Ubuntu H/W compatibility : old IBM Aptiva 200MMX

[Vincent Trouilliez]

Hi,

I am trying to find a nice tower case to put my old 200MMX board and
build a little modest second Ubuntu box to experiment with Networking.

Being unable to find any case that suits my taste, I decided to realise
my dream and hunt on Ebay for an old computer that I so wish I could
have afforded at the time, 8 years ago when I was 18... an IBM Aptiva
2176.  I just love that case.
I spent a few hours last night on the web, gathering informations about
it.

The problem I found, is that it appears to use a PROPRIETARY chassis
format. The tower case is NOT ATX compliant, and from looking at pics of
the chassis, it looks like it will need major surgery (read, angle
grinder and big file !), and craftsman skills, to get a normal ATX board
to fit in there, and build an adpater plate to fit it to the existing
mounting points.
I am really in love with the case, so I don't mind getting my hands
dirty. However, since they use Pentium ones, up to 200MMX, which is the
kind of board I was planning to put in it, I thought, maybe I could just
leave the case as is, and re-use the existing motherboard board.

But, seeing the strange shape of the motherboard and chassis, I am a bit
worried about Linux compatibility. According to the litterature I found
about these machines, they were fitted with Windows 95/98 (what
else ? ;o), so I guess in theory, Linux could run on it, but I would not
mind having peoples real world experiences with this machine, before I
bid on one (and there are not many around found only 3 worlwide so far !
When in France where I am, another one in Germany, and one in the USA
but the sellers said it would cost 350 USD to ship it to me !

So, does anyone out there own, or owned, an old IBM Aptiva 2176, and
tried to put Linux on it ? What happened ?? 

The machine will only need to use an Ethernet card for networking, so I
am not that bothered if 3D functions of the video card don't work, or if
the sound doesn't work, or if USB doesn't work etc. I just need very
basic functions : IDE hard drive access, PCI Ethernet card, PS/2 K/B and
eventually mouse and that's it. Anything else that works will just a
bonus.


Regards,

Vince, about to realise his dream... :-)