Intel Atom 330

I've been running one of those newfangled Intel Atom 330 motherboards for a few weeks now and I'm happy to say I'm very pleased with it. It's currently running Ubuntu Hardy x86-64, server flavor. It's handling smtp, imap, and http for half a dozen domains. It's also handling mysql services and a couple of other odd jobs. My expectations were low but I've been pleasantly surprised.

For the uber geeks out there, here is a dmidecode output from the box:

# dmidecode 2.9
SMBIOS 2.4 present.
23 structures occupying 1122 bytes.
Table at 0x000E3590.

Handle 0x0000, DMI type 4, 35 bytes
Processor Information
Socket Designation: U1PR
Type: Central Processor
Family:
Manufacturer: Intel(R) Corporation
ID: C2 06 01 00 FF FB E9 BF
Version: Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU 330 @ 1.60GHz
Voltage: 1.6 V
External Clock: 133 MHz
Max Speed: 4000 MHz
Current Speed: 1600 MHz
Status: Populated, Enabled
Upgrade: Other
L1 Cache Handle: 0x0002
L2 Cache Handle: 0x0001
L3 Cache Handle: Not Provided
Serial Number: Not Specified
Asset Tag: Not Specified
Part Number: Not Specified

Handle 0x0001, DMI type 7, 19 bytes
Cache Information
Socket Designation: Unknown
Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 2
Operational Mode: Write Back
Location: Internal
Installed Size: 512 KB
Maximum Size: 512 KB
Supported SRAM Types:
Asynchronous
Installed SRAM Type: Asynchronous
Speed: Unknown
Error Correction Type: Single-bit ECC
System Type: Unified
Associativity: 8-way Set-associative

Handle 0x0002, DMI type 7, 19 bytes
Cache Information
Socket Designation: Unknown
Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 1
Operational Mode: Write Back
Location: Internal
Installed Size: 32 KB
Maximum Size: 32 KB
Supported SRAM Types:
Asynchronous
Installed SRAM Type: Asynchronous
Speed: Unknown
Error Correction Type: Single-bit ECC
System Type: Instruction
Associativity: 8-way Set-associative

Handle 0x0003, DMI type 0, 24 bytes
BIOS Information
Vendor: Intel Corp.
Version: LF94510J.86A.0099.2008.0731.0303
Release Date: 07/31/2008
Address: 0xF0000
Runtime Size: 64 kB
ROM Size: 512 kB
Characteristics:
PCI is supported
BIOS is upgradeable
BIOS shadowing is allowed
Boot from CD is supported
Selectable boot is supported
EDD is supported
8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h)
Serial services are supported (int 14h)
Printer services are supported (int 17h)
CGA/mono video services are supported (int 10h)
ACPI is supported
USB legacy is supported
ATAPI Zip drive boot is supported
BIOS boot specification is supported
Function key-initiated network boot is supported
Targeted content distribution is supported
BIOS Revision: 0.0
Firmware Revision: 0.0

Handle 0x0004, DMI type 1, 27 bytes
System Information
Manufacturer:
Product Name:
Version:
Serial Number:
UUID: 1948DF34-6FAA-11DD-9AB8-00112550A0B2
Wake-up Type: Power Switch
SKU Number: Not Specified
Family: Not Specified

Handle 0x0005, DMI type 2, 20 bytes
Base Board Information
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Product Name: D945GCLF2
Version: AAE46416-101
Serial Number: AZLS83400AR9
Asset Tag: Base Board Asset Tag
Features:
Board is a hosting board
Board is replaceable
Location In Chassis: Base Board Chassis Location
Chassis Handle: 0x0006
Type: Unknown
Contained Object Handles: 0

Handle 0x0006, DMI type 3, 17 bytes
Chassis Information
Manufacturer:
Type: Desktop
Lock: Not Present
Version:
Serial Number:
Asset Tag:
Boot-up State: Safe
Power Supply State: Safe
Thermal State: Other
Security Status: Other
OEM Information: 0x00000000

Handle 0x0007, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: PRIMARY
Internal Connector Type: On Board IDE
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: None
Port Type: Other

Handle 0x0008, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: SECONDARY
Internal Connector Type: On Board IDE
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: None
Port Type: Other

Handle 0x0009, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: ATX_PWR
Internal Connector Type: Other
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: None
Port Type: Other

Handle 0x000A, DMI type 9, 13 bytes
System Slot Information
Designation: PCI SLOT 1
Type: 32-bit PCI
Current Usage: Available
Length: Long
ID: 1
Characteristics:
3.3 V is provided
PME signal is supported
SMBus signal is supported

Handle 0x000B, DMI type 10, 6 bytes
On Board Device Information
Type: Video
Status: Enabled
Description: Intel(R) Extreme Graphics 3 Controller

Handle 0x000C, DMI type 10, 6 bytes
On Board Device Information
Type: Ethernet
Status: Enabled
Description: Realtek RTL8102E Ethernet Device

Handle 0x000D, DMI type 10, 6 bytes
On Board Device Information
Type: Sound
Status: Enabled
Description: Intel(R) High Definition Audio Device

Handle 0x000E, DMI type 13, 22 bytes
BIOS Language Information
Installable Languages: 1
enUS
Currently Installed Language: enUS

Handle 0x000F, DMI type 32, 20 bytes
System Boot Information
Status: No errors detected

Handle 0x0010, DMI type 16, 15 bytes
Physical Memory Array
Location: System Board Or Motherboard
Use: System Memory
Error Correction Type: None
Maximum Capacity: 2 GB
Error Information Handle: Not Provided
Number Of Devices: 1

Handle 0x0011, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
Memory Device
Array Handle: 0x0010
Error Information Handle: Not Provided
Total Width: 64 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 1024 MB
Form Factor: DIMM
Set: None
Locator: J1MY
Bank Locator: CHAN A DIMM 0
Type: DDR2
Type Detail: Synchronous
Speed: 533 MHz (1.9 ns)
Manufacturer: 0x7F7F7F7F7FF70000
Serial Number: 0x00000000
Asset Tag: Unknown
Part Number: 0x000046363432385535324535363637460000

Handle 0x0012, DMI type 20, 19 bytes
Memory Device Mapped Address
Starting Address: 0x00000000000
Ending Address: 0x0003FFFFFFF
Range Size: 1 GB
Physical Device Handle: 0x0011
Memory Array Mapped Address Handle: 0x0013
Partition Row Position: 1

Handle 0x0013, DMI type 19, 15 bytes
Memory Array Mapped Address
Starting Address: 0x00000000000
Ending Address: 0x0003FFFFFFF
Range Size: 1 GB
Physical Array Handle: 0x0010
Partition Width: 0

Handle 0x0014, DMI type 187, 9 bytes
OEM-specific Type
Header and Data:
BB 09 14 00 11 00 03 9B 02

Handle 0x0015, DMI type 136, 6 bytes
OEM-specific Type
Header and Data:
88 06 15 00 5A 5A

Handle 0xFEFF, DMI type 127, 4 bytes
End Of Table

I'll be writing more on this later.

Endorsement for NC Lt. Governor

Though I'm registered as a Republican, I've always just voted for the right man or woman for the job.

Today I learned that an old friend of mine, Phillip Rhodes, is going to be on the ballot this year for Lt. Governor of North Carolina as the official candidate of the Libertarian Party.

I've known Phillip for about ten years now, and can attest that in all of that time he has impressed me as a man of steady character, demonstrating unwavering passion for his principles, and dedication to the objective of individual liberties.

Phillip is a native son of North Carolina, and has served his local community as a volunteer fire fighter. He grew up down east and made his home here in the Triangle.

If you're a voter in North Carolina, I would appreciate if you took a few minutes to peruse Phillip's web site to see how he proposes to improve your quality of living and restore your personal liberties if elected.

Elinchrom Skyports: Picking Nits

I've been using a set of Elinchrom Skyport radio triggers for my flash for a little over a week now.

They work fine and have a decent enough range. I can't fault them for that.

But I do have some issues that make me say "WTF" about them. Hopefully someone at Elinchrom will take these into consideration.

1) Consistency. The transmitter and receiver have similar housings but much of the rest is different.
2) Charging / battery - The transmitter has a replaceable non-chargeable battery. The receiver has a rechargeable but non-replaceable battery. This is shear lunacy. I'd prefer to go one way or the other, but this goes back to point number 1; whatever you do, make it consistent for both the transmitter and the receiver.
3) Power button vs. power switch. The power button on the receiver is retarded. It is too easy to accidentally turn it on or off. Use a micro-switch, like what is on the transmitter. This gets back to point number 1, also; consistency!

I think they could revise their products to make them more consistent, thus using more common components between the transmitter and receiver, thus saving some money in the manufacturing process. Us customers would probably be happier, too.

Profound Truths of the BOFH

"To every complex question there is a simple, but incorrect, answer." -- mrx

Wisdom like that is known by every good BOFH, but it takes a special sort like Gary to distill it down so perfectly for us.