If you remember the little Network Attached Storage box from the last post, I've had a few issues arise from trying to use it for backups, and now it does something entirely different!
The main issue with using a NAS device on my current home network is our inability to build a wired network in the rental property. In order to keep ethernet cables safe we would need to drill holes in walls, and our management company would probably not react well to that. Because of this the only option for backing up to the NAS is over the network, unless you have an older laptop with an ethernet port! None of us tenants have an ethernet-capable tower right now. A backup over wireless is of course VERY slow, and I don't think anyone is interested in letting their laptop sit for over a day to complete a backup. So instead of letting this machine sit forgotten and unused for backups, I decided I would flash a Linux Mint OS to it and send the desktop output to the TV we keep in the room with this machine and the network router. This machine still has access to the 2TB memory installed in the case, and has just enough processing power to emulate some light handheld video games. So far Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance emulation works well up to a certain resolution setting. The Raspberry Pi 4 starts to struggle with emulation framerates at around one quarter of the total resolution of our 48" TV, which I think is 4k, so we might set the boundary around 1080p [which is in fact the official rating for the video output]. I haven't moved enough complex GBA games to this machine yet, so I'm not sure how general computational intensity versus video output scale yet, but this makes a decent Linux PC and Retro Gaming setup for a group setting or party. This machine can also serve as an experimental machine, though virtualization is probably not feasible.
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Caylan Laundrie
Caylan is an IT Technician and Musican, planning to specialize in Computing Security and maintain a vibrant performing and teaching career. Archives
October 2024
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