Intel® Desktop Board D945GCLF2/D945GCLF2D

[binaryguru]

Since I know you guys are wondering if they should build a PBX with this board/platform, I am starting a new thread to help people with some problems getting PiaF running on this system.

First problem I had was network access. No matter what I did, I could not get eth0 to link up. After 2 days of fustration, I finally found the problem. It's the Realtek RTL8111B/C drivers shipped with CentOS 5. They just don't work right.

To fix this problem, check this wiki page:
http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/HardwareList/RealTekRTL8111b

Since I have no network access at all, I could not use any of the insructions on the page. So, what I did was, install a NIC that worked and rebooted. Then eth1 came online with DHCP, as it should.

I will post an update when I get the Realtek working.

Hope this information saves you time and headache.

 

[binaryguru]

Realtek RTL8111B/C driver now functional

I followed the instructions in section 5 of this link:
http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/HardwareList/RealTekRTL8111b
using method number 2 and now the onboard NIC links up using DHCP.

I chose method 2 because, from what I understand, using DKMS to install kernel modules is the mose painless way for when you update you're kernel.

I could of used methode 1, but if I manually install the realtek drivers, I may forget how to update or reload them after a kernel/system update. Better with DKMS and the extra repo. so it's a no brainer when I update my system.

 

[jmullinix]

I have been using these boards for phone servers for quite a while. Details on installing the NIC drivers over on Joe's board,http://www.fonicaprojects.com/wiki/index.php/FonicaPABX-Install

If I remember correctly, I did not use any drivers from Centos. I downloaded the 8168 driver directly from RealTek.

Edit:
Now that I think through this, the PIAF 1.4 ISO has this driver on it. Load the OS and reboot. It will reboot to a menu and one of the choices will let you install that driver. Reboot again and proceed with the installation.

 

[ppmax]

Funny you should start this thread--I just started looking at one of these little bad boys for PIAF today. I have a couple questions:
* What are you using for storage? Would love to do one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136314
* Did you get a picopsu-90 for this board?
* How much ram did you install?

thx much
PP

 

[MyKroFt]

what did you guys find for cases for this little guy so the pci slot could be used?

 

[jmullinix]

I buy them fro mini-box.com. I use a Jetway JC104 case, D945GCLF2 mobo with processor soldered on. The Jetway box comes with a power supply. You will need a laptop hard drive, a stick of ram and a CD drive that can be used to load the OS.

The Jetway has a riser card that holds two PCI cards, but I have only ever been able to make one of the slots work.

I use this as a small business phone system. It will handle about 25 simultaneous calls and doesn't draw much electricity.

 

[bjeung]

Since I know you guys are wondering if they should build a PBX with this board/platform, I am starting a new thread to help people with some problems getting PiaF running on this system.

First problem I had was network access. No matter what I did, I could not get eth0 to link up. After 2 days of fustration, I finally found the problem. It's the Realtek RTL8111B/C drivers shipped with CentOS 5. They just don't work right.

To fix this problem, check this wiki page:
http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/HardwareList/RealTekRTL8111b

Since I have no network access at all, I could not use any of the insructions on the page. So, what I did was, install a NIC that worked and rebooted. Then eth1 came online with DHCP, as it should.

I will post an update when I get the Realtek working.

Hope this information saves you time and headache.

As John said, the driver is on the 1.4 disk. After the first reboot when it tries to download the payload you'll get a menu that allows you to install the correct driver. Optionally, you can use 1.5b which is CentOS 5.3 based and has the correct driver.

 

[MyKroFt]

nice thing i like about mini-box is they have vesa mounts, if you use the stand that came with your lcd monitor, the vesa holes are still avail and you can just mount the box to the back of the lcd monitor

 

[MyKroFt]

I was thinking of http://www.mini-box.com/M300-Enclosure-w-Bootable-CF-Reader_2?sc=8&category=87, the M300 non LCD case it comes with riser, has hidden CF and USB ports. The CF option is bootable, so just need to load the base ISO on to it in a bootable mode. New install or reinstall, just insert the CF, boot it up, install base OS, reboot install new network driver, and continue with payload. USB can be a flash stick or usb drive plugged in for what custom stuff that needs to be restored or installed.

Only thing is, it don't come with a PS by default, have to purchase separate

 

[darmock]

I currently run the LCD version. The CF will boot however it is too slow and there are QC issues from one m300 to another. Eventually I repurposed this box to be a piaf test box with a hard drive as the CF was too flakey Your mileage may vary however.

I did buy the tiny supply with external brick works just great and does not produce a lot of heat <unlike my quad xeon>

The lcd actually runs out of the box under win7 <shudder>


all in all a pricey case power supply.

Tom

 

[MyKroFt]

Good to know on the QC issue, the CF I was thinking of just using it to do base install - not any actual realtime storage etc - as once the system is installed, the CF gets pulled

Will have to see what their return policy is if I try one of their cases.

 

[darmock]

if you really want to test this with a CF use a cf <> sata or CF <> IDE adapter instead of the built in one. I have had better luck with this one. Indeed I have one running off of an AMD geode processor with a CF as the primary drive using an openvox minipci pstn adapter. Actually works and has been up now for about 9 months with no sign of CF failure. Only has a max of 3 lines running at any one time. 1 PSTN and 2 Channels of VOIP.


Tom

 

[MyKroFt]

I get the impression from the pics in the manual its a IDE to CF adapter that comes with it.

Will have to send them a email and find out exactly what it is.