On 11/5/2012 11:43 AM, Eric Keller wrote: > On Sun, Nov 4, 2012 at 10:48 AM, Sven Wesley <svenne.d...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Seems I've found a good reason to actually have a Raspberry Pi inside the >> cabinet, a perfect X host to unload the controller. >> > I would really like to know if this works > Eric >
It's easy in principle, Eric. Anything that can run an Xserver can be the user terminal. I've done it a number of times with computers ranging from simple evaluation boards like the RPi to full-up engineering workstations. The beautry of X is that an Xserver is an Xserver is an.... (Don't ask me about the warts on X:-)) In practice, there's a lot of niggly details that have to be attended to if it is to be bullet-proof and be seen as the user interface to a machine tool and not as a computer. 1) the RPi should be able to boot up without manual intervention into a "kiosk" mode with, say, just an Xwindow open and ready for business. A very stripped-down Linux will do. 2) it should be able to establish communication automagically to the machine controller. In my case, I'd put a cheap ethernet switch in the cabinet so the RPi and the controller can talk to each other and to other parts of my network. There are other ways to establish the intercommunication but this is easiest for me. 3) both the RPi and the controller should be able to boot into a functional state, each without depending on the other 4) the RPi "terminal" should allow some sort of debug mode for those days when nothing is going well. Regards, Kent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LogMeIn Central: Instant, anywhere, Remote PC access and management. Stay in control, update software, and manage PCs from one command center Diagnose problems and improve visibility into emerging IT issues Automate, monitor and manage. Do more in less time with Central http://p.sf.net/sfu/logmein12331_d2d _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
