mdukat

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====== Intel Compute Stick STCK1A32WFC ======

{{:public:hardware:intel-compute-stick-stck1a32wfc:intel-compute-stick-photo.jpg?600|}}

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===== 0. Story =====

Bought when I got inspired by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3WvOzdlpwY|Action Retro - Intel's Tiny, Weird Computer]] video about Intel Compute Stick. I wanted a small, low-power x86 computer with bare minimum stuff included, as local home server connected 24/7 to the TV. If GPU allows for 1080p30 playback, this would make a great movie watching station.

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===== 1. The Plan =====

==== Software ====

I want to install Alpine Linux (with edge branch), using F2FS on root partition, no swap.

==== Hardware ====

STCK1A32WFC supports powered USB 2.0 hubs, and up to 128GB SDXC microSD card. I want to install Kioxia Exceria g2 128GB as secondary partition (with F2FS as well), USB->RJ45 adapter, and potentially external hard drive in the future.

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===== 2. Problems =====

  - With unpowered 4-port USB 2.0 hub, STCK can't handle connected USB devices on boot.
  - With another, powered 7-port USB 2.0 hub, modloop service on Alpine Install won't start in specified 60 seconds

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===== 3. Alpine Linux installation =====

After restarting modloop service manually after boot, I was able to connect Realtek 10/100 USB Ethernet adapter, load modules and do pretty much standard setup-alpine. I manually setup eMMC partitions for 1GB vFAT EFI and the rest to ext4 rootfs. setup-disk automatically found that it's on UEFI system and installed and configured GRUB without any help.

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===== 4. Post-config =====

I've installed XFCE4 using setup-desktop, but with 2GB of RAM (without SWAP...) and such low-spec CPU, it's simply not worth it.

Instead, I disabled lightdm service, and configured my own reverse-ssh service which uses autossh to estabilish a tunnel to my remote machine, so I could SSH into home from any network available.

Also configured 128GB Kioxia Exceria G2 microSD card with f2fs, and made it mount automatically via fstab at boot. Works great!

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===== 5. Next steps =====

  * Design and 3D print some sort of enclosure, so it will sit with USB hub in nice package
  * Replace thermal paste
  * Maaaaaybe add some better cooling solution?

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===== Docs =====

  - {{ :public:hardware:intel-compute-stick-stck1a32wfc:stck1a32wfc-stck1a32fc-stck1a8lfc-techprodspec01.pdf |}}