Alternate OS for Snap 4x00

[Snort]

Is is possible to dump the SnapOS (Notice the last 3 letters are POS) and use something different?

Had anyone gotten FreeNAS or GuardianOS on them?

I would like to get past the 1T limit in some way.

TIA

[Snort]

Well slap my ass and call me Sally. (Don't really.)

http://oss.snapappliance.com/ Hosts the source code for GuardianOS. I love the GPL. I will have to download and play a bit.

Has anyone used this before? (Hope I don't hijack my own thread.)

[Snort]

Shortlived enthusiasm. 404s all around. Sigh.

[blue68f100]

The Guardian OS machines are a lot different than the Snap OS. There was it least 1 user that Installed FreeBSD on a 4400 or 4500. Just took a few minor tweeks.

Now the SnapOS units that are Flashram based are going to be next to impossiable. The 1100 and 2200 use a std boot loarder like a PC, So it may be doable. But you have limited ram and CPU power.

The SnapOS is built off a modified version of BSD, which only use a 24bit file system. The reason for the restriction. The 1100 and 2200 only have 64meg of ram. Where the Guardian OS units have a min of 256-512 if I recall. Guardian OS is running RedHat Linux. The early version were something else.

If you want to bust the 1T, you are going to need a Guardian OS unit like a 4500. Which will take 4 x 750gig drives in raid 5. I have tested mine with 400gig HD, no problems. Get a 4500 and add a S30 exp or a 15000 unit.

[Snort]

Alas, I am limited to a Snap 4000.

Can the com1 header on the motherboard be used? I imagine thats the best way to muck about with the OS directly.

[blue68f100]

You can try it, Snap had a tendency to disable unused hardware.

Good luck, let me know what you find.

[re3dyb0y]

Shame they wont release them for the snap OS

[kage]

Well to continue on this thought, I would just love to have a way how to set this(guardian 4400) up with some other OS as I just got one, no drives, no disks, and no software to go along with it.

All I know is that when we(co-workers, before I came on staff) used it before it worked. And now were looking for a way to get it working. Getting a new licence is not an option, so Installing some other OS on it would be great.

But there is another problem, no way to tell what I'm doing, I spent a good time today trying to read up on the 4400's and didn't find out much, it seems like you are able to swap out the card thats already in the box with a vga one(but I don't know where to get one), and your able to plug in a mouse and keyboard(easy enough). But there still is another problem, no cd drive. I guess there might be a way to do it over the eithernet, or something, but thats where I'm at a complete loss.

Does anyone know of anywhere that has how to install anything other than Guardian OS, and not just at some point someone did?

If anyone has anything more up to date on how to do this, it would be greatly appreciated.

oh and also, how would one connect using the serial port(other than just the cord)?
Kage

[blue68f100]

When your co harts removed the drives, also the OS. If they kept any of the drives you could salvage the OS. 1 drive out of an RAID5 Array will do the be a data breach.

But there is hope. You can install FreeNAS on the box. You need to change/disable the watchdog in the bios. You must install the freenas on a PC then move the HD to the 4400. The easy way is to use a nic that is in the PC. That way it will have the proper drivers. Do the initial setup in the pc. Then move it to the 4400 and see if it will boot.

I have a Dell 715N (Hallis) which is a 4400 with out the special dip chip identifying the Snap. I have not had time to load the FreeNAS. My first attempt many months ago, made me hunt for the correct driver for the builtin nic. Then have not had time to try agian. You would need to add video card if you wanted to watch the boot. Normally you would use a null modem cable and a ternimal program to monitor boot process.

If you have access to another Guardian OS unit you can have it transfer the OS to new HD. It's a simple process, and would save you a lot of time.

Some one has allready done this on a 4500. Search the forum for it.

[kage]

Blue68f100, Thank you very much for pointing that out to me, In my frustration, I looked over it.
Thanks for the help, I will get a chance to work on this again on Monday.

and I'm unfamiliar with the term, nic.. or I'm just losing it again.

Kage

[blue68f100]

nic = network card.