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## Other alternatives
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There are many single board computers out there. In our initial
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research ([tpo/tpa/team#41058](https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/tpa/team/-/issues/41058)) we also found:
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* [SolidRun Honeycomb](https://www.solid-run.com/arm-servers-networking-platforms/honeycomb-servers-workstation/#1u-server): can fit two ARM servers in a 1U case, SFP
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ports, 64GB RAM, 16-core NXP 2GHz, a bit overkill
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* [Turris Shield](https://www.turris.com/en/shield/specifications/): SOHO firewall appliance, not sure about Debian
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compatibility
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### APU hardware
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We also considered a [full 1U case](https://corpshadow.biz/alix-apu-enclosures) but that seemed really
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costly. We have also considered a [HDD enclosure](https://store.rack-matrix.com/en/cases/324-pc-engines-alix-2d22d32d13-apu1apu2-case-with-hdd-wifi-black-3700667301379.html) but that didn't
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seem necessary either.
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Update: as of 2023-04-18, the PC Engines website has a [stronger EOL
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### APU EOL and alternatives
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As of 2023-04-18, the PC Engines website has a [stronger EOL
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page](https://www.pcengines.ch/eol.htm) that explicitly states that "The end is near!" and that:
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> Despite having used considerable quantities of AMD processors and
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... | ... | @@ -508,9 +504,53 @@ page](https://www.pcengines.ch/eol.htm) that explicitly states that "The end is |
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> different things.
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It therefore seems unlikely that new PC Engines product will be made
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in the future, and that platform should be considered dead.
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in the future, and that platform should be considered dead.
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In our initial research ([tpo/tpa/team#41058](https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/tpa/team/-/issues/41058)) we found two other
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options (the SolidRun and Turris, below), but since then we've
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expanded the search and we're keeping a list of alternatives here.
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The specification is, must have:
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* small (should fit in a 1U)
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* low power (10-50W max)
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* serial port or keyboard and monitor support
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* at least three network ports
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* 3-4GB storage for system (dal-rescue-02 uses 2.1GB as of this
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writing)
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* 1-5GB storage for system images (dal-rescue-02 uses 1GB)
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Nice to have:
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* faster than the APU3 (AMD GX-412TC SOC 600MHz)
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* rack-mountable
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* coreboot
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* "open hardware"
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* 12-24 network ports (yes, that means it's a switch, and that we
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don't need an extra OOB switch)
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Other possibilities:
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* [Qotom](https://qotom.net/): rugged devices, has a [1U form factor](https://qotom.net/product/88.html), no core boot
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* [SolidRun Honeycomb](https://www.solid-run.com/arm-servers-networking-platforms/honeycomb-servers-workstation/#1u-server): can fit two ARM servers in a 1U case, SFP
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ports, 64GB RAM, 16-core NXP 2GHz, a bit overkill
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* [Turris Shield](https://www.turris.com/en/shield/specifications/): SOHO firewall appliance, not sure about Debian
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compatibility
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* [Qotom](https://qotom.net/): rugged devices, has a [1U form factor](https://qotom.net/product/88.html), no coreboot,
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no price listing
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* [Protectli](https://ca.protectli.com/): rugged, coreboot, fanless, 2-6 2.5gbps NICs,
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Intel quad core, 8-64GB RAM, DP port option
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* [OPNsense](https://shop.opnsense.com/): "network appliances", rackmountable, costly (700$+)
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* [Fitlet](https://fit-iot.com/web/products/fitlet2/): really rugged, miniature, fanless, lock-in power
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input, 4x 2.5gbps, 2 mini-HDMI, serial port, quad core Intel Atom,
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mSATA SSD, coreboot, 400$ without RAM (DDR3L-1600)
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* [Ten64](https://www.crowdsupply.com/traverse-technologies/ten64): crowdfunding project, shipping, 8 gigabit ports, 2 SFP,
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8 core ARM, 10W, up to 32GB DDR SO-DIMM, 256MB onboard flash, 700$
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before RAM
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2xNVMe, mini PCIe for wifi, LTE, SATA, SIM tray, 700$USD before RAM
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* [NUCs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Unit_of_Computing) like the [Gigabyte's Brix](https://www.gigabyte.com/us/Mini-PcBarebone), [Beelink](https://www.bee-link.com/) could be an
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option as well, no coreboot, slightly thicker (more than 1U?)
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* there's of course a whole cornucopia of SBC (Single Board
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Computers) out there, e.g. [Minnowboard](https://www.minnowboard.org/), [EspressoBIN](https://espressobin.net/),
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[Banana PI](https://www.banana-pi.org/), [MACCHIATObin](https://macchiatobin.net/), [O-DROID](https://www.hardkernel.com/shop/odroid-h3-plus/), [Olimex](https://www.olimex.com/),
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[Pine64](https://www.pine64.org/), and many more (see [hackboards.com](https://hackerboards.com/) for a database)
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* see also [this list from anarcat](https://anarc.at/hardware/server/marcos/#possible-phase-out) |