Gefen EXT-HD-DSWFN - repurpose or fix?

Greazy

Commendable
May 6, 2016
2
0
1,510
Our office had purchased about 8 of these, most crapped the bed and all but one were returned to the seller as they no longer support these items.
When I open up the case to the one we kept that crapped, I see a rather interesting mainboard consisting of extra fan power ports, SATA,and a few others.
It's bad because during boot it doesn't get passed the first "colored block" of three. You have to be there to understand it.
To me it would appear that the hardware is fine, just that the OS is somehow hosed. I've tried plugging in a keyboard and seeing if (by chance) there's a way to change the boot option like an old PC. That said I can't find ANY forums on this sort of gear.

Anyone out there familiar with Gefen gear like this and if so, help with either A. fix or B. repurpose to a mini-PC, router, something....

Greazy
 
Solution
Wireless Digital Signage - correct?

Is this the product?

http://www.gefen.com/pdf/EXT-HD-DSWFN.pdf

If so that is not a computer per se and I doubt it can be repurposed....

There might be some chance that you could flash the hardware and turn it into something else.

However that "something else" would probably never be reliable or upgradeable.

Probably a hobbyist device that someone with time and the inclination could tinker with and perhaps re-purpose.

Mostly trial and error with a permanent chance of being bricked. Would not be optimistic but in the right hands - who knows....

Ralston18

Titan
Moderator
Wireless Digital Signage - correct?

Is this the product?

http://www.gefen.com/pdf/EXT-HD-DSWFN.pdf

If so that is not a computer per se and I doubt it can be repurposed....

There might be some chance that you could flash the hardware and turn it into something else.

However that "something else" would probably never be reliable or upgradeable.

Probably a hobbyist device that someone with time and the inclination could tinker with and perhaps re-purpose.

Mostly trial and error with a permanent chance of being bricked. Would not be optimistic but in the right hands - who knows....

 
Solution

Greazy

Commendable
May 6, 2016
2
0
1,510
yes, I figured as much. If anyone else out there has messed with this, let me know. Otherwise, until then the thing will sit on my shelf. Thanks Ralston.