Ha All

 

I can connect matrix LCD 128x64 dots (e.g. with hqm1286404 controller (as ks108) ) with customized layout for show status of unRaid core (CPU, disk capacity, error status, LAN status, etc).

 

Will be work?

 

Thanks for any answer

The kernel may have to be recompiled with parallel port support.

You are pretty well on your own here.  This is not Windows, in that you can't just download a program, and it will work.  You will have to do some research into finding Linux drivers and tools, hopefully Slackware packages, to handle the communications, configuration, and graphic displays for this thing.  You may have to compile them yourself, and build your own custom kernel.  If you are a programmer, with some Linux experience, it could be a fun project.  If not, good luck...

I am programmer. I can try it. Thanks.

You'll need the kernel recompiled with LPT support.

Rebuild the bzroot with the new kernel and modules.

Then something that drives it. LCD Proc for example.

I would say this request falls somewhere above "nice to have" and "i wish we had".

 

Theres real usefulness in an LCD display on a NAS box but its far from critical.

 

Anyway just MHO.

I would say this request falls somewhere above "nice to have" and "i wish we had".

 

Theres real usefulness in an LCD display on a NAS box but its far from critical.

 

Anyway just MHO.

True, but enabling the parallel port allows us to add packages to configure any number of accessories which used the parallel port.

 

I'd even go as far ask to ask Tom to enable the parallel port on his next config.  He may not use it, but others might...I doubt if it will increase the size of the kernel very much, if at all,  and the odds of it breaking something are very tiny indeed.

 

Joe L.

(I realize the parallel port being enabled will not magically make unRAID use it...  It will not, but it does allow some use of the parallel port for monitoring of a UPS status, or driving an LCD display, etc.)

(I realize the parallel port being enabled will not magically make unRAID use it...  It will not, but it does allow some use of the parallel port for monitoring of a UPS status, or driving an LCD display, etc.)

I would say if there is a goal to provide a full feature NAS replacement, then Parallel and Serial port will be needed.

Parallel for printer support. (and possibly LCD).

Serial for UPS, Printers (are there any more) and LCD.

I think with some of the newer LCD's out there you have menus and buttons so a whole interface could be derived.

 

Thecus 5200 has an LCD as does a readyNAS. I find them to be very useful

 

Frankly I'm planning on scoring a SLIMP3. and using it as a remote LCD console over the network.

It;s got a simple UDP protocol for control which may make it easy to send messages to.

 

It;s either that or something like this.

http://www.crystalfontz.com/products/634xe/index.html

 

Maybe one day I'll get off my lazy butt and program a network driver for the Soundbridge.

 

 

I am programmer. I can try it. Thanks.

 

Wow, I remember the time this was the answer to everything. (it was about the same era where I could use that same phrase)

 

Things have gone a long way since then and became much more complex and "specialized".

I hope by "I am programmer" you really mean, "I can handle linux really well and even build whatever is missing".

 

Good luck to you.

 

 

NLS: Yes, "I am a programmer" is extensive concept. But I work as prgrammer 13 year and don't here proclaim my experience. I'm "playing" with Linux about 3 year and saying that I am novice with Linux and try build my custom kernel with support parallel port.

OK? Thanks

Ropo, in the stock distro of unRAID, parallel support is neither in the kernel not available as a module.  So you will have to compile a new unRAID kernel.  That means you will also have to unpack, modify, and repack the initramfs.

 

I suggest you install a conventional Slackware 12.1 full development system, and develop your application there.  Once you have the necessary interface working, you can either add unRAID to your development system for further development, or make a package for your software, and install it on an unRAID system along with a new kernel.

by all means, good luck to you man

 

BTW, I first touched linux when it was kernel going to 0.9-something (16 years ago?), but I am waaaaaaaaaay back from some of the real experts here.

(to be honest it looked really unattractive back then... I already had a GUI enabled computer - read: Amiga - so... ...well don't blame me, I was young and didn't know of the snowball effect linux would have in the future... the story of my life)

 

 

by all means, good luck to you man

 

BTW, I first touched linux when it was kernel going to 0.9-something (16 years ago?), but I am waaaaaaaaaay back from some of the real experts here.

(to be honest it looked really unattractive back then... I already had a GUI enabled computer - read: Amiga - so... ...well don't blame me, I was young and didn't know of the snowball effect linux would have in the future... the story of my life)

 

 

Amiga..... My first experience with computer was Sinclair ZS Spectrum+ but later Amiga A1200 and Didaktik Gama (CZ variation of ZX Spectrum+ - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didaktik). I have both it always, but do not use it.  Nostalgia...

 

Thanks for all reply

My first was a CBM64.

But I have a connection with Spectrum, in many ways, the most "nostalgic" being, that before my parents got me a CBM64 (with the excuse that we would do business on it), I had a leaflet with a full size picture of a spectrum (the old rubber key one), under the glass of my desk, practicing typing :D (because we all know the weird key combinations on the Spectrum)...

 

I still have my CBM64 and two of my Amigas.

 

To bring this a bit on topic (erm... "on forum" at least), one of the reasons I needed unRAID was that my emulation needs grew very large.

 

 

wow I remember the sinclair zx81. I wanted one so bad, but my family could not afford it.

Once I started working in the city I purchased a Vic20 as soon as I could afford it.

Then upgraded to a C64 a while later.  Those were great lil computers!

I built my first first "personal computer" from a kit when I was in the 5th or 6th grade.  It was "Analog" 

 

It consisted of a set of wire-wound resistance strips, and adjacent paper scales for addition, multiplication, division, subtraction, and logarithms,  connected in a Wheatstone bridge configuration, and with a headphone to indicate when tiny alligator clips found the "null" (and the answer)    I wish I still had that kit, as I have not even seen one like in since then.  Pretty sure it was something advertised in Popular Electronics, as I was a subscriber since age 10.

 

My first "personal digital computer" was the predecessor to the ZX81, the Sinclair ZX80.  I purchased it in the mid 1980's.  It had 1K of RAM, and that included the ram for Video.  I soon expanded that to 2K, and eventually to 64K (I etched and built my own dynamic RAM expansion board)  I then learned Z80 Assembler, after purchasing an assembler, and a disassembler.  Eventually, I dis-assembled the assembler, patched and extended it to write re-locatable code, added a green screen monitor, full size keyboard, extended ZX81 Basic, an eprom-burner, a high speed tape interface, a serial port driver (for a teletype current loop), a parallel port driver (for a dot-matrix printer) and my own "print-driver" to print the Sinclair symbols properly on my printer. 

 

My first UNIX login was around 1980.  It was CB Unix version 1.0.  (CB = Columbus Bell Labs)  I've been writing programs using Unix ever since.

 

I'll lobby with you to have Tom enable the parallel port in subsequent releases.  It will make it much easier for many of us.  Who knows what it miight end up being used for... especially for us hardware types...

 

Joe L.

I'll lobby with you to have Tom enable the parallel port in subsequent releases.  It will make it much easier for many of us.  Who knows what it miight end up being used for... especially for us hardware types...

 

I agree here. I think there are a few more things to be put back into the kernel.

Parallel and Serial port support for one. I know there are UPS's that use the serial ports (I have one).

 

And if one day you want to use LPR or CUPs for remote print support, then at least the hardware drivers are there.

 

In addition I think there are many other drivers that could be compiled in, and possibly just leave the modules out of the bzroot so that it's easier for those with certain hardware to get it working.

 

Not everyone will have the ability to add certain NIC's but if the drivers already exist in the kernel, there's no reason not to compile kernel for them and just leave the modules outside as downloadable pieces. (In this case I'm thinking certain support for ITX motherboards.)

 

BTW, Joe L.. You should be named Joe G Cool.  (g for geek). LOL.

I'm sure we would have gotten along very well as kids. Although I'm not quite as geeky as you were.. I was there..

I was always taking apart and rebuilding things.

At age 7 I was the youngest member of a computer club where we rented time. I had no idea what I was doing at first.

But picture one of the stereotypical nerdy kids with black glasses and white tape in the middle... that was me. LOL!!!!

MY nick name was Poindexter at the time. (god I had all the geekiest of nicknames!)

There are also Matrix Orbital LCDs that use USB rather than LPT. It'd be superb to use one with unRAID, especially the models with keypads - so you could start parity checks and shutdown the machine right from the case.

Added parallel port support in 4.3.2 release.

 

Serial port (8250/16550) support is already in kernel.  Note that you might have to enable in bios; typically we disable serial ports in bios, mainly to save an IRQ.