USB Port on Almond+

[Richel]

I am not one of the fortunate ones that already has an Almond+. I have to wait for its availability in the general marketplace. However, I have a question about the USB ports. Can this be used for a network USB hard drive?

Thanks,

Elliott

[eldaria]

Absolutely, it has two USB 3.0 ports, and they are fast. ;-)

[Richel]

Thanks!

[VJ]

Perhaps related... but maybe more an openwrt question... does it support usbip?
http://wiki.openwrt.org/doc/howto/usb.iptunnel
http://usbip.sourceforge.net/
I don't really need the feature, but might be a nice one to play with... a usb device accessible via network...

[eldaria]

Just tried it, and it does not seem to be there, I suppose if it exist in OpenWRT then there is a good chance it will come to Almond+.

Code: [Select]

root@AlmondPlus:~# usbip list -l
-ash: usbip: not found


[VJ]

Thanks!
Yes, I also think it will come if it is in OpenWRT.

[pete]

Yup; playing a bit here with a modded TP-Link 710N (Atheros AR9331@400Mhz - MIPS 24Kc V7.4) mostly such that I can play with OpenWRT.  Build is for GSM modems and such.

Found a Uboot modification which provides a bit more stuff.

The most important change is an inclusion of a web server, based on uIP 0.9 TCP/IP stack. It allows to upgrade firmware, U-Boot and ART (Atheros Radio Test) images, directly from your web browser, without need to access serial console and running a TFTP server. You can find similar firmware recovery mode, also based on uIP 0.9 TCP/IP stack, in D-Link routers.

This specific build has added:
- sharing USB storage
- media server
- wan manager (load balancing and failover for multiple WAN connections)
- OpenVPN
- bandwidth monitoring
- custom AT commands (for modems)
- Signal and cell tower information
- SMS Messaging
- modem support and information



Relating to the Almond Plus you could do a failover to a 3G/4G connection if primary WAN fails with this build.

Amazing tiny microrouter.

Connected a Digi 7 port USB hub and a couple of devices to the hub.

|       |.-----.-----.-----.|  |  |  |.----.|  |_
 |   -   ||  _  |  -__|     ||  |  |  ||   _||   _|
 |_______||   __|_____|__|__||________||__|  |____|
          |__| W I R E L E S S   F R E E D O M
 -----------------------------------------------------
 BARRIER BREAKER (Bleeding Edge, r40396)
 -----------------------------------------------------
  * 1/2 oz Galliano         Pour all ingredients into
  * 4 oz cold Coffee        an irish coffee mug filled
  * 1 1/2 oz Dark Rum       with crushed ice. Stir.
  * 2 tsp. Creme de Cacao
 -----------------------------------------------------
root@ICS-TP-Link-MR:~# lsusb
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0451:2077 Texas Instruments, Inc. TUSB2077 Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0403:6001 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd FT 232 USB-Serial (UART) IC
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0fe6:9700 Kontron (Industrial Computer Source / ICS Advent) DM9601 Fast Ethernet Adapter
root@ICS-TP-Link-MR:~#

[Blueiris8]

This is a great question.  I currently use a crappy little PogoPlug box to connect me to my network HD.  I would love to be able connect my HD directly to the Almond+ and be able to back up my data that way.  PogoPlug kinda sucks...

[pete]

Yup the PogoPlug (Kirkwood?) is about 5 years old.  It has a faster CPU than the current breed of Rasberry Pi's.  The Almond Plus is faster than the Rasberry Pi and it has a 3.0 USB port and a touchscreen.

Here though I am using the Seagate Dockstar to run a Sprinkler program concurrently sitting in the "sprinkler box" with two sprinkler solenoid controllers (connected via USB)  No monitor is connected to it.

Not doing NAS stuff with it; but do run it with a CF card and SSD ZIF to USB card.  One backing up the other.  Speedwise it works fine.  The Seagate Dockstar doesn't get hot. 

The Pogoplugs I played with did get really hot (shutting themselves off in any type of enclosure).  The Almond + gets a bit warm too. 

[LGNilsson]

We're still tweaking things, but we've seen speeds of up to 100MB/s read and around 40-45MB/s write using NTFS.
These are not guaranteed speeds by any means, but normally we average at least ~85MB/s read and 35-40MB/s write.
Currently only CIFS/SAMBA and FTP is supported.

[Automate]

@pete  Since you like small OpenWrt devices you may want to look at this http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/vocore-a-coin-sized-linux-computer-with-wifi/x/4207492#home

Only 1" square

[pete]

Thank you automate! 

Very neato stuff!

Yeah historically here have a "few" microrouters but they all had only one network port and one USB port.

Mostly though played with DD-WRT mods; never really played much with OpenWRT mods.

Just goofing a bit with the TP-Link to get familiar with OpenWRT. 

I do though want to see if I can fit the 3G/4G USB dongle inside of the tiny case.

[eldaria]

Thank you automate! 

Very neato stuff!

Yeah historically here have a "few" microrouters but they all had only one network port and one USB port.

Mostly though played with DD-WRT mods; never really played much with OpenWRT mods.

Just goofing a bit with the TP-Link to get familiar with OpenWRT. 

I do though want to see if I can fit the 3G/4G USB dongle inside of the tiny case.

This was cool, I pledged for one with a dock.

[Automate]

@pete  Since you like small OpenWrt devices you may want to look at this http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/vocore-a-coin-sized-linux-computer-with-wifi/x/4207492#home

Only 1" square

Here's another WiFi/Ethernet OpenWrt device.  Not as small as the last one but does come with standard Arduino connectors so you can use shields.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/arbor-linux-shield-an-openwrt-wifi-development-board-for-arduino-other-mcus/x/4207492

[pete]

Thank you Automate!

Yup; here I was a bit late at the local Radio Shack when it was closing out of its Arduino stuff.  It was a neato place for the "on demand" I need it now type Arduino stuff.  I did meet another Almond + backer there and we chatted for an hour or two about the Almond +. 

I was amazed with his knowledge base and what he was doing (he was in a wheelchair and was doing automation things to help him to do stuff faster and help him).