First I would like to mention the inspiration for the name of my project: the Sci Fi movie Cube2: Hypercube. I've borrowed Shon's style of writing gigaQube for my project: hyperCube². I hope to accomplish the following with my hyperCube² project:

The hyperCube² should...

• be a file server (for a future Mailserver, etc..)
• run the following daemons: Samba, MRTG, tHTTPd
• support hard disks > 30GB (in the original this is the maximum)
• yield high data throughput
• remain quiet (suitable for use in a living room)
• draw minimal power (<30Watt)
• run a modern, flexible and stable server operating system
• be a useful project for my interests
• expose me to new experiences with exotic hardware (Cobalt MIPS) and software
• provide me with some joy ...
• ... and provide a great learning experience :)

The original hardware...

Sun Cobalt Qube 2

• 64Bit MIPS RISC CPU QED RM5231-250Q (superscalar, 250MHz)
• System Controller: Galileo GT-64111
• PCI-ISA Bridge/ATA Controller: Via VT821C586 (Apollo VP)
• 1x16MB RAM (EDO 3.3V, SIMM-Modul 72 Pin, proprietary)
• Maximum memory: 256MB
• Ultra-ATA 10.2GB hard drive (Seagate ST310212A)
• Maximum fixed disk capacity (BIOS limitation): 30GB
• 2 network interfaces (Tulip) DECchip DC21142 10/100baseTX-FDX
• 6-key-panel + 2x16 LCD-Display
• 1 high-speed serial port (SubD9)
• 1 PCI-slot (proprietary)
• 1 housing fan (4x4 cm, 12V, unsettled)
• 1 small, external 36 Watt power supply unit (12V, 3A)
• Dimensions: 18,4cm x 18,4cm x 19,7cm
• Weight: 2.8kg
• Power supply: 100-240V, 50/60Hz
• Power input: 25 Watt
• Operating environment: 5-40°C, 10-80% air humidity
• Non-operating environment: -10-50°C, 5-93% air humidity
• Original retail price (2000, through Sun): approx. USD 2500
• Used price (2004, via eBay): approx. 120 Euro :)

Cobalt OS4

• (GNU/Linux Kernel 2.0.x)
• Red Hat 5 based (MIPS-Port, proprietary)
• WebGUI, Apache 1.3, FTP, Samba, E-Mail etc.
• Installation by rescue-cd via standard PC (netboot)

My first modification is to upgrade the hard drive. The original hard disk (10.2GB Seagate ST310212A) is not only far too small for my project, but also far too loud as well. One of my requirements is to use the unit in my living-room, where the Qube must remain as quiet as possible. While selecting a new hard disk, the power consumption must be taken into account so that the power supply is not overloaded. I don't want to consider getting a bigger power supply, since the current consumption of the hyperQube² should not exceed the original power consumption. I found a quiet, fast hard disk that would meet my requirements at a specialty dealer I trust (Sydra Computertechnik):

Ultra-ATA 160GB hard disk (Samsung SpinPoint SV1604N, 5400 RPM)

• Formatted Capacity = 160GB
• Ultra ATA-133 Compatible
• Fluid Dynamic Bearing Spindle Motor Technology
• High Speed Dual Digital Signal Processor (DSP) Based Architecture
• ATA S.M.A.R.T. Compliant
• ATA Security Mode Feature Set
• ATA Host Protected Area Feature Set
• ATA Automatic Acoustic Management Feature Set
• ATA 48-bit Address Feature Set
• ATA Device Configuration Overlay Feature Set.
• Multi-Burst On-The-Fly Error Correction
• NoiseGuard
• SilentSeek
• Original retail price (2004, with Sydra): approx. 90 Euro

The original RAM module (16MB) is clearly too small for my project. In order to find more memory for the Qube, I searched google for all the German RAM dealers who carry this type of RAM. Unfortunately, there are none -- at least none that I was able to find. Two dealers did still list the modules, but since the manufacturer (in both cases, Transcent) stopped production, neither can supply them any more. So, I had to continue my search elsewhere. I finally had success with an American Cobalt spare part supplier (RaQWare). They seem to carry the weird format of memory required by the Qube. "Get the max.", I think and order myself two of these overpriced rare RAM chips. Now, the Qube has the most memory it can support.

Two RAM modules, each 128MB RAM (256MB total), proprietary

• SIMM-module 72 Pin
• Extended Data Output RAM (EDO)
• Non-Parity
• Voltage 3.3V
• Access time 50ns
• Manufacturer (module): Edge Memory
• Manufacturer (chip): Samsung
• Original factory price (2004, with RaQware): approx. USD 90 per piece (!!!)

I don't want to spend a lot of time talking about the original fan. Let me just say that it is small, strong, black, and not very quiet. A former Cobalt engineer is quoted as saying that the Qube actually doesn't need any fan. However, this seems a little too risky to me. So, I got a high-quality Papst fan and added a potentiometer (from Conrad Electronic) through the slot cover on the back of the unit, so I could slow down the fan by about a third.

Housing fan, 4x4cm (Papst 412F, 12V)

• Flow rate 8m³/h
• Rated voltage 12V DC
• Voltage range 12-14V DC
• Noise 22.1 dB/A
• Power consumption 0.7W
• Rated speed 5400 RPM
• Temperaturerange -21 bis +70°C
• Life span approx. 45000h
• Original price (2004, from Conrad): approx. 20 Euro

Potentiometer (variable resistor)

• Front plate or printed circuit board assembly
• Cermet type
• Linear type
• Electrical resistance 1 kOhm max.
• Tolerance ±10%
• Load rating 1 Watt with 70°C
• Temperature coefficient ±100 ppm/°C
• Linearity tolerance ±5%
• Angle of rotation electrically 265° ±5°
• Angle of rotation mechanically 295°
• Temperature range -55 bis +125 °C
• Dimension housing 12,7 x 12,7 x 11,4 mm
• Axis length 12,7 mm
• Axis Ø 6,35 mm
• Original price (2004, from Conrad): approx. 4 Euro

On my intensive search for an adequate operating system, I only found two relevant alternatives to the clunky, old, original OS: Debian (MIPS-Port) and NetBSD (Cobalt-Port). Advantages of both operation systems are:

GNU/Debian "Edge" V4.0 and NetBSD Cobalt-Port

• support for hard disks not recognized by the BIOS (30GB border)
• stable port
• active development of the Cobalt-port
• work well as a server OS
• have very good package-managment
• have a super community
• many packages are available
• currently GNU/Debian "Edge" V4.0 is running on my Qube

Debian and NetBSD Links:

• [ Debian Website ]
• [ Martin Michlmayr - developer of the Debian installer ]
• [ Installation guideline: Debian on MIPS based Cobalt mashines ]
• [ What is NetBSD? ]
• [ The NetBSD project ]
• [ NetBSD Cobalt-Port ]
• [ NetBSD Cobalt-Port FAQ ]
• [ NetBSD Cobalt-Port mailing list ]
• [ German BSD forum ]

Manufacturers and dealers:

• [ Sun Microsystems ]
• [ Samsung Disks ]
• [ Papst Fans ]
• [ Sydra Computertechnik ]
• [ RaQware ]
• [ Edge Memory ]
• [ Conrad Electronic ]
• [ Computer & Literatur (C&L) ]

Other & Cobalt Qube projects:

• [ Shon's gigaQube project ]
• [ Team Rushmere TeraQube2 project ]
• [ Christopher Schultz's Qube 2 ]
• [ Brian Lee's Qube 2 ]
• [ Official Cobalt User Group ]
• [ The Cobalt (Qube) Startup Story ]
• [ Cube2 Hypercube - The movie ]
• [ Uncubed: All the Cubes ]

The science of Hypercubes:

• [ What is a Hypercube? (german) ]
• [ Hypercube Java-Applet-Demo ]
• [ Hypercube computer (german) ]
• [ What is a Hypercube? ]

On my journey towards the hyperCube² many people helped me over many hurdles along the way. Therefore, special thanks go to:

• Christopher Schultz and Calum Field for helping me to translate this webpage into clean, native spoken English
• the NetBSD developers & the NetBSD community
• Søren Jørvang (NetBSD Cobalt-Port Maintainer)
• Andy Ruhl for support with the first installation of NetBSD 1.6.2
• Dennis Chernoivanov for the great NetBSD 1.6.1 restore-CD
• Frederico Lupi for the NetBSD shortguide
• Thorsten Lindloff for the german translation of the Shortguide
• C&L, freeX and the free authors the NetBSD 1.6 Handbook (german)
• Yutaka Yasuda of bluequartz.org for publishing in Japan
• Shon Burton for the documentation of his gigaQube project.
  Without Shon's website the hypeCube² project would probably never have happened (in particular this documentation).
• Martin Michlmayr for his very good work.

• [ Some more projects with special hardware ]