# Is it possible to use a Sega Dreamast as a web server? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2001, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-use-a-sega-dreamast-as-a-web-server/83716 "2001-09-25T16:07:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Amazing\_Magic-Gro\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e95f7d/32.png) [@Amazing\_Magic-Gro\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazing_Magic-Gro_Monster)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-use-a-sega-dreamast-as-a-web-server/83716/1 "2001-09-25T16:07:04Z")
The Sega Dreamcast has a processor, ROM drive and built-in modem. What’s stopping somebody from hacking whatever OS it uses and programming it to act as a web server? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-use-a-sega-dreamast-as-a-web-server/83716/2 "2001-09-25T16:32:26Z")
And it is going to store the information where? ---
**Author:** ![Amazing\_Magic-Gro\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e95f7d/32.png) [@Amazing\_Magic-Gro\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazing_Magic-Gro_Monster)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-use-a-sega-dreamast-as-a-web-server/83716/3 "2001-09-25T16:44:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by adam yax \* > \*\*And it is going to store the information where? \*\* Dreamcast has to have some kind of cache memory where it holds texture maps and geometry it’s read off the CD ROM. Or maybe ever on the CD ROM itself. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-use-a-sega-dreamast-as-a-web-server/83716/4 "2001-09-25T16:52:56Z")
I don’t see any reason why not. You can already run linux on it, if you’re clever enough. I saw screenshots a while back of some guy running xmame on his dreamcast. On the other hand, not having a hard drive would suck a little. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-use-a-sega-dreamast-as-a-web-server/83716/5 "2001-09-25T17:04:25Z")
Okay, a Google search finds that loading Linux onto a Dreamcast is quite do-able. The question is what have you gained? Sure there is a cache of what 16 megs? And how do you make changes to content? Yes, it could be done via the CD-ROM, but you would still need a computer to make the actual changes and then burn the CD. So, you also have a modem, how many active connections can you have? Probably not enough. Also, how would visitors access the information? If you have, lets say 5 connections, how are they going to hit the CD at the same time? Can it be done, most likely it can. The real question is why would you want to? ---
**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-use-a-sega-dreamast-as-a-web-server/83716/6 "2001-09-25T17:10:07Z")
NetBSD has a Dreamcast port. IIRC, this port is officially supported by Sega. [http://www.netbsd.org/Ports/dreamcast/](http://www.netbsd.org/Ports/dreamcast/) ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-use-a-sega-dreamast-as-a-web-server/83716/7 "2001-09-25T17:27:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by adam yax \* > \*\*Can it be done, most likely it can. The real question is why would you want to? \*\* Because you can? I know of a few Commodore 64 web servers out there for no other apparent reason other than to prove that it can be done. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-use-a-sega-dreamast-as-a-web-server/83716/8 "2001-09-25T18:24:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by adam yax \* > **So, you also have a modem, how many active connections can you have? Probably not enough.** You might want the [broadband adapter](http://www.gamesfirst.com/reviews/adam/dc_ethernet/dcethernet.htm). As for why you’d want to do it… if you aren’t squeezing every last bit of performance out of your electronics, you just aren’t getting your money’s worth. People give my roommates funny looks when we play NES games on the Dreamcast, but that doesn’t stop us. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-use-a-sega-dreamast-as-a-web-server/83716/9 "2001-09-25T18:29:57Z")
Honestly, the processor is hella fast for the price, it doesn’t draw much power and since it uses a consistent hardware configuration, it will likely be rather stable. If it’s a web site where the content doesn’t change much and you’ve got the adapter, then why not? Besides, it’s much more l33t than using a pc. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-use-a-sega-dreamast-as-a-web-server/83716/10 "2001-09-25T18:56:08Z")
What a totally crazy concept. I just want to say that the fact that the answer is “yes” completely blows me away. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-use-a-sega-dreamast-as-a-web-server/83716/11 "2001-09-25T18:57:08Z")
It still makes no sense to me, but if you want to try, [this](http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT7466555948.html) is a good place to start.