[SlimDevices: 3rd-party-hardware] Re: A look into the future with the QNAP

[roamingstudio]

Ok ongoing news... (cross posting sort of from the OpenTurbostation
Yahoo group previously announced)...

Firmware 1.3.0 is in testing and will be released as 2.0.0 sometime
(not sure when). If you want to play with the new release (minor
changes only) PM me or request details from Qnap. Apparently it does
work with SS from progressive. 

New U-Boot : U-Boot is the process which starts when you power on the
Qnap - and then sets up the linux image and starts all the servers.
U-Boot 1.6 is up and working for the Realtek network controller
versions of the TS101. The Intel version is taking a little longer - I
have limited time and there are issues with memory registers and mac
addresses... but it should be resolved soon. 

There will soon be the possability of installing Linux 2.6.12 kernel
into the firmware; and consequently any package you like. It may be
possible to also install the existing Qnap applications... but I
suspect no major news on this until after the christmas break (i.e.
when we all have time with our Qnap family). 

As to the Memory upgrade - now we can build customised U-Boot
configurations it should be possible to get it to initialise new memory
chips correctly. Something I am currently trying to address is whether
it is necessary to have 4x identical SDRAM chips; or whether it is
feasible to mix n match 2x and 2x. Once im happy with the process I
will update. Since I only have 1 chance with any memory upgrade it will
need to work straight away - no not at all (unless I buy another qnap).

Obviously once new firmware / software is installed all issues can be
safely addressed.


-- 
roamingstudio
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