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What is the Development Cluster?
The Development Cluster, parts of which are also known as the Skiff Cluster
and the iPAQ Cluster, is a group of ARM-based systems that may be used by
anybody who wishes to do native developement/testing of Open Source Software
on the Linux armv4l architecture for handheld devices. Any other use of these
systems is strictly prohibited.
Why would I want to use the Cluster?
For native compiling, since it is many times easier to compile most
packages natively, instead of cross compiling.
Are there pictures of the Cluster?
Yes! We have a webcam aimed at the Cluster.
Click here to see it.
What kind of hardware platforms make up the Cluster?
The cluster is made up of several types of hardware platforms:
- Skiffs with 32MB DRAM, no local disk.
- Sharks with 32MB DRAM, no local disk.
- iPAQs with 10BaseT ethernet and the
following disk, processor, and memory configurations:
- 40G IDE disk, ARM SA1110 CPU, 64M DRAM (ipaq3 through ipaq7)
- 40G IDE disk, ARM SA1110 CPU, 128M DRAM (ipaq2)
- 5G IDE disk, Xscale PXA250 CPU, 64M DRAM (ipaq1)
Which software distributions are installed on the Cluster?
skiffcluster[1-4] and reefshark run Debian Linux 2.2.
skiffcluster[5-6] and tigershark run Red Hat Linux 6.1 with a few updated
RPMs.
The iPAQs run a snapshot of Intimate Linux. See the iPAQ Cluster Setup page for details on
the hardware and software setup of the iPAQs in the cluster.
Which system should I use in the Cluster?
At this time, I recommend that most users use the Skiffs or Sharks. Advanced users or
applications that require more than 26MB of DRAM for the building process
should use the iPAQs. ipaq1 may be useful for testing applications compiled
for the Xscale PXA architecture.
Please remember that applications compiled on the iPAQs,
MAY or MAY NOT execute on your iPAQ due to library mismatches.
How do I use the Cluster?
You can telnet with username "guest" and empty password to:
- skiffcluster[1-4].handhelds.org
- ipaq[1-7].handhelds.org
You are welcome to create a directory using your e-mail address in
/home/guest/homes/ to store your files. The /home and /usr/src/redhat
directories are nfs mounted on all of the Skiffs and
iPAQs. This allows you to save your work in the /home/guest directory
on any system and at a later time use the same files and path on a
different system.
To transfer files to/from these systems, please use scp to your
e-mail-address directory as user guest. For example,
'scp file.c guest@skiffcluster1.handhelds.org:/home/guest/homes/e-mail-address:file.c'.
If you are using a MicroSoft Windows based system you can get openssh for your
system by installing Cygwin.
To determine whether a system is busy, you can use 'netstat' to see
if there are other users connected to the machine or use 'top' to
determine the cpu usage.
If you should happen to crash one of the systems, please e-mail admin@handhelds.org. We will be
more than happy to reset the unit.
Individual user accounts are available on a project by project
basis. If you need or think you need an account, please e-mail admin@handhelds.org.
How long will my files stay in /home/guest/homes/?
Top-level directories in /home/guest/homes/ are removed when they contain no file
with ctime or atime newer than 6 months.
The 6-month threshold may be reduced without prior notice if disk space
runs short. However, directories deleted due to a reduced threshold will be
stored offline until their 6-month expiration date, so if you find that your
directory has gone missing prematurely, email admin@handhelds.org and we'll restore
it for you.
What should I do if I am having problems?
Please post any problems to
handhelds@handhelds.org.
What is an iPAQ?
What is a Shark?
What is a Skiff?
The Compaq Personal Server is a research prototype developed in Compaq's Cambridge Research
Laboratory in 1999, and was made available to certain research
groups external to Compaq.
- CPU - Digital (Intel) StrongARM SA110 processor (up to
233MHz)
- 32 MB of RAM and 32MB of flash
- Dual HOST PCMIA/Cardbus
- Serial and Dual OHCI USB
- 10 base T ethernet and Home PNA
- Daughter-card expansion
For more information, see the
Compaq CRL Web Page.
Questions?
Please post any questions to
handhelds@handhelds.org.
Have fun,
--George
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