Arduino Server
Jvaughters (Talk | contribs) |
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=Summary= | =Summary= | ||
| − | In determining a method to create a distributed sensor network I decided to test the idea of taking some old hardware to use it as a remote server to communicate with Arduinos. The basic idea is to have a server that communicates with the Arduinos and sends the data to a central monitoring process over the network. As long as you have network connection to the server, you can add as many Arduinos as the server can handle to monitor or control whatever it is you are trying to accomplish. | + | In determining a method to create a distributed sensor network I decided to test the idea of taking some old hardware to use it as a remote server to communicate with Arduinos. The basic idea is to have a server that communicates with the Arduinos and sends the data to a central monitoring process over the network. As long as you have a network connection to the server, you can add as many Arduinos as the server can handle to monitor or control whatever it is you are trying to accomplish.The motivation for this investigation revolved around Energy Management. |
| + | ==Software== | ||
| + | The Arduino Server will be focused on Linux. I guess it is possible to consider windows, but I have not been able to find the same capabilities easily and I am not sure it is even worth investigating, given the ease and flexibility of linux in this application. The central monitoring computers can be any OS that is capable of communicating to network TCP ports or file transfer, which is pretty much anything. | ||
=Assumptions= | =Assumptions= | ||
| + | * You are familiar with the Linux command line | ||
| + | * You understand basic text file configuration methods | ||
| + | * You are familiar with serial communications in Linux | ||
| + | =Server= | ||
| + | The idea is that you are able to find any old server that you may have laying around and put it to use and save you money. The hardware requirements are very little, as long as you have about 256k in memory. It may be possible to have less, but that is where I decided to draw the line. The processor is mostly irrelevant, because just about any processor you have laying around, will most likely be able to manage the light load we are creating. I will not be testing it, but it may be possible to go as far back as a 386. The hardware configuration that I am using is a 1.2MHz pentium with 256k in memory, which actually works very well even in full GUI mode. You should also be able to find this type of computer laying around in many junk piles at a computer swap. | ||
| + | ==Operating System== | ||
| + | After a significant search and years of playing around with small linux distributions, I have fallen on upon Tiny Core. | ||
Revision as of 15:48, 28 October 2012
Contents |
Summary
In determining a method to create a distributed sensor network I decided to test the idea of taking some old hardware to use it as a remote server to communicate with Arduinos. The basic idea is to have a server that communicates with the Arduinos and sends the data to a central monitoring process over the network. As long as you have a network connection to the server, you can add as many Arduinos as the server can handle to monitor or control whatever it is you are trying to accomplish.The motivation for this investigation revolved around Energy Management.
Software
The Arduino Server will be focused on Linux. I guess it is possible to consider windows, but I have not been able to find the same capabilities easily and I am not sure it is even worth investigating, given the ease and flexibility of linux in this application. The central monitoring computers can be any OS that is capable of communicating to network TCP ports or file transfer, which is pretty much anything.
Assumptions
- You are familiar with the Linux command line
- You understand basic text file configuration methods
- You are familiar with serial communications in Linux
Server
The idea is that you are able to find any old server that you may have laying around and put it to use and save you money. The hardware requirements are very little, as long as you have about 256k in memory. It may be possible to have less, but that is where I decided to draw the line. The processor is mostly irrelevant, because just about any processor you have laying around, will most likely be able to manage the light load we are creating. I will not be testing it, but it may be possible to go as far back as a 386. The hardware configuration that I am using is a 1.2MHz pentium with 256k in memory, which actually works very well even in full GUI mode. You should also be able to find this type of computer laying around in many junk piles at a computer swap.
Operating System
After a significant search and years of playing around with small linux distributions, I have fallen on upon Tiny Core.
