FlasHdd

back to http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Sasecurity

a
LocustWorld Windows CF loader - beta release   If you're a computer expert or regular Linux user, then you've probably had no real problems installing the initial MeshAP image on to a Compact Flash card.

There are quite a few ways of doing this and one way involves using the flasher CD, which can be booted on a machine to install the initial image. This CD must only be booted on a new Meshbox as it will erase any attached harddisk and indeed care must be taken even when burning this flasher cd to avoid rebooting your PC with it in the drive!

To make life a little easier I've produced a windows compact flash installer. What this does is very similar to the scary diskprobe procedure described in the wiki, and what the flasher CD does, however it is a point and click windows application and can automatically download updated images.

The software has an automatic detection mode (default) and a manual mode. In automatic mode it has auto-detection to tell the difference between your PC harddisk and an attached compact flash card and will attempt only to reflash attached CF devices.

In tests this auto-detection has worked without any problems, however I can't guarantee that it will work correctly on every PC and if the auto detection fails it could erase the PC harddisk and replace it with the MeshAP image!

During the beta testing of this software, it is recommended to run it in the manual mode or to run it on a PC which if it got trashed could be easily reinstalled/restored from a backup.

Typically when running this software, it is expected that you have a windows PC (either WindowsNT, 2000 or XP) and either a pcmcia, ide or usb-ide compact flash adapter with a 32mb or larger compact flash card inserted in it.

Running the software installs the MeshAP image on to the CF card and then booting that CF card on another machine turns that machine into a Meshbox.

To get hold of of this beta software you can download it from: http://files.locustworldlabs.net/ 

Please be sure to read the included readme and associated warnings.

Links
FlasCardWriteCycle HardWare