DreamPlug: no support for nfs-kernel-server

The folks on reddit were asking about NFS performance on the DreamPlug so I installed nfs-kernel-server. Unfortunately the Ubuntu kernel shipped with the DreamPlug doesn't support NFS:


root@morpheus:~# /etc/init.d/nfs-kernel-server restart
* Stopping NFS kernel daemon [ OK ]
* Unexporting directories for NFS kernel daemon... [ OK ]
* Not starting NFS kernel daemon: no support in current kernel.
root@morpheus:~#


So if you want to use NFS (and don't want to rebuild the kernel), you'll have to use unfs3, a usermode version of NFS. It doesn't support file locking nor wildcards for hostnames in /etc/export.

DreamPlug: motion activated webcam

The webcam tool 'motion' is pretty nice, but it needs some tweaks to the base Ubuntu/Jaunty running the DreamPlug.

Do this:

• Enable the motion daemon. sudo emacs /etc/default/motion and set start_motion_daemon=yes


• Allow for non-localhost access to the web interfaces. sudo emacs /etc/motion/motion.conf and change the lines to match: webcam_localhost off and control_localhost off


• Create the default directory to hold the jpg and swf files. sudo mkdir /tmp/motion && sudo chown motion.motion /tmp/motion


• Restart the motion daemon. sudo /etc/init.d/motion restart


• Fire up a browser and point it to the DreamPlug's port 8080 (say http://morpheus.local:8080) and then follow the link to config then list. From there you'll probably need to set auto_brightness to on.


• Now look at the video on port 8081 (say http://morpheus.local:8081)

After a while of it running, you don't need the browser to be on the page, take a look in /tmp/motion to find all the JPG images and SWF 'movie' files. Eventually I'll probably change the directory to live on one of the USB disks...

My PlugComputer datacenter

My PlugComputer datacenter, originally uploaded by marcn.

dreamplug

My Dreamplug from Globalscale Technologies finally arrived yesterday and I'm just getting around to dig into it.

Things I've noticed:

• Shipped with Ubuntu/Jaunty preinstalled. Root password: nosoup4u



• kernel:
  Linux ubuntu 2.6.33.6 #1 PREEMPT Tue Feb 8 03:18:41 EST
  2011 armv5tel GNU/Linux



• Misc system info: /proc/meminfo,/proc/cpuinfo, dmesg and lsmod
  



• Only port open is ssh



• The dreamplug starts up as an open wifi access point that will route through either eth0 of the wired network or a ppp0 device. It is named DreamPlug-uAP-{last two octects of the uap0 MAC address} ie: DreamPlug-uAP-eb4c



• /etc/rc.local runs a script in ~root/init_setup.sh(!) It sets up the wifi as an access point, configures iptables for ip masquerade/ip forwarding, enables bluetooth and plays with the LED light brightness. See: init_setup.sh
  



• They didn't clean up .history -- lots of interesting stuff in there! Grab a copy before you do any commands as root. I lost the first 34 commands and curious what else they were doing. See: history.txt
  



• 
  Some commands they used and places to check for changes from default values:
  
  - uaputl sys_config
  - cp -rf /mnt/uaputl /usr/bin/uaputl
  - vi /sbin/wlan.sh
  - vi /etc/usbmount/usbmount.conf
  - mocp /media/usb1/EyesOnMe.mp3 (someone's favorite song, it gets played a number of times)
  - vi /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-framebuffer.conf
  - vi /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf
  - cat /proc/asound/card0/codec
  - cat /proc/asound/card0/usbbus
  - cat /proc/asound/card0/usbid
  - cat /proc/asound/card0/pcm0p/info
  - vi /etc/ld.so.conf.d/libasound2.conf
  - vi /etc/java-6-openjdk/sound.properties
  - speaker-test
  - vi /etc/mke2fs.conf +5
  - vi /etc/asound.conf
  - arecord -f dat -D hw:3,0 -d 30 foo.wav
  - arecord -f dat -D hw:0 -d 30 foo.wav
  - arecord -f dat -D hw:1,0 -d 30 foo.wav
  - cat /proc/asound/cards
  - arecord -l
  - vi /etc/asound.conf
  - mocp BuzzingBee.wav
  - mv /etc/asound.conf /etc/asound1.conf
  - vi /etc/modprobe.conf
  - sudo apt-get install snd_pcm_dmix
  - vi /etc/asound1.conf
  - cp -rf /etc/asound1.conf /etc/asound.conf
  - play /home/havana.wav
  - vi /etc/udhcpd.conf
  



• There are two kernel modules (mcypt.ko & sd8xxx.ko) sitting in ~root/ On how to use them (not that I've tried yet), try here on openplug.org. See: mcypt.ko and sd8xxx.ko
  



• Packages installed by default: dpkg.txt
  



• Things to do:
  - apt-get update && apt-get upgrade (carefully don't trash possibly changed config files)
  - install emacs (sudo apt-get install emacs)
  - change password
  - create user accounts
  - add users to sudousers (visudo)
  - install ssh keys (ssh-copy-id user@ubuntu.local)
  - change the hostname from ubuntu.local to morpheus.local (to go with my SheevaPlug named lordshiva.local) (edit /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts)
  - play with USB webcam & motion
  - setup ftp/nfs for local file sharing
  - carefully consider upgrading to more recent versions
  - look at using as a wifi client
  - try pairing bluetooth headset
  - try pairing android phone -- file transfers? remote control?
  - install cups
  - install gnump3d (needs make)
  - install munin to monitor performance (is this going to kill my
  internal sd storage?)
  

14-Apr 10:50am Update: DreamPlug discussion on reddit submitted by sub2k1

maple sap boil @ home

maple sap boil @ home #NH, originally uploaded by marcn.

Trevor has tapped four trees and started the boiling down of the maple sap.

Super Perigee Moon tonight

DSC01770.JPG, originally uploaded by marcn.

I choose you!

I choose you!, originally uploaded by marcn.

From Penny Arcade East's Expo