Re: [cobalt-developers] Alternative BOOT method (GRUB)

[Matthew Nuzum <newz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, 2001-12-28 at 17:26, Paul wrote:
    Matthew,
    
    Thanks you for your reply. Have you used updated the ROM on any
    machines.  I'm just being paranoid about all the things that could go
    wrong in this work.
    
    I am (re)considering updating the ROM if I can find a couple of people
    who have said that they have done it without any problems.
    
    Paul
No, I've never updated a Raq that way.  Send me $600 and I'll give it a try 
though.  :-)

Reconsidering this is a good idea.  The cobalt appliances are very good
at what they do (IMHO).  If you start to need something more, then I
feel it's better to get the right tool for the job.  If you're a Sun
fan, maybe the Netra X1 is a good fit for your application.  It goes for
under $1,000 US and has nearly the same form factor.

If you want to stay with the x86 processor, there are numerous companies
chasing after a piece of Cobalt's market.  I'll bet you can find a
refurb dell or a non-name brand server that uses commodity parts that
are easier to replace.

If you need a cobalt, check ebay.  I just got a Raq3 for $600 US and
there are plenty more.  Then, if you fry it, you're not out the $1,500 -
$2,000 US that a used Raq 4 goes for.  (Sorry, don't know the conversion
to AU $$, so all figures are probably meaningless to you)

I've never used GRUB; I don't really know much about it at all.  I just
know that generally, you shouldn't update ROM BIOS unless you really
need to, and then know that you could be out a shiney Cobalt server if
it goes awry.

Matt Nuzum