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anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:22:58 +0000

I have made several "DataBoxes" and I am still making them.
Some have been destroyed; others are living a new life, in a new location…

DataBox 18

year: 2026
Case: AEG case
Motherboard: Dell
CPU: intel core i7 2600
RAM: 4GB
Weight: heavy
screen: bizarre almost square format
10 USB ports, some of which are present on the side
1 Display-port
1 VGA port
3 port sata
The motherboard graphics chipset is disappointing…

DataBox 17 (E17)

Year: 2021-2026
Case: an AEG drill case for the central unit, and a case of an electroportative tool for the screen
Motherboard: Dell
CPU: intel core i7
RAM: 32Go
weight: very heavy
screen: 1920x1080
ten USB ports, some of which are extended using USB extension cables
two Display-port
two sata ports
Two hooks on the black case allow you to carry the E17 as a backpack and access to the interfaces is easy by opening the databox from the back:

DataBox 16 (Le Cône)

Year: 2021
Case: Construction site cone
Motherboard: ?
CPU: Intel Celeron, 1 core, 2 threads
RAM: 1 GB
Weight:
Two USB ports on the cone, four on the motherboard
One VGA port
One SATA port
Interior view, airflow is taken from the bottom (four wooden wedges are screwed under the base of the cone to allow air and cables to pass through).
The power supply will expel the hot air towards the top of the cone, which is open. The hard drive is 20°C warmer than the ambient air (it is not specifically ventilated).
It looks like it's piled up in a jumble, but in fact it's screwed and strapped.
This databox is currently installed at tmplab and offers the ltsp service (ltsp allows you to start multiple computers over the network and provide them with a coherent and synchronized desktop environment).

DataBox 15 (The Black case)

This DataBox is in a black case, Openings have been cut to allow airflow and cable routing.

Year: 2020
Case: Black briefcase
Motherboard: Dell 790 (2023-present)
CPU: Intel Core i5 (2023-present)
RAM: 16GB DDR3 (2023-present)
10 USB ports
1 Display Port
1 VGA port
4 SATA ports

DataBox 14

This DataBox is housed in an aluminum case.

Year: 2017
Service until 2020
Case:
Motherboard: Lime2
CPU: A20
RAM: ?
Weight: very light
Two USB ports
One HDMI port
One SATA port

DataBox 13

This DataBox is an orange screwdriver case from Ikea.

Year: 2016
Case: Ikea
Motherboard: Laptop, without battery, keyboard, or case
CPU: Mobile Pentium
RAM: 512MB DDR-2
Weight: very light
Two USB ports
One HDMI port
One SATA port
One LCD screen

DataBox 12

This DataBox is a small mini-screwdriver case.
It is intended to become a server (Web, Jabber, SSH, Minetest).
The goal is to consume even less electricity than the current server.
It currently runs Android, but I plan to install Cubian, which is a GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian.

Year: 2016
Case: Mini-screwdriver
Motherboard: Cubieboard II
CPU: Allwiner 10
RAM: 512MB DDR-2
Weight: Very light
Two USB ports
One HDMI port
One serial port
Plenty of pins to connect all sorts of things.

DataBox 11

This DataBox is a real portable computer (except I couldn't find a way to fit the large keyboard inside). It has a 22.5-inch 1920x1080 screen.

Year: 2015
Case: Hilti
Screen: 1920x1080
Motherboard: Intel, rated to consume less than 30W
CPU: Intel Celeron, 1 core, 2 threads
RAM: 1GB DDR-2
Weight: Quite heavy

Two USB ports and the audio ports are extended for easy access without opening the case.
A WiFi card is installed on the PCI slot (the plastic case appears transparent to microwaves).

DataBox 10

Year: 2014
Case: Hilti
Display:
Motherboard: Two motherboards
CPU: Two 1.8GHz processors
RAM: Two 1GB processors
Weight: Very heavy

This DataBox contains two motherboards and is designed for bit swapping (but has not yet been used). It must be used open to dissipate heat.

Each motherboard contains:
- a CPU clocked at 1.8GHz and 1GB of RAM
- a hard drive for the system and possibly another hard drive for data
- a graphics card on the AGP port
- 4 network cards (in addition to the one already present on the motherboard)

DataBox 9 (FergusL)

I dedicate this ninth DataBox to FergusL, who provided the motherboard and the USB Wi-Fi thingy (which, among other things, is used to wedge the motherboard).

Year: 2013
In use until May 2016
Case: HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
Screen:
Motherboard: ?
CPU: Intel Pentium III clocked at 1.6GHz (forced overclocked)
RAM: 1GB
The CPU runs at 1.6GHz, and no one I know has managed to get it to run at 1.3GHz, which is the frequency listed on the CPU itself. This makes this DataBox unreliable if it isn't over-ventilated (the first version crashed within 30 minutes).
Due to its instability (it crashed within a few hours, or even days), I have decided to discontinue this DataBox, and various components will be salvaged for reuse on other equipment.

DataBox 8 (Terry Pratchett)

I dedicate this eighth DataBox to Terry Pratchett, whose "Annals of the Discworld" will remain a reference for me.

Year: 2012
Serviced until 2016
Case: Bosh
Display:
Motherboard: Intel, rated for less than 30W power consumption
CPU: Intel Celeron, 1 core, 2 threads
RAM: 1GB DDR-2
Two USB ports and the audio ports are extended for easy access without opening the case.
The IDE hard drive was replaced with a SATA hard drive in 2015.
The motherboard has a VGA output so this DataBox can be used as a low-power server or as a desktop workstation with its own monitor.
A WiFi card is installed in the PCI slot (the plastic case seems transparent to microwaves).

DataBox 7

Year: 2012
In use until 2015
Case: Small case
Display:
Motherboard: Intel, rated to consume less than 30W (I have a second one)
CPU: Intel Celeron, 1 core, 2 threads
RAM: 1GB DDR-2
Two USB ports are extended for easy access without opening the case.
The IDE hard drive was replaced with a SATA hard drive in 2015.
Although the motherboard has a VGA output, it was used as a server, so no display was connected. A Wi-Fi card is installed in the PCI slot, but the antenna is at the end of a 70cm long cable.
The IDE hard drive is used for the system and part of the /home drive, while a second SATA hard drive is used for storage outside of /home.
Since the whole thing tends to get a little hotter, especially in summer, I equipped the case with an exhaust fan regulated by the temperature of the extracted air.

DataBox 6 (the hamster cage)

Year: 2012
In use until 2015
Case: Hamster cage
Screen:
Motherboard:
CPU: AMD 1200+
RAM: 2 x 512MB SDRAM
Weight: uh, it's mostly bulky
The motherboard was replaced in March 2015 due to a lack of power and stability:
PCI: a Wi-Fi card, an Ethernet network card
AGP: a graphics card
Video card integrated into the motherboard
Motherboard:
CPU: AMD 2500+
RAM: 2 x 512MB DDR
Weight: uh, it's mostly bulky
The cage can Open to provide access to the hard drives, the hatch provides access to the switch and connectors.
This sixth DataBox was in service at Gare XP and was called "Switchman" because it served as a router.
Part of the circuit for the GareXP's little electric train is expected to run inside. It is planned to add a few webcams to display passing trains or the fish in the aquarium on one of the screens, with one screen reserved for displaying information during GareXP events.
Yes, the photo is blurry…

DataBox 5 (recycle bin)

Year: 2012
In use until 2012
Case: plastic wastebasket
No screen, VGA output
Motherboard: a small motherboard that fits in the recycle bin
CPU: ?
RAM: 512MB
Weight: not too heavy, it's for a server, not intended to be transported often
I added a fan to force the air to circulate in a favorable direction.
This DataBox was designed to withstand the elements; the only opening is at the bottom. The PC being at the bottom of the recycle bin, and the recycle bin propped up on two bricks or other support.

DataBox 4

Year: 2012
Case: AEG
Screen: 1024x768 LCD
Motherboard:
CPU:
RAM: 2GB (2 x 1GB DDR4)
Two USB ports are attached to the top, along with the power button and LEDs.
Drill cases often have the advantage of having an ergonomic handle for carrying.

DataBox 3

Year: 2012
Service until 2013
Case: Bosh
Screen: 1024x768 powered by 12V
Motherboard: Intel, rated for less than 30W power consumption
CPU: Intel Celeron, 1 core, 2 threads
RAM: 1GB DDR-2

Two straps allow this DataBox to be carried like a backpack.
Two bent brackets allow the keyboard to be carried during transport. To store the mouse, simply open the case and swing it inside (there's plenty of room).
In the photo, you can see that the screen isn't very straight (after transport), a point that was never completed (properly and permanently securing the screen).
The motherboard is powered by a picoPSU that runs on 12V, and the screen is also powered by 12V. I wanted to be able to use this DataBox from a vehicle's 12V outlet, as the entire enclosure consumes a maximum of 75W.

False DataBox 2.5

Year: 2010
Service until 2012
Case: Toshiba
Screen: 1024x768 LCD
Motherboard:
CPU: Pentium M
RAM: 512MB (2 x 256MB DDR)
Since the screen hinges were broken, I removed the screen and turned it over.
A glass panel salvaged from a flatbed scanner protects the screen.
The battery lasts about 10 minutes, which is enough to move from one electrical outlet to another.
In this configuration, most ports are accessible from the top, which is convenient, except for the audio port, which is located at the bottom.
The CD-ROM drive is removed to save weight and allow access to certain switches.

DataBox 2

Year: ?
Service until ?
PC case: metal
Screen: 1024x768 LCD (a glass panel will be placed in front of the screen to protect it)
Motherboard: ?
CPU: ?
RAM: ?
Weight: heavy
The keyboard has a practical metal base for attaching it to the case during transport or storage.
I added a magnet to the mouse so it could be attached to the case when transporting or storing.

DataBox 1

My first experience with a complete, portable PC (I didn't have a laptop) was taking it with me several Tuesday evenings to the weekly Loop meeting when Le Loop was hosted at "La Suite" (Le Loop was called "La suite logique" before taking its current name).

Year: 2009
Service until ?
PC case: metal
Screen: 1024x768 LCD
Motherboard: ?
CPU?
RAM?
Weight: heavy
The keyboard has a handy metal base for attaching it to the case during transport or storage.
I added a magnet to the mouse so it can be attached to the case during transport or storage.
Simply remove the side panel to access the screen.
And simply tilt the screen to access the rest of the case's components.

Err404 - DataBox