Custom project for my car

[Loki726]

I've been playing around with the idea of putting together a fileserver and mounting it in the trunk of my car for a while now. I've finally decided to go through with it, but I still need to work out the specifics.

I realize that this thing is going to be taking a ton of abuse so the focus here is going to be on durability and ease of replacement rather than performance.

The core os files are going to be on a flash card with an ide adapter. This will limit me to 256 or 512 mb for the os and critical programs. I have already decided that I will be running debian just cause I am more comfortable scripting in linux and this thing is going to need alot of custom scripts as well as a minimized kernel.

I want to limit the amount of add-in cards just because I don't want something getting jarred loose when I am driving so integrated sound and graphics are a must. I am planning on running the sound through the aux input on my headunit so the integrated sound can't be total crap.

Almost everything except the initial install is going to be done through ssh so video doesn't matter at all.

I am going to need a quality ups so I can run with the car off and not eat up my car battery.

Heat is going to be an issue since my trunk can get pretty freaking hot in the summer. At the same time, I don't want a huge heatsink that has alot of momentum during breaking and accelerating. I am probably going to underclock and undervolt.

Memory is going to be limited to 256mb at the max and probably more like 128.

I have no idea how well a hard drive will hold up in these conditions so I am going to try it out with a couple old 8gb pos's. If they make it 3-4 months I'll add something more substantial in raid1.

The case is going to be bolted directly to the base of my trunk so aesthetics don't matter at all.

I need recomendations for proc/mobo/case/ups/power supply/memory/optical storage/hsf/anything else you can think of. I'm open to any ideas, so just throw them out there. Price is not a big issue but I would like to keep it as cheap as possible in case something breaks/gets jacked.

 

[Greenman]

I saw the topic and thought, why? Then I read your post, and again thought, why? So now I'm asking you, why bother? Getting your goldfish a tattoo makes more sense.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Mini-itx or a Max mini.

 

[Loki726]

Originally posted by: Greenman
I saw the topic and thought, why? Then I read your post, and again thought, why? So now I'm asking you, why bother? Getting your goldfish a tattoo makes more sense.

So I can write "I have a SAMBA server in my trunk" on the back of my w00t shirt...

 

[cubby1223]

Look into an EPIA board, like an 800MHz Eden cpu or similar.

 

[Loki726]

Originally posted by: cubby1223
Look into an EPIA board, like an 800MHz Eden cpu or similar.

are edens x86 ?

 

[1336]

Yessir.

 

[corkyg]

As long as you don't live here in the desert Southwest, you should be OK. Here in Southern Arizona, temperatures in the trunk on a sunny day can reach well over 115 F on a sunny day. So, while you are at it, why not air condition your trunk? And, why not install solar power panels on the roof of the car and trunk to keep your UPS trickle charged?

 

[Silversierra]

You may want to vertical mount your hd so if you hit a speed bump/pothole/etc the hd doesn't get killed. It also might be a good idea to use rubber shock/iso mounts on the hd to cushion even more. Will you use it while driving though? I read that seagate hd's can take high shocks while non operating.

 

[Loki726]

Ok, so far

Processor/mobo/hsf: VIA EPIA-800 PLE133 VIA C3 800MHZ CPU
RAM: Crucial PC133 256mb
HD: cheapest pata I can find.
optical: cheapest dvd burner I can find


Still undecided on case/ups/powersupply. Has anyone had any luck with any particular mini-itx case? I have never had to use a ups before so I don't really know what I'm looking for. Keep in mind that the system will probably be less than 100W.

 

[CrispyFried]

For ups a cheapie would probably be best with the pounding it will take. If your rig only draws 100 w or so a 350 or 400 will give 2-3 hours. And youll want to rip the alarm out of whatever you get - most beep until you hit a button on them. Another reason to go cheap, youll obviously void the warrenty if you do that. Pretty sure the sealed lead battery that they use only have a finite number of discharge/charge cycles, like 500 (?)

I dont know if that epia mobo has temp sensors but if it does monitor them.

What will the display and input device be?

 

[ShadowBlade]

i would also like to know why
theres only one possible reason i can think of, and id need a massive wireless extender on my router to do it

 

[corkyg]

BTW - who's going to drive the car for you?

 

[CaptainKahuna]

Wait...is this just for playing MP3s to the stereo? If so, save some cash and buy a 40gb iPod and mount, more flexible and failsafe. If you'll be using it for something else please explain...

If the iPod isn't good enough for you (wasn't for me ) see mp3car.com forums, it's an INVALUABLE resource (actually for any type of car mounted PC).

 

[Loki726]

Ok alot of people have asked why I am doing this. Simple answer is for playing mp3's/movies while I'm driving as well holding maps, telephone directories and other things I might find useful when on the road. Also, it makes data synchronization alot easier ie every time I get a new mp3 or movie all I have to do is load it once on my main server and it will propogate everywhere else I need it.

Finally, there are some interesting "signal processing" applications that become availible when you combine mobility, processing power, and relatively large antennas...

Output will be one or eventually two lcd screens in the back. Input will be a standard keyboard in the trunk, ssh connections, and a keypad or something similar with some custom drivers for my dash for controlling media.

 

[tweeve2002]

Just use a laptop, better batteries, builtin LCD and sound, it would have everyting that a desktop has and you can still hook up a External LCD and keyborad and mouse.

Im thinking of doing a simmilar thing but Im just going to use a Laptop and store it in a modified glove box. mine is going to be mounted to a stand that will pull out so the passenger can use the laptop while the driving, but the stand can also rotate so the driver can have access while stoped. Sound will be hooked up though the stero and will have GPS running off USB and a Full Wireless set up.

 

[corkyg]

Got a nice 2005 Buick - and the in-dash CD player handles MP3 files perfectly. There is also a DVD player with screen for the rear area. Looks like all your desires are already in effect in newer cars.

I love the MP3 capability. As a result, I have burned several CDRs full of MP3 files - they last about 6-7 hours each! One disk a week in twon and one a day on trips.

 

[Loki726]

Originally posted by: tweeve2002
Just use a laptop, better batteries, builtin LCD and sound, it would have everyting that a desktop has and you can still hook up a External LCD and keyborad and mouse.

Im thinking of doing a simmilar thing but Im just going to use a Laptop and store it in a modified glove box. mine is going to be mounted to a stand that will pull out so the passenger can use the laptop while the driving, but the stand can also rotate so the driver can have access while stoped. Sound will be hooked up though the stero and will have GPS running off USB and a Full Wireless set up.

My main problem with a laptop is price. I can't find anything for under $600 and I really don't feel like spending that much unless I have to. Also laptop hard drives are notoriously expensive and lacking in capacity. I have about 200gb of media that I would like to be able to carry around with me.

 

[cubby1223]

Go here, they can help you out a lot more: http://www.mp3car.com/

 

[forrestroche]

Originally posted by: Greenman
I saw the topic and thought, why? Then I read your post, and again thought, why?

So typical of today's generation. JFK would have thought "trunk mounted server - why NOT?" What happened to America's spirit of adventure and innovation and "just because"? We outsourced it.

Kids at MIT walk around these days with servers mounted on their helmets. I don't see the problem.

 

[forrestroche]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Got a nice 2005 Buick - and the in-dash CD player handles MP3 files perfectly. There is also a DVD player with screen for the rear area. Looks like all your desires are already in effect in newer cars.

Who wants a newer car? I think there is only one car in which this project can be properly executed - a 1975 AMC Pacer see http://www.amcpacer.com/ if you are a Pacer noobie.

 

[forrestroche]

Originally posted by: Silversierra
You may want to vertical mount your hd so if you hit a speed bump/pothole/etc the hd doesn't get killed. It also might be a good idea to use rubber shock/iso mounts on the hd to cushion even more.

Would it be possible to "float" the hdd - that is, suspend it from bungee cords?