This new desktop computer is compatible with eComStation. It features an Intel Core i3 processor.
This section documents what I did to get this computer to work under eComStation. It is intended to show what goes into this computer, and also as a guide to the user who wants to build it himself.
I ordered the parts from NewEgg.
I installed eCS 2.2 beta 2 (Dec 30, 2013) on two bootable volumes, H: and N:. The H: drive has my server-H installation with SAMBA server included. The N: installation has the traditional IBM NETBIOS and NetBIOS over TCP/IP networking from the IBM File and Print Client.
On each eComStation installation, I replace the ndpsmb.dll to prevent damage to my SAMBA server files. Then I save the installations in the eCS22 directory. If you want the bare eCS installation, this is what you get.
During the installation, I plug the usb mouse/keyboard into front slot. Once the Arca Noae USB drivers are installed, the USB mouse/keyboard may be plugged in any slot.
To set screen resolution, run panset.cmd
Test DOS window, it doesn't work with any known tweak.
For sound, copy set_vol.cmd to \mmos2 and create an object in the startup folder.
backup to eCS-N or eCS-H in eCS22 directory
install Suntan Special
run tobopeep.seq
install only Arca Noae USB driver (I ran into serious problems (an IPE) with the other that I did not resolve.)
test features of each installation.
backup installations to Factory directory
make bootable DVD, operating system DVD
The VGA display to my monitor works after this:
PanoUtil -e 16200,1920,1200,560,50,48,32,3,6This command is issued by panset.cmd, which is included.
The computer is set up to connect to the Internet via ethernet cable. The network interface has been set up to configure automatically using DHCP.
The USB 2.0 ports support keyboards, mice, scanners, thumb drives, cameras, MP3 players, external hard drives, floppies and CD Writers. The normal OS/2 restrictions about DASD devices apply, so devices may need to be wiped and reformatted before use.
The DVD drive can read and write DVD and CD media.
I use Suntan Special to install the software on all Blonde Guy computers. Suntan Special software can be used to install all updates to the system and its applications and to install additional applications. When newer versions of software are released, Suntan Special can keep your Blonde Guy computer up to date.
The recovery DVD supplied is a bootable eComStation DVD with a backup of the hard drive as delivered. You can boot the machine from DVD, and perform maintenance functions. The maintenance folder is available on the recovery DVD. The factory backup is stored in the \image\Factory directory. The backups are simple zip files. You can use unzip to extract some or all of the files in a backup.
DFSee is a generic disk, partition and filesystem utility for maintenance and data-recovery. It supports partition tables (FDISK, LVM), FAT, FAT32, HPFS, NTFS, and partly JFS, EXT2/3 or REISER filesystems. DFSee is commercial software which requires a license key for continued use.
Height: 8.3 inches
Width: 10.5 inches
Depth: 15.5 inches
Weight: 28 lbs
Power consumption is 88 Watts, measured with the computer booted to the desktop. Turning off one CPU lowers consumption to 78 Watts. This computer also consumes 2 Watts if it's plugged in, but switched off.
The disk is partitioned to provide two bootable partitions, one for use as a server and including SAMBA server, and the other is set up for as a tradtional NetBIOS networking using the IBM File and Print client. User data is stored on a separate volume.
The Air-Boot boot manager is installed to select the volume to be booted.
This is the layout for the 500 GB hard drive. The remaining space is free.
| Volume Name | Disk Format | Drive Letter | Volume Size | Disk Name | eCS-N | JFS | N: | 10,001 MB | Momentus | server-H | JFS | H: | 10,001 MB | Momentus |
eComStation 2.2 beta 2 (Dec 30) is the version used for this installation. This is the output of the version command.
For the server-H volume:
Installed Component Name Version Service Level Drive ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Serenity Systems eComStation 2.2 XR0C007 H: . Base Operating System 4.52 XR0C007 H: . Base Device Drivers 4.52 XR0D003 H: . Base Networking (MPTS) 6.01 WR08708 H: . Internet Applications (TCP/IP) 4.32 UN02334 H:
For the eCS-N volume:
Installed Component Name Version Service Level Drive
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Serenity Systems eComStation 2.2 XR0C007 N:
. Base Operating System 4.52 XR0C007 N:
. Base Device Drivers 4.52 XR0D003 N:
. Base Networking (MPTS) 6.01 WR08708 N:
. Internet Applications (TCP/IP) 4.32 UN02334 N:
. File and Printer Sharing (Peer) 5.2 IP08608 N:
. LAN Requester 5.2 IP08608 N:
. User Profile Management 5.2 WR08608 N:
This table reports the SysBench 0.9.5 benchmarks for this computer. You can download SysBench 0.9.5 here: http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/
| Category | Measurement |
|---|---|
| PM-Graphics-marks | 135 |
| CPU integer-marks | 5961 |
| CPU floating point-marks | 406 |
| DIVE-marks | 3888 |
| File I/O-marks | 64284 |
| Memory-marks | 15156 |
| Simultaneous I/O-marks | 37 |
To buy this computer, fill out an order form and submit it to Blonde Guy. Blonde Guy will review your order and send you an invoice, payable using PayPal or any major credit card. If you prefer to pay by check, note that in the notes field of the order form, and I will e-mail you an invoice payable by check.
If you have questions, you may enter them in the notes portion of the order form.
The final price of the computer depends on tax, shipping and options.
An order for the computer is for the hardware as descibed on this page and for the software licenses.
| Product | License | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| eComStation | Business | $290 |
| Home and Student | $145 | |
| User's own copy | $0 | |
| Arca Noae OS/2 & eCS drivers and software package | Commercial | $79 |
| Personal | $49 | |
| User's own copy | $0 |
The eComStation License is available three ways. For a business, the full license is required. For most other uses, a Home and Student license is sufficient. If you already have an eCS 2.1 license available for this machine, and you upload your license key, there is no charge for eComStation.
The Arca Noae OS/2 & eCS drivers and software package is available three ways. For a business, the commercial license is required. For most other uses, a Personal license is sufficient. If you already have an Arca Noae OS/2 & eCS drivers and software package available for this machine, there is no charge.