fit-pc2i questions, suitability for router, etc.

[routerguy]

I'm looking at a couple of fit-PC2i as replacements for some old Linux PCs doing router duty, with one also being configured as a wifi access point. The specifications listed on the main site appear to suggest that the fit-PC2i would be a perfect ... fit, though there are a few questions I'd like to know the answers to before putting an order in.

1. What type of wifi antenna connector is used?

2. Can the system be used with an ancient VGA monitor through an ancient VGA and PS2 KVM switch, provided that proper cable converters are used for the video, mouse, and keyboard? If so, are the proper cables available for
purchase? (High resolution is not required, and a small change to the OS
config will be made to load only init level 3/text command prompt)

3. A forum post (http://www.fit-pc2.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=1805)
mentioned difficulty with bringing up a network interface at a point after
system startup, and there have been no replies. Is it known if this a
repeatable issue which compulabs has been able to duplicate? If not, does it
appear that this may be a specific issue with a specific user with his
specific machine (i.e., not an issue with an out-of-the-box system)?

4. Does the fit-PC2i Linux system now _officially_ support Ubuntu 10.04 LTS?

[fly]

being configured as a wifi access point.

This might be an issue. The hardware supports this and this feature is usable on windows, but linux drivers from rt2x00 project do not support master mode. The driver provided by ralink will stay in staging for quite a while and I don't think master mode is supported there, either.

1. What type of wifi antenna connector is used?

Standard antenna connector used on most desktop wifi cards. RP-SMA, iirc.

2. Can the system be used with an ancient VGA monitor through an ancient VGA and PS2 KVM switch, provided that proper cable converters are used for the video, mouse, and keyboard? If so, are the proper cables available for
purchase? (High resolution is not required, and a small change to the OS
config will be made to load only init level 3/text command prompt)

The fitPC2 does not offer PS/2 or VGA connectors. A VGA adapter is available for purchase. However from my experience (I haven't tested this with fitPC2), stacking multiple converters and KVM switches has not been very reliable for myself, especially when this includes ps/2 - usb conversion.

3. A forum post (viewtopic.php?f=58&t=1805)
mentioned difficulty with bringing up a network interface at a point after
system startup, and there have been no replies. Is it known if this a
repeatable issue which compulabs has been able to duplicate? If not, does it
appear that this may be a specific issue with a specific user with his
specific machine (i.e., not an issue with an out-of-the-box system)?

There are two issues with the realtek nics: One is a problematic linux driver, which should have been fixed by now. The other is related to bios settings. If you search the board, you will find quite some threads about those problems and solutions. For the thread mentioned in your post: I can't reproduce this with a fitPC2 -- in lack of a fitPC2i, I cannot really say anything about issues there...

4. Does the fit-PC2i Linux system now _officially_ support Ubuntu 10.04 LTS?

No, CompuLab does not offer support for 10.04 lts by now. If you don't need accelerated graphics, your fine with 10.04. Even if you do, support for gma500 is quite usable by now.

[irads]

2. Can the system be used with an ancient VGA monitor through an ancient VGA and PS2 KVM switch, provided that proper cable converters are used for the video, mouse, and keyboard? If so, are the proper cables available for
purchase? (High resolution is not required, and a small change to the OS
config will be made to load only init level 3/text command prompt)

See http://www.fit-pc.com/web/fit-pc2/accessories/fit-vga/
I expect it to work well in your KVM setup with fit-PC2.