Difference between revisions of "Low Power Workstation"

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== Low Power Workstations ==
 
== Low Power Workstations ==
  
−
*Motherboard: Via Epia SN18000G
+
=Latest Hardware=
−
*Processor:  1.8GHz VIA C7® Processor
 
−
*RAM:        2gb
 
−
*Storage:    Compact Flash
 
−
*Case:        VoomPC Automotive Mini-ITX Case
 
−
*OS:          Ubuntu 8.04 (with gnome)
 
−
*Chipset:    VIA CN896 North Bridge
 
−
              VIA VT8251 South Bridge
 
−
*Audio:      VIA VT1708A High Defination Audio Codec
 
  
−
==General==
+
==Replication==
−
*Jumpers for power switch are second two in from the right on the back row, with the rows of jumpers away from you
 
  
−
*Press F11 during POST to select boot device
+
4gb SATA flash module has been copied to fshellsrv /home/dertow/shuttle.iso using:
  
−
*http://www.tkarena.com/forums/archive/index.php/f-20.html VIA EPIA (Mini-ITX, Nano-ITX, Pico-ITX) Arena
+
dd if=/dev/sda | ssh dertow@fshellsrv "dd of=/home/dertow/shuttle.iso"
  
−
*http://www.tkarena.com/forums/via-epia-mini-itx-nano-itx-pico-itx-arena/37123-problems-updating-bios-sn18000.html
+
then to copy this to new flash module:
  
−
*http://www.tkarena.com/forums/via-epia-mini-itx-nano-itx-pico-itx-arena/36269-sn18000g-bios-update.html
+
boot workstation using usb "livecd"
  
−
*Sound: http://radagast.bglug.ca/epia/epia_howto/x331.html
+
ssh dertow@fshellsrv "dd if=/home/dertow/shuttle.iso" | dd of=/dev/sda
  
  
−
*BIOS updates at: http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/mainboards/downloads.jsp?motherboard_id=550
+
===Using separate real disk as Virtualbox storage===
 +
sudo VBoxManage internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename ~/lpwinstall.vmdk -rawdisk /dev/sdb
 +
^^ only works with non OSE version of VirtualBox
  
−
==To Do==
+
==Settings==
−
===*Set-up:===
 
−
* Network user profiles
 
  
−
===*Add:===
+
===Ubuntu 9.04 -> LDAP users have no sound===
−
*Java
+
I have run into a condition where LDAP users lost ability to access the sound card. System->Preferences->Sound showed "Not Connected" after the sound card.
−
*gedit
 
−
===*Fix:===
 
−
*Boot on PS/2 mouse and USB keyboard
 
−
*Solder power LED on prototype
 
  
−
===*Check on:===
+
To resolve this, a file named 40-permissions.rules was created and placed in the /etc/udev/rules.d directory.
−
*User/global config files for Ekiga to avoid sound device being set to "Default" on first run
 
  
−
== Ubuntu 8.10 ===
+
40-permissions.rules contains:
−
===Custom Stuff===
 
  
−
* FUZZY XORG AFTER INSTALL: set driver to 'vesa' OR compile openchrome 902 (901 is the only provided version). Obtain DRM by compiling from git source.
+
SUBSYSTEM=="sound",GROUP="DomainUsers"
  
−
* BUZZING -> Mute line device for recording.
+
SUBSYSTEM=="sound",MODE="0666"
  
−
* Knowplex and Ekiga don't play nice together unless /etc/asound.conf is added so that dmix works
+
===Ubuntu 9.10 settings===
 +
NFS mount on boot: add nobootwait option to fstab entry
  
−
* Sample /etc/asound.conf
+
===XFCE Settings===
 +
XFCE config directory is /etc/xdg
  
−
  pcm.snd_card {
+
To make xfce-mixer settings static for all users, xfce4-mixer.xml was created by configuring mixer for one user. This file was then placed in the global config directory for XFCE in the following subdirectory: /etc/xdg/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml
−
        type hw
 
−
        card 0
 
−
  }
 
−
pcm.dmixer {
 
−
        type dmix
 
−
        ipc_key 1024
 
−
        slave.pcm "snd_card"
 
−
        slave {
 
−
                period_size 256
 
−
                buffer_size 2048
 
−
                rate 44100
 
−
        }
 
−
}
 
−
pcm.dsnooper {
 
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        type dsnoop
 
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        ipc_key 2048
 
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        slave.pcm "snd_card"
 
−
        slave {
 
−
                period_size 256
 
−
buffer_size 2048
 
−
                rate 44100
 
−
        }
 
−
}
 
−
pcm.duplex {
 
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        type asym
 
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        playback.pcm "dmixer"
 
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        capture.pcm "dsnooper"
 
−
}
 
−
pcm.!default {
 
−
        type plug
 
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        slave.pcm "duplex"
 
−
}
 
−
buffer_size 2048
 
−
                rate 44100
 
−
        }
 
−
}
 
  
  
−
*install build-essential for most common stuff needed to build
+
Dual monitors:
 +
Get output from 'xrandr' command
  
−
==== Compiling a custom kernel ====
+
xrandr --output <RIGHT> --right-of <LEFT>
  
−
[http://eagle.bsd.st/~andrew/epia-2.6.25.7-kernel-config Here's a kernel config file for 2.6.25-7] - use 'make oldconfig' to make it work with newer kernels.
+
===Mixer Settings===
 +
Sound card: HDA Intel (ALSA Mixer)
 +
Playback Controls:
 +
Master:100%
 +
PCM: 100%
 +
Front: 100%
 +
Mic: 90%
 +
Mic Boost: 60% <-- Without this, the other end of the call reports "quiet and crackly" sound
  
−
Compile the new kernel by doing:
+
Capture:
 +
capture: 40% (with red dot)
 +
digital: 40% (with red dot)
  
−
  make-kpkg -initrd --revision=FSepia001 kernel_image modules_image
+
Switches:
 +
  Headphone: checked
  
−
The revision can be whatever string you want. Use dpkg -i to install the resulting .deb file. You can also build kernel_headers if you wish (it takes a long time though).
+
Options:
 +
Input source: mic
  
−
I wanted the ALSA release candidate, so I didn't build alsa support in the kernel. Instead I [http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Download downloaded] the release candidate tarball, did
+
=== Twinkle Audio Settings ===
  
−
./configure --with-cards=hda-intel --with-card-options=hda-codec-via,hda-generic,hda-power-save
+
Ringtone, Speaker, and Mic most likely need to be set to "ALSA:default : Default device"
−
make
 
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sudo make install
 
  
−
Note that you should be running the new kernel when you do this. Load the new modules by doing
+
libasound2 will need to be installed in order for software audio mixing to work in ALSA. (actually it just makes it so you don't have to set it up manually)
 +
[[File:Example.jpg]]
  
−
modprobe snd-hda-intel
+
==Power Consumption==
 +
-1w consumption when off (no peripherals) - connected directly to power outlet
 +
--0.56 power factor
  
−
The module should load correctly on bootup from now on.
+
-2w consumption when off (kb, mouse, monitor, ethernet connected) - connected directly to power outlet
 +
--0.41 power factor
  
−
=== Ubuntu Desktop Fails to Start ===
+
While booting, max power usage reached was 32w for only a moment. '''Machine consumes 26w''' whether idle or running numerous applications. While installing packages, consumption was 27w.
  
−
See: [https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-keyring/+bug/218434 This bug report]
+
===Power Consumption With Monitor===
  
−
The problem is that gnome-keyring-daemon segfaults on startup (apparently related to flash based storage?).
+
-1w consumption when off (kb, mouse, monitor, ethernet connected) and connected to surge protector with switch off.
  
−
Solution:
+
-3w consumption with power strip on but monitor and computer switched off.
  
−
* edit etc/pam.d/gdm as root
+
-3w consumption with monitor and power strip on but computer switched off.
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* remove all references to gnome_keyring
 
−
* save file and restart GDM
 
  
−
=== Power Saving Tips ===
+
-When booting with monitor and computer through kill-a-watt meter, max usage showed 55w during boot. Idle at login screen they are '''consuming 49w''' with a power factor of 0.65
  
−
Build a kernel with dynticks enabled and use powertop. Some recommendations from powertop:
 
  
−
Suggestion: increase the VM dirty writeback time from 5.00 to 15 seconds with:
+
===Global XFCE/XUbuntu Icons and User Settings===
−
  echo 1500 > /proc/sys/vm/dirty_writeback_centisecs
 
  
−
== FreeBSD 7.0 ==
+
Basically I wanted a kiosk type setup, but xfce4's kiosk mode SUCKS.
−
=== Custom Settings ===
 
−
==== Ports Settings ====
 
−
''/etc/make.conf''
 
−
WITHOUT_GNOME="YES"
 
−
WITHOUT_KDE="YES"
 
−
WITHOUT_PYTHON="YES"
 
  
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CFLAGS+= -march=i686 -msse3
+
To get global icons the easiest way was to install "Sabayon" which allows you to create profiles for groups of users, and then start up an x session within your x session which you can then customize and save. When the users in the created profile login, they will have the desktop settings created.
  
−
==== Load kernel modules ====
+
A new version of sabayon has been released that is not nearly as bug-filled as previous versions. You can find this here: https://edge.launchpad.net/~sbalneav/+archive/ppa
−
 
 
−
''/boot/loader.conf''
 
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snd_hda_load="YES"
 
−
linux_load="YES"
 
−
 
 
−
==== Disable line-In whine on snd_hda module load ====
 
−
''/boot/device.hints''
 
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hint.pcm.0.line="0"
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-current/2009-January/002031.html
 
−
^^ excellent sound tweaking info (2-18-2009)
 
−
 
 
−
==== Bootup settings ====
 
−
''/etc/rc.conf''
 
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ifconfig_vr0="DHCP"
 
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mixer_enable="YES"
 
−
 
 
−
''/var/db/mixer0-state''
 
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vol 85:85 pcm 75:75 line 0:0 mic 0:0 cd 75:75 rec 75:75 =rec mic
 
−
 
 
−
==Power Consumption Tuning==
 
−
*Consumes 2watts when plugged in and off
 
−
*PWM2 fan in BIOS controls cpu fan after boot
 
−
*PWM1 fan in BIOS seems to control fan before/during boot
 
−
*http://www.heatsink-guide.com/  awesome cooling info
 
−
*http://free-electrons.com/community/videos/conferences/ Embedded Linux Conference Videos
 
−
*[[Sensors]]
 

Latest revision as of 21:49, 4 January 2013

Low Power Workstations

Latest Hardware

Replication

4gb SATA flash module has been copied to fshellsrv /home/dertow/shuttle.iso using:

dd if=/dev/sda | ssh dertow@fshellsrv "dd of=/home/dertow/shuttle.iso"

then to copy this to new flash module:

boot workstation using usb "livecd"

ssh dertow@fshellsrv "dd if=/home/dertow/shuttle.iso" | dd of=/dev/sda


Using separate real disk as Virtualbox storage

sudo VBoxManage internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename ~/lpwinstall.vmdk -rawdisk /dev/sdb ^^ only works with non OSE version of VirtualBox

Settings

Ubuntu 9.04 -> LDAP users have no sound

I have run into a condition where LDAP users lost ability to access the sound card. System->Preferences->Sound showed "Not Connected" after the sound card.

To resolve this, a file named 40-permissions.rules was created and placed in the /etc/udev/rules.d directory.

40-permissions.rules contains:

SUBSYSTEM=="sound",GROUP="DomainUsers"

SUBSYSTEM=="sound",MODE="0666"

Ubuntu 9.10 settings

NFS mount on boot: add nobootwait option to fstab entry

XFCE Settings

XFCE config directory is /etc/xdg

To make xfce-mixer settings static for all users, xfce4-mixer.xml was created by configuring mixer for one user. This file was then placed in the global config directory for XFCE in the following subdirectory: /etc/xdg/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml


Dual monitors: Get output from 'xrandr' command

xrandr --output <RIGHT> --right-of <LEFT>

Mixer Settings

Sound card: HDA Intel (ALSA Mixer) Playback Controls: 

Master:100%
PCM: 100%
Front: 100%
Mic: 90%
Mic Boost: 60% <-- Without this, the other end of the call reports "quiet and crackly" sound

Capture: 

capture: 40% (with red dot)
digital: 40% (with red dot)

Switches: 

Headphone: checked

Options: 

Input source: mic

Twinkle Audio Settings

Ringtone, Speaker, and Mic most likely need to be set to "ALSA:default : Default device"

libasound2 will need to be installed in order for software audio mixing to work in ALSA. (actually it just makes it so you don't have to set it up manually) File:Example.jpg

Power Consumption

-1w consumption when off (no peripherals) - connected directly to power outlet --0.56 power factor

-2w consumption when off (kb, mouse, monitor, ethernet connected) - connected directly to power outlet --0.41 power factor

While booting, max power usage reached was 32w for only a moment. Machine consumes 26w whether idle or running numerous applications. While installing packages, consumption was 27w.

Power Consumption With Monitor

-1w consumption when off (kb, mouse, monitor, ethernet connected) and connected to surge protector with switch off.

-3w consumption with power strip on but monitor and computer switched off.

-3w consumption with monitor and power strip on but computer switched off.

-When booting with monitor and computer through kill-a-watt meter, max usage showed 55w during boot. Idle at login screen they are consuming 49w with a power factor of 0.65


Global XFCE/XUbuntu Icons and User Settings

Basically I wanted a kiosk type setup, but xfce4's kiosk mode SUCKS.

To get global icons the easiest way was to install "Sabayon" which allows you to create profiles for groups of users, and then start up an x session within your x session which you can then customize and save. When the users in the created profile login, they will have the desktop settings created.

A new version of sabayon has been released that is not nearly as bug-filled as previous versions. You can find this here: https://edge.launchpad.net/~sbalneav/+archive/ppa

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