HP Thin Client - Kirkwood core

Oh, and a copy of the U-Boot messages:

http://bhtooefr.ath.cx/files/uboot

Here’s the pinout of the serial port, with the front of the machine facing you:

3V3 TXD RXD GND

One more thing. (I know, I know, I know.)

My directions for opening the case were STILL wrong.

1. Remove the screw on the back, slide to the left (while facing the back)
2. Slide lid back, lift off

That’s it. No popping plastic rivets.

Excellent work – should come in handy for anyone who decides to start on a Kirkwood port.

This is worth looking at for those that are interested in doing the port: http://www.marvell.com/products/processors/embedded/kirkwood/FS_88F6180_9x_6281_OpenSource.pdf (fixed link)

I did notice that FreeBSD has a driver for the ethernet – mge(4).

I think the Z11 might just be a PCIe version of the Z9s, meaning that the source code for a driver would be available here: https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5971

As for the SATA connector, I’m working on that – the connector’s a weird one, but I may have located a Tyco part that will work. Also, I ordered one of these yesterday.

One thing that I see being a POTENTIAL issue is that the CF to SATA adapter will block airflow over the heatsinks somewhat, but I don’t think it’ll be a big issue. If it is, we can always upgrade the heatsinks.

For mass storage, I’m thinking of doing this.

http://www.startech.com/item/CF2USAT18E.aspx (not directly from them, but that’s the part – I BELIEVE it’s thin enough to fit, if not, I can remove the casing)
A CF card (cheaper than getting a real 1.8” HDD or SSD - and, because this is just at the proof of concept stage, I don’t need capacity, I just need to demonstrate that it works, and I’ve got a 2 gig CF card that will work just fine for that)
http://estore.circuitassembly.com/products/Micro-SATA-to-22-Pin-Male-SATA-Adapter-3-inch.html (that cable’s the perfect length for what I need, and does exactly the conversion I need)

Now, I would want to work on a way to secure the drive. I’m considering either attaching the drive to the lid somehow, although the need for a short cable may make servicing the machine difficult in that case, or building supports onto (or into) the heatsinks somehow. Problem with using the heatsinks is, they’re not fixed in place permanently – they can move around some, even when clipped down, with enough rotational force.

Great stuff, Eric! Your warranty’s definitely going to be worth not a lot now :-)

Maybe someone from HP will feel like providing a few off-the-record pointers on their forum (for anyone else who’s considering this, there’s also the beginnings of a serial port access discussion within the HP forum – thanks again Eric). If there’s any way I can find out some further info I’ll share it here.

My thin client arrived last week and I’ve played around (Not RISC OS).

The Debian-installer for the QNAP-TS-219 works fine, but the system is not bootable after this, I think it’s u-boot related…

http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian/dists/unstable/main/installer-armel/current/images/kirkwood/network-console/qnap/ts-219/initrd.gz

http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian/dists/unstable/main/installer-armel/current/images/kirkwood/network-console/qnap/ts-219/kernel

setenv serverip 192.168.3.1

setenv ipaddr 192.168.3.123

setenv bootargs console=ttyS0,115200n8 root=/dev/ram rw initrd=0xa00000,0×900000

tftpboot 0xa00000 initrd.gz

tftpboot 0×800000 kernel

bootm 0×800000

Has someone tried to install another version of U-Boot (openrd)?

I’d be careful with messing with U-Boot, as I don’t believe there are any accessible JTAG pins. So, it really is possible to brick this one with a bad U-Boot flash.

Anyway, I’ve just e-mailed HP requesting source code for the GPL stuff.

I am attempting to locate source code for software licensed under the GNU General Public License that is distributed on and for the t5325 thin client, specifically U-Boot, the Linux kernel, and any other GPL-licensed software that HP has included with the ThinPro operating system.

If you could please send me the source code, or provide a link to where the code is available for download, to fulfill your requirements under the GPL, that would be greatly appreciated.

I thought I’d be smart and do some digging on HP’s FTP site, but only found source for other units (not the t5325) here…

ftp.hp.com/pub/tcdebian/

Maybe it will pop in there shortly after Eric’s request is received. According to Martin’s email response above, if it was made by HP in Pennsylvania, then it was probably made by the group that was Neoware (as HP bought them out). Don’t bad I still don’t live there, I could go knock on the door :-)

I thought I’d be smart and do some digging on HP’s FTP site, but only found source for other units (not the t5325) here… ftp.hp.com/pub/tcdebian/ Maybe it will pop in there shortly after Eric’s request is received.

Hopefully, yes. Nice one!

it was probably made by the group that was Neoware (as HP bought them out). Don’t bad I still don’t live there, I could go knock on the door :-)

Maybe you could ask an old neighbour to go and do it for you!

I don’t know how much use this would be, but when looking at information regarding Marvell’s OpenRD Client (http://open-rd.org/) I found this page:

http://groups.google.com/group/openrd/web/add-audio-video-support-to-2-6-33-kernel

If I am not mistaken, the third patch at the bottom of the page may be a starting point for a graphics driver.

According to this page, http://www.einfochips.com/marvell/openrd_client_d.php#component, it has the same graphics chip as the HP thin client.

Is this of any use in this situation, or am I just a little simple?

Skimming it, it does look like the Z11 uses the same driver as the Z9 (and other XGI GPUs.)

Therefore, there’s other places to get either that code, or something similar to that code.

But, one thing to watch out for is, looks like it’s GPLed. I don’t know if that would cause a licensing issue with the OS.

I don’t know if that would cause a licensing issue with the OS.

It almost certainly would. However if you were to emulate extension ROMs similar to how Alan Williams was planning to then there shouldn’t be any reason why you can’t have the RISC OS ROM supplied as one binary and the video driver (and any other GPL code) supplied as another.

Bad news on the SATA front… no clearance for the cable.

If anyone knows where to find a 3” SATA extension cable, with the male end being right angle, angled AWAY from the contact side, that would be very helpful.

Otherwise, if someone knows where to find a 3” normal SATA cable, with one end being right angle, again angled away from the contacts, AND knows where to find a male version of this connector that would be great. (No, Tyco doesn’t make a male version of that. But, I need something that goes in the same place as that and is male, if using a female to female cable.)

Edit: To be clear, 22-pin.

Shame. This part looks like a male right angle to me. Might be no good at all/angled TOWARDS contacts, of course… sorry. Also, it’s a UK supplier, although they state the part is of US origin. There’s also a right-angled docking receptacle listed in the brochure (which lists a US office in Illinois). Additionally, Mouser lists this SERIAL ATA RCPT R/A but I can’t find it on their US site.

Well, UK suppliers are OK, because ultimately, I suspect these things will be assembled in the UK, unless it proves to be cheaper to buy them in the US, assemble them here, and ship them to the UK.

However, that’s a female vertical connector that solders into the motherboard, and is surface mount. What needs to be soldered into the motherboard I think needs to be vertical for clearance reasons (the ethernet port is awfully close,) and it needs to be a staggered through-hole connector – see the Tyco part I linked to.

The one in the brochure and on Mouser is right angle, but is also surface-mount.

One thing I did just realize: I’d need to make sure it would fit, but a pair of male SATA cables – one power, one data – with right-angle connectors may work. I don’t have any handy, though, to check.

Another thing, although very much not kosher under SATA specs: use a short SATA cable with only one connector, for the drive, and use pigtails soldered directly into the motherboard for the other end.

Fun, yet completely useless fact of the day: the t5325 motherboard is almost the same dimensions as a freaking PODULE. It’s actually not quite as long.

That gives those that are unaware of the scale, a sense of what’s being dealt with here. You could mount one on a (custom, mind you) podule cover and connector, route the connections to the back, and slide this into the back of a RiscPC. No good way to interface, and almost completely impractical, but still, the thought is amusing.

Bad news.

I think this is going to be impractical due to case height issues.

The motherboard was designed around a very specific Foxconn connector, it appears. That connector is female.

There are male SATA cables available. However, they’re all VERY tall, and none are right angle. What this means is, the stack of connector and cable stick about 1/4 inch above the maximum height, not even counting the cable that would have to be bent at a very sharp 90 degree angle.

Even the male to female L adapter I’ve found is extremely tall on the male end.

So, there’s going to have to be a custom PCB made to relocate the SATA connector – it’ll have a vertical SATA male 22-pin connector on one end, on the bottom of the board, plugging into the Foxconn SATA female 22-pin connector that will have to be soldered to the board. Then, on the other end, on the top of the board, will be another SATA female 22-pin connector, this one right angle, for the drive to plug into.

the t5325 motherboard is almost the same dimensions as a freaking PODULE. ...but still, the thought is amusing.

Well, Advantage 6/STD do have a habit of announcing new hardware on April Fool’s day. Who knows what this year could bring? ;)

Eric, any idea where to get one of these and what it will cost?

One HP partner company has informed me that the t5325 list price will be €260 to €275.

(Sorry to butt in, Eric.) Since revised down, e.g. €216,10 incl. btw (NL) and £185.04 incl. VAT (UK).

Trevor already answered the question better than I could.

So, the Tyco connector that I ordered from Digikey will work, although it won’t be anchored into the PCB properly. (Note, however, that that’s irrelevant if we go with a connector-less PCB adapter for this, or solder cables directly to the PCB. The SATA connector will only be relevant if it’s re-cased, really.)

I need to get the solder that was put in at the factory out of there, drilling it out was suggested – freaking ground planes making this a pain. Then, I can solder that in, and test SATA.

I need to get the solder that was put in at the factory out of there, drilling it out was suggested

Sounds like you need a good solder station and a solder sucker! I’d be scared to drill the old one out, personally!

I need to get the solder that was put in at the factory out of there, drilling it out was suggested

You are using an iron appropriate to lead-free solder, I hope? They need to be at a much higher temperature than traditionally used for tin/lead soldering. Mine at work here is set at 365 Celsius, which is arguably at the low end of the optimum range. A slightly higher temperature setting may be needed where a copper plane is involved – and it would need to be a reasonable-sized bit, too, because the controlled temperature is some way away from the tip of the bit, so you need good thermal conductivity between the two places.