Not sure this is the proper area to ask this. Here it goes anyhow.

I'm looking into installing a 100% internal flash reader, to place some boot files onto, like /boot, and /lib. I'd like to know if anyone knows of a Linux supported usb2 or even a IDE/SATA device I could install internally, with no cables snaking outside the computer's case.

If anyone knows of such devices, and where I might pick one up at, please let me/us know

I have actually seen PCI USB2 cards that have a USB2 port on the inside of the case. You can get them at OfficeMax for about $40.

What I would recommend for flash-based storage is something like this or this (the latter of which requires absolutely no wires or ribbon cables, but requires to be inserted vertically, taking up space). There’s also these and I'm sure others. This sort of hardware is common among hobbyists/small-form-factor people.

In terms of other things, most modern motherboards come with tons of extra headers (including USB2) that require no wires travelling from outside in. For example, one of my friends (a very bright one) built his own MythTV HTPC (including designing the case) with his own homebrew infrared receiver. The receiver required a serial port, but instead of using the external one (with the receiver sitting outside, on top of the box, he connected it to a serial port header, and nicely fit it inside his case.

Yeah, I've been doing some reasearch, and thought that since it was a embedded style idea, I should look up some of the sites dedicated to it. But so far, everyone only has CF, which seems pretty slow, I was hoping for something a little more modern, with maybe a usb2 or SATA interface. I may try the IDE-CF method eventually. Thanks for the input guys, please continue with the ideas if you have them

Hi,
I was looking for the same thing myself; an internal card reader without the need to feed a USB cable through to an external port. I found the best thing was a reader that required a free internal 9 pin USB header on the motherboard instead. Therefore, 100% internal!
I found mine on ebay, I believe there is a US power seller called brainydeal which sells the same kind of thing.
I hope this helps, good luck.