Subj : "general computer" vs "dedicated router hardware"
To   : Bj”rn Felten
From : Michiel van der Vlist
Date : Fri Jun 24 2011 15:31:41

Hello Bj”rn,

On Thursday June 23 2011 12:43, you wrote to me:

 MvdV>> Pity. It looked like a good idea....

 BF>    Indeed it did. I still keep an eye on it (and other similar
 BF> projects), hoping it will evolve to something really useful.

The project seems to have come to a halt for now....

 MvdV>> A linksys with DD-WRT *is* a dedicated real computer. As I
 MvdV>> found out to my surprise...

 BF>    I knew it was running linux, but it's still a dedicated system,
 BF> that's still not a "real" computer -- one with I/O (keyboard,
 BF> display), mass storage and so on.

In the old days, having to hook up a discrete terminal - like an ASR33 - did not disqualify equipment from being called "a computer". The dd-wrt routers have a processing unit, they have I/O, and they have mass storage (flash rom) It has a file system running. Yes, to make use of it, you have to hook up a "terminal". (Putty)

 BF>    It may not be as limited as my first design, based on 6802 -- with
 BF> 128 byte RAM and an EPROM with 32Mb -- but it's still a dedicated
 BF> system.

It is a dedicated system in the sense that it is on used for one purpose: routing packets. But there is nothing stopping you from letting it do something else. Running an VOIP telephone exchange for example. Now what was the name of that programme... I saw it running in a demo by Kees van Eeten. Ah, yes, i remember now: Asterisk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterisk_(PBX)

 BF>    But let's not argue about that, it will not let us move on in our
 BF> attempts to achieve true IPv6 functionality.  8-)

Indeed, let's not argue about what's a "real computer" and what is not. Although the "general computer" vs "dedicated router hardware" may lead to an interesting discussion.


Cheers, Michiel

--- GoldED+/W32-MINGW 1.1.5-b20070503
 * Origin: 2001:470:1f15:1117::1 (2:280/5555)

.