An alternative to using a KVM switch is to use VNC software, such as TightVNC. It allows you to control multiple computers from a single computer over the network. This helps cut down on the needed hardware but you'll use up network bandwidth and some possibly some processor power to run the VNC client/server.

ok thats kool i got that,
i cant find a name of the motherboard
it has a
sis 950 chip

GFXcel pc133 gold thingy on it, cpu size heatsink

amibios AF45 0454
on it

Looks like it might be a PCCHIPS motherboard:

Google for GFXcel

Usually you can track it down from the code number which appears at the bottom of the first POST screen at boot time, but you have to pause the screen before it disappears (not always an easy task).

Alinator

oh boy i was looking for the spare keyboard, and i found one of daddies old books,
European Scrambling systems, circuits tactics and techniques.

what a boring thing to read

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I AM NOT FAT! I AM BIG-BONED!

oh boy i was looking for the spare keyboard, and i found one of daddies old books,
European Scrambling systems, circuits tactics and techniques.

what a boring thing to read

LOL, not if you're a spy! :-)

Alinator

i have a graphics card that will fit in it, and i think it has one built in, there is a gold cpu sized chip/heatsink with GFXcel on it.

You might want to consider running it with a stripped-down version of linux, command line. That way you could connect to the serial port, and no need for graphics. Also, it would free up a bunch of CPU cycles, not having to run a GUI OS.

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Dublin, California
Team: SETI.USA

oh boy i was looking for the spare keyboard, and i found one of daddies old books,
European Scrambling systems, circuits tactics and techniques.

what a boring thing to read

LOL, not if you're a spy! :-)

Alinator

well he was a NATO Diplomat but this is about saterlite TV and cable TV and hackers. the page marked has this in it:
"The disinformation and infiltration operative must know how to cultivate contacts and to shape their thought processes. Given the unpredictability of the average person, this would seem difficult."...

lots of pics to look at if you can read them, lol lots of chips and CB's and stuff.

who would sell a book thats just plain black, nothing on it but the title, no pic or anything, just jet black front and back.

and i wouldn't pay $60 for it,i would want a nice pic on the cover for that price.

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I AM NOT FAT! I AM BIG-BONED!

i have a graphics card that will fit in it, and i think it has one built in, there is a gold cpu sized chip/heatsink with GFXcel on it.

You might want to consider running it with a stripped-down version of linux, command line. That way you could connect to the serial port, and no need for graphics. Also, it would free up a bunch of CPU cycles, not having to run a GUI OS.

i have never used anything but windows, i have a boot cd of something called kopinix or something like that, i think you just put it in the cd and it loads/boots up from the cd, and then it's gone when you shut down, but i dont know how to use it, i tried it once and couldnt get past the 2nd page.

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I AM NOT FAT! I AM BIG-BONED!

An alternative to using a KVM switch is to use VNC software, such as TightVNC. It allows you to control multiple computers from a single computer over the network. This helps cut down on the needed hardware but you'll use up network bandwidth and some possibly some processor power to run the VNC client/server.

ok thats kool i got that,
i cant find a name of the motherboard
it has a
sis 950 chip

GFXcel pc133 gold thingy on it, cpu size heatsink

amibios AF45 0454
on it

I also use TightVNC for one of my old hosts, don't forget to set it to launch on startup like I did the first time.

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i have a graphics card that will fit in it, and i think it has one built in, there is a gold cpu sized chip/heatsink with GFXcel on it.

You might want to consider running it with a stripped-down version of linux, command line. That way you could connect to the serial port, and no need for graphics. Also, it would free up a bunch of CPU cycles, not having to run a GUI OS.

i have never used anything but windows, i have a boot cd of something called kopinix or something like that, i think you just put it in the cd and it loads/boots up from the cd, and then it's gone when you shut down, but i dont know how to use it, i tried it once and couldnt get past the 2nd page.

I know a couple of people from other boards who use Knoppix.

I have read through the thread, from what I read your hardware is kind of old and the drivers on the Knoppix cd might not support what you have. I would just load up Win. 95 or Win. 98 and run Boinc.

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An alternative to using a KVM switch is to use VNC software, such as TightVNC. It allows you to control multiple computers from a single computer over the network. This helps cut down on the needed hardware but you'll use up network bandwidth and some possibly some processor power to run the VNC client/server.

ok thats kool i got that,
i cant find a name of the motherboard
it has a
sis 950 chip

GFXcel pc133 gold thingy on it, cpu size heatsink

amibios AF45 0454
on it

I also use TightVNC for one of my old hosts, don't forget to set it to launch on startup like I did the first time.

well i just turned it on to make sure it powers up still, and yup yup all worked, i have to wait a bit to get my screen for it, i have downloads going.
but thanx for all your help guys, you're stars.
sammie xXx

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I AM NOT FAT! I AM BIG-BONED!

whats one of them and what does it do?

If you're looking for simple, KVM is the way to go. VNC will probably not be easily done on your own, if even possible on win95/8. A good cheap, 2 computer KVM costs $17, and requires no technical knowledge.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817399002

My only warning would be about the little monkey on your back. A 2-way KVM may sound like the cheap and final solution now...

Let me give you a personal example. I started out with a two-way, then got a third computer, so bought a 4 way...then a second 4-way with my 5th computer... I now have 3 4-ways going into a 4-way video switch with 3 KB and mice. It would have been much cheaper and way more compact to get a 12+way KVM to start with.

That little monkey can grow very big....

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Dublin, California
Team: SETI.USA

Oh yeah, about the OS. FYI, Microsquish has stopped providing security updates for Win98 or earlier. And there are some well-known security flaws with Win98 that have never been patched. So if you insist on running Win95/8/Me, then make sure you are running those crunchers behind a NAT router (not the same as your cable-modem). Almost all modern routers are NAT. Also, Don't use that machine for browsing anything except for uploading the BOINC client. Go directly there and no side trips!

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Dublin, California
Team: SETI.USA

Oh yeah, about the OS. FYI, Microsquish has stopped providing security updates for Win98 or earlier. And there are some well-known security flaws with Win98 that have never been patched. So if you insist on running Win95/8/Me, then make sure you are running those crunchers behind a NAT router (not the same as your cable-modem). Almost all modern routers are NAT. Also, Don't use that machine for browsing anything except for uploading the BOINC client. Go directly there and no side trips!

well i have 3 old pc's between 450 and 900mhz, and they would only be used for seti, nothing more, or uploading to my server, i need to see if the issue i have is an xp sp2 issue or AMD issue. when i FTP to the server.

but thanx

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I AM NOT FAT! I AM BIG-BONED!

Well if you want to run multiple PC's and only have one monitor get a KVM switch, I use one and love it.

That being said the largest I have ever seen supported 8 computers on one moniter, not sure how much it cost but I got mine for 20 bucks and it switches audio, video, keyboard and mouse to each computer.

Doh, sorry posted about a KVM right after someone else did....

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Well if you want to run multiple PC's and only have one monitor get a KVM switch, I use one and love it.

That being said the largest I have ever seen supported 8 computers on one moniter, not sure how much it cost but I got mine for 20 bucks and it switches audio, video, keyboard and mouse to each computer.

Doh, sorry posted about a KVM right after someone else did....

sounds fun, i'll look int the store today, if it stops raining that is.

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I AM NOT FAT! I AM BIG-BONED!

That being said the largest I have ever seen supported 8 computers on one moniter, not sure how much it cost but I got mine for 20 bucks and it switches audio, video, keyboard and mouse to each computer.

You can get one on newegg that suports 16 machines for only about $150.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817107211

The *real* cost kicks in above the 4-way switches. It's the razor & blades model. They have a cheap box, but the cables are expensive.

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Dublin, California
Team: SETI.USA

That being said the largest I have ever seen supported 8 computers on one moniter, not sure how much it cost but I got mine for 20 bucks and it switches audio, video, keyboard and mouse to each computer.

You can get one on newegg that suports 16 machines for only about $150.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817107211

The *real* cost kicks in above the 4-way switches. It's the razor & blades model. They have a cheap box, but the cables are expensive.

i will only need to add 2 old pc's they 3rd will be picked for parts lol

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I AM NOT FAT! I AM BIG-BONED!

can i link them together somehow? and use both cpu's on the old pc? to run nothing but seti?

glad of any imput you guys have.

Your questions were already answered well... I built a number of dual-P3's many years ago, so I'm just throwing out ideas...

No, two CPU's won't work on that board. Its not an SMP board. Build 2 PC's.

Get the brand and model number of both of those boards. BIOS, board itself, or even "CPU-Z" will tell you.

Get some reference material for the boards. The manufacturers should still have a PDF for them.

Check to see if the SL1-only board supports voltages for Coppermine P3's. Manual should tell you, CPU-Z may, or if you look on the board and can find the voltage regulator (and its a Harris chip), it will end in "BCB". Early P3 boards that had a Harris VR, that ended in "BC" only supported Katmai. (Many of the P3 boards used the Harris VR.) The SL1/370 board should be fine.

If it supports Coppermine, you can "probably" take it above 800Mhz.

Get some new CPU's for them. You can get them cheap enough that it would be well worth it. I'd probably aim for 850Mhz with the SL1 board and 1Ghz with the 370-capable board. 370 socket CPU's will be easier, and cheaper, to find than SL1. (They aren't actually all that different, electronically. The SL1 is on a card because the cache was put on different chips, while the 370 has the cache stamped right into the die of the CPU. In fact, there are "slockets" that allow you to use a 370 CPU on a SL1 port.)

You are going to have to research a bit as each board has its own particulars. Take what I wrote above in general terms. For as cheap as you can probably "double" each of your old P3 speeds, I'd say it would be worth it though. Probably get both CPU's for less than $50.

Running headless (no keyboard, mouse): Check the BIOS to see if it has this option. I'm going to say that it probably doesn't though. These boards are probably '99 and '00ish, and generally only server boards had this option then.

KVM would work, but if you don't want to have them all in close proximity of each other (or don't plan to be switching between them), just get some cheap used keyboard and mice. I saw used keyboards going for $2 at a local Microcenter. Rip out the logic board of the keyboard, plug it into the PS2, and just chuck it inside the case. Its now a standalone headless device that doesn't whine about no keyboard on boot.

OS is your call. Whatever you like and are comfortable with. If you use GNU/Linux or FreeBSD, you could do a whole range of other things with them, besides crunching SETI, that wouldn't take up much overhead. Dual purpose them to something that gives you something beneficial. I.e., maybe an email gateway for your LAN (goes out and fetchmail's all your POP3 email on a schedule, procmails them). With Apache (httpd) and a web email interface, you could integrate it all together. I have an old P3 doing just this. Nice to be able to get to all my emails, from anywhere in public, over the web. It also runs BoincPHP, allowing me to control all my Boincs from anywhere. Be sure to stay on top of security concerns though, especially when running a sendmail that is open to the outside world. Thats just one idea. Grab into the hat for more: firewalls, proxies, captive portals, file servers, whatever you want...

Controlling remotely.. Easy with Boinc. Just point your Boinc Manager to those computers. If you use Windows, BoincView is great of course. Interacting with OS... Linux and FreeBSD, SSH of course. If you want to interact with the GUI from Windows, there are free Windows XServers. Windows, VNC is free and will work fine. Or, depending on your morals, you can, uhm, "aquire" a better Windows OS that hosts Remote Desktop ("Terminal Services")...

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It's a little box that lets two or more PC's share the same keyboard, monitor, and mouse. Pretty handy little gadgets, but can be pricey when new. Usually you can get a good deal on one on eBay for the two and four port jobs.

One thing I should have mentioned was you may have to set the BIOS to ignore POST problems like no keyboard, no video adapter, etc. if you have to swap them back to your main box after setting up the old timer, but that's not usually a big deal either.

Alinator

Will Windows actually start without a graphics card? That could come handy :o)


Regards Hans

Windows XP pro does. that was until the PSU died, on a ten $ computer that only does a WU in 22 hours i did not need to go buy a new one, but windows did work. i was running real VNC to it.

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lots to think about then, thanx guys, i'll ask if i get stuck on something.
you're all stars
sammie xXx

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I AM NOT FAT! I AM BIG-BONED!

You might be able to upgrade the slot 1 to a 1.4ghz Celeron. That is wat I have running in one of my old slot 1 systems. The 1.4 Ghz Celereon which is based on the P3 architecture, is equal to about a 2.8Gh P4.

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