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From: karn@ka9q.bellcore.com (Phil Karn)
Newsgroups: comp.os.cpm,rec.ham-radio.packet
Subject: Re: CP/M sofware for packet radio and TCP/IP
Message-ID: <21973@bellcore.bellcore.com>
Date: 11 Apr 90 08:23:10 GMT
References: <1798@aurora.AthabascaU.CA> <21863@bellcore.bellcore.com> <1310@swbatl.sbc.com> <10080@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>
Sender: news@bellcore.bellcore.com
Reply-To: karn@ka9q.bellcore.com (Phil Karn)
Organization: Secular Humanists for No-Code
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In article <10080@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> payne@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu (Andrew Payne) writes:
>	This item joggled my memory about a question I've been meaning to 
>ask for a while.  What's the smallest PC system configuration you can get 
>away with?  I had in mind:  motherboard, drive controller, drive, power 
>supply, and any necessary packet I/O boards.  No display card, display, 
>keyboard.
>	Motivation being setting up a dedicated packet switch.  It sure
>would be cheaper than outfitting a full system and would be less power
>hungry.

I'm doing exactly this right here. I have a stripped XT that runs my code as
a dedicated IP gateway between my shack Ethernet and a 220.55 MHz 56kb
packet channel. It consists of a case, power supply, XT motherboard, single
360K floppy drive, Ethernet interface and DRSI PCPA card (to talk to the
modem). When I turn it on, it boots automatically. I leave it on 24
hours/day. I can't remember what all the parts cost, but just go to one of
the PC computer shows and you can certainly price a comparable system very
quickly.

>	I know my BIOS would balk right away at no display and keyboard, but
>I was wondering if anyone had tried such a configuration?

My BIOS doesn't balk, as long as I set up the config switches properly. My
system does have a display adaptor, monitor and keyboard mainly because I
already had them sitting around, but the system will run just fine if I
disconnect them.

Phil