normal Kirkwood processor with only 128MB RAM.

[WarheadsSE]

Lol.. and they haven't tried to actually *use* the hardware, just fiddle with the pogoplug software!