openHAB on CubieTruck

[Rahul TechGeek]

Hello All,

I have been openHAB for home automation. I successfully deployed it on raspberry pi. Now I plan to use CubieTruck (Cubie Board 3) and deploy openHAB along with my own java based applications.

My java applications needs to read and write data over USB ports of CubieTruck.

I have been searching for  help on flashing Debian on CubieTruck or any other linux version which can work on CubieTruck , but could not get much information on the steps.

Please help, if anyone has done this before.

Regards,

Rahul

[James Stembridge]

I'm using wheezy from here:

http://www.igorpecovnik.com/2013/12/24/cubietruck-debian-wheezy-sd-card-image/

The only thing I had trouble with was getting it to install on the NAND, but the workaround on that page did resolve that.

[Glen_M]

Hi there,

                I am running Debian Build (V8 - Jessie) on my Cubietruck as an OpenHAB server. My one key recommendation would be to use a SSD drive with the CubieTruck....

In terms of the process, good information can be found at: https://wiki.debian.org/InstallingDebianOn/Allwinner

For my configuration, as I run the system as headless, I just used the mainline u-boot. For the build, I used the Debian net-installation option, which worked nicely. u-boot is installed on the SD card, and the Linux distro on the SSD. Seems to startup pretty fast. Now for the tip, which could save you endless nights of grief (if you are like me and skim-read things, and miss important bits like mainline kernel does not support the CT display).... Make sure you perform the build using the USB-TTL 'serial' cable (purchased separately for a few $$). Should only take a few hours to build it up from there.

If you are interested, I can post a few quick steps for the build, once you have the Debian installed on there.

Cheers,
Glen

[James Stembridge]

On Thursday, 25 June 2015 10:00:33 UTC+1, Glen_M wrote:

My one key recommendation would be to use a SSD drive with the CubieTruck....

Aside from total capacity, why prefer an SSD over the inbuilt NAND?

[Glen_M]

Speed is primary consideration for me using SSD. Durability/handling of wear levelling is a second consideration, but is slightly more subjective so will depend on your application (write volumes etc), and a few other factors, including which card you select etc. There is plenty of information elsewhere on Internet on this topic, so searching this will help determine if this is a consideration for your situation. If cost is the primary consideration, then SD card wins every time!!!

[James Stembridge]

On Thursday, 25 June 2015 20:08:59 UTC+1, Glen_M wrote:

If cost is the primary consideration, then SD card wins every time!!!

I was referring to the onboard NAND, not SD cards. For me at least, the onboard 8GB was a significant draw over other similar boards. 

[Glen_M]

Haven't tried a speed comparison with the inbuilt NAND, however the wear levelling is a still a consideration IF you are planning a reasonable amount of writes (e.g. Persistence, unless you have an 'offboard' location you can send these to). If not, then probably fine for your application. and unlike an SD card, when you start getting faults on your Cubietruck onbaord-NAND, its probably a throw-away.

The other restriction seems to be that Debian will not install onto the inbuilt Flash, so either left with SD/SSD as an option for this distro (perhaps there is a away, but I could only find notes which suggested this was not an option). Alternatively you can use lubuntu, and install in Flash - I previously had done this (and later onto the SSD), but seemed to only have older version kernel and could not upgrade, hence my move to Debian.No doubt someone has got a distro with a later kernel out there, which you can load into flash. Again, the right answer depends on your situation, and how you plan to use the thing. My little CT3 has been working nicely for a while now, runs OpenHAB quite well, and on-paper draws insignificant amount of power....