Buffalo Kuro Box

As my old web server was getting a bit long in the tooth, I started looking for a replacement. I wanted something quieter that would use less power and yet still have decent storage capacity. I found the Kuro Box on linuxdevices.com and it seemed to fit the bill quite nicely - so nicely, in fact, that it served up this web site for a couple of years.

Similar to it's cousin, the LinkStation , the Kuro Box features a very small case which doesn't contain much more than a PSU, a tiny motherboard and standard 3.5" ATA hard disk. It's marketed as a network storage device but, being how I am, I wiped the default installation and whacked Debian on it. Although the original guide I followed has yet disappeared from the web, you may wish to try this one .

As there's no keyboard or video on the board, you're pretty much dependent on this tiny machine's network connection if you want to get at it. It is however possible to connect up a serial port for console access, as described in the Kuro Box Wiki FAQ . Armed with a tiny serial adapter, I set to fitting it in the Kuro Box's case. Although it's pretty packed, there is a small area on the rear where the adapter can be mounted with a bit of work. I have however not got it working as yet! But here's the story so far:

I first drilled and filed some holes for the D-connector and a couple of screws...

...so that the adapter just fits inside the case near the PSU.

It's then just a case of soldering soldering a few wires to the header...

...and I prefer the finished result to just a cable hanging out the back.