Re: [9fans] nice hardware for a cpu server

[a@9srv.net]

exactly. see also the styx-on-a-brick project/demo VN did
getting a styx server running on the lego mindstorm kit.
sure, it's a toy, but really interesting. it exported a
namespace with sensor and motor files. you then build
other apps on top to make use of the resources. for
perversity, while doing a demo, i had the IR link to
the lego box (that's serial+IR links) in /chan on box A,
exported (over TCP/IP on ethernet) to box B who mounted
it into /mnt. box B exported that /mnt namespace to box
C (again, TCP/IP and ethernet) which ran a program that
accepted writes on /mnt/clock and turned them into sets
of commands into the /mnt namespace that would make the
clock show that time. then box C exported that file to
box D (in this case a iPaq, connected over WiFi) which
ran a GUI program where you could drag the hands or a
clock around or click somewhere and it would write the
time into /chan/clock. as far as every bit was concerned
the earlier bits may as well have been running remotely.
it worked wonderfully, and showing people how easy it
was to plug together (heck, it takes longer to
explain!) was a killer demo.
ア