>Hm...  Yes space is a requirement.  I'm trying to make an embedded
>system with a really small footprint.  I chose to get the integrated
>processor because it was much cheaper to do it that way and I knew i'd
>never be upgrading it.... i'd just toss the whole thing if it gets out
>of date.
>
>Specifially my requirements are a microatx board with 3 or 4 pci slots,
>an integrated LAN on the motherboard, and it must run either Via C3 or
>celeron.  Something powerful but conserves power at the same time..
>this is an embedded system.  I'm wondering if it would be better if i
>ordered this $79 motherboard with SiS chipsets on it instead:
>http://www.ecs.com.tw/products/p6vem3_3x.htm   
>SiS seems to be pretty good from what i've heard.  I just don't know
>about NetBSD support.

I've had problems with SiS chipsets also... See if you can find something 
with ADM or Intel if you want power and stability

>Another option I was thinking of was to try to get FreeBSD running on
>this system, then start replacing some of the memory code that netbsd
>has with freebsd code..  (yes I know this has to be very carefully
>done).
>
>Any other suggestions are welcome and if you know any kernel hackers
>that could help explain more to me whats going on would be much
>appreciated..  I'm not giving up very easily..  I'll go through the
>kernel memory parts line by line if i have to.
>
>Greg

I know an embedded dude, but he works almost exclusively in linux... I can 
send him a message to ask him to contct you for hardware pointers if he 
has time...

>
>
>On Thu, Nov 14, 2002 at 10:57:10AM -0500, Keith Mastin wrote:
>
>> ...nothing off the top of my head, but I do know from experience that just 
>> about any board with integrated devices have turned into bigger headaches 
>> and cost more time and money in configuring them for anything but windoh$ 
>> than they are worth. Best to check the supported hardware list, and if you 
>> are going to the store with a fistful of $$, try a bare board and add on 
>> the devices you need through expansion cards, as you have a better chance 
>> of getting true hardware (as opposed to "assisted") than with an 
>> integrated board.
>> 
>> My understanding is you have a baby-atx board... is physical space a 
>> limitation? A 1U or 2U case, for example?
>> 
>> IMHO, getting a kernel hack for this chipset is not a real option, unless 
>> the coders have nothing else really pressing to do at the moment.
>> 
>