Hacking The 3Com
Multi-Purpose Internet Server

Christopher Rath

May–June, 2002

C A U T I O N

Most of the actions I describe herein result in the voiding of the device’s warrantee. I take no responsibility for any damage which might result from anyone attempting to duplicate my work. In other words, you bear all responsibility for your own actions. If you break your 3C19504 then it’s your own fault. I do not recommend you reproduce my work! This information is offered for entertainment purposes only, no warrantee is offered or implied.

Background

The 3Com Multi-Purpose Internet Server (Model 3C19504) is a discontinued Linux-based Internet appliance. It provides the following functions: web server, firewall Remote Access Server (RAS), web cache, email server, file server, FTP server, print server, and DHCP server.

As of May, 2002, Computer Geeks is liquidating 3C19504’s for $199US (note, they sold out of units in only a few weeks). I consider this a bargain, and so I purchased one with the intent of upgrading its internal hard drive and customizing it to suit me. Since it is Linux-based, I figured that I had better than even odds of success in this endeavour. This web-page documents my experiences hacking my 3C19504.

3Com’s Internet Server product links:

Device Description

The 3C19504 is actually a stripped down PC; specifically, it’s a First International Computer America Inc. (FIC) Sahara 1000 with a 500 MHZ Celeron processor and 32 megs of RAM. 3Com has had all unnecessary components removed from the motherboard (i.e., the parts were never soldered onto the boards in the first place), and so only the hardware necessary to deliver the 3C19504’s services are in place. This means that there is no floppy drive, no connector to plug a floppy drive into, no sound card chips, etc.

Of more relevant interest to me, the hacker, is what 3Com left behind; i.e., what hardware did I buy? In place are:

two serial ports—which can be used to dial into the server, or for the server to dial-up your ISP
two USB ports—present but not active (i.e., the device drivers for these ports are not loaded, but presumably the ports would work if driver was present)
VGA port—covered by a screw-plate, but active
PS2 keyboard & mouse ports—each covered by a punch-out, but active
two RJ11 10/100baseT connectors (one on the motherboard and the second on a PCI card
one parallel port—for use when the 3C19504 acts as a print server

If you crack the case open, you’ll see inside:

two PCI slots, one of which is twinned to an ISA connector—the network card is plugged into the twinned PCI-ISA slot, but there is nothing to prevent it from being moved to the other slot
a Fujitsu MPG3102AT E 10GB, 5400 rpm, 5Ľ" half-height hard drive
an empty bay for a floppy drive; but on the motherboard there is no connector present for the floppy drive’s cable (the circuit board pads are there, but no connector)
no Secondary IDE connector on the motherboard (circuit board pads are present, but no connector)
the Primary IDE cable only supplies 1 connector
the hard drive power cable only supplies 1 connector
32megs of RAM on a single DIMM

What I’ve Learned

So far, here’s a summary of what I’ve managed to learn:

the 3C19504 runs Red Hat version 6.1
it uses AMI BIOS version UC612C (which only supports hard drives up to 32gigs in size)
as shipped, my 3C19504 was at software version 2.3.20010423 (which the 3Com website says is one patch beyond initial release)
this best way to get full use from the 3C19504 is to install a more current and more complete version on Linux on the device

My Work

Rather than make this page enormously long, I have broken out my investigation log, detailed problem listings, and details on how to make the device functional into their own pages:

My 3C19504 Investigation Log—the log of my activities discovering the various information presented herein
3C19504 Problem Listing—the list of problems I encountered while attempting to make the 3C19504 usable
Making The 3C19504 Usable—a description of the actions I took to make the 3C19504 usable
Another 3Com 3C19504 Rescued—Jeff Deacon writes about his conversion of a 3C19504

Other Resources

These links have been helpful in my hacking of the 3C19504:

Configuring AMIBIOS—some information on changes that mother board manufacturers may make when configuring an AMI BIOS prior to shipping the boards
Computer Geeks—the company I purchased the unit from. The service I received from them was outstanding and I highly recommend them
ClarkConnect—the Linux image I ultimately installed on the 3C19504