Speaking of such things, UPS that is, is there a solution where a single UPS running several computers can tell all of them, I'm about to shut down now so that all the computers can do a quick controlled shutdown?

By using a USB splitter cable (for 2 PC's) or a USB hub just for the UPS (and nothing else) should do the job of notifying all PC's to shutdown when necessary.

Cheers.

Speaking of such things, UPS that is, is there a solution where a single UPS running several computers can tell all of them, I'm about to shut down now so that all the computers can do a quick controlled shutdown?

By using a USB splitter cable (for 2 PC's) or a USB hub just for the UPS (and nothing else) should do the job of notifying all PC's to shutdown when necessary.

Doesn't sound right. Splitter cables are power only no data and are for charging devices.
A hub, do you mean to plug the UPS into the computer port of the hub and the computers into the device ports of the hub? Don't think that works because the UPS doesn't know how to drive a hub.

I'm guessing the answer is more along the lines of software on all the computers, one plugged into the UPS via USB and it sends via Ethernet to the others. Or perhaps an Ethernet enabled UPS.

The split cable solution worked well with mine.

Cheers.

I believe with USB connection the software on the computer polls the UPS.
Some UPSs with Network Management Ethernet cards can send out snmp messages which computer software listens for.

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So running a PI ARM processor is getting you a respectable 400 odd RAC?

How much was the hardware? (with a parts list maybe?)

How much time did you spend getting it working?

Thanks. This might be my "next upgrade" project :)

Looks like one of the Pi's is running anywhere from 6 hours to 12 hours per task. Hmmmm......

Tom

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A proud member of the OFA (Old Farts Association).

Mine, if it wan't sitting cold on the bench just now would be returning a RAC of over 400.
Cost to get going:
Pi3 ~£34 (including "pre-burnt" SD card)
High current phone charger ~£12 (yes, I did pay over the odds for it)
USB cable £3

And it took about thirty minutes to get it going, and NO fiddling at all.
Worst bit was getting it onto the wireless network on my boat which swore at me for a few minutes (but then it always does when I connect a new device.
The only thing I'm planning on adding just now is a heat sink, which cost ~£4.50 - when it was last running I sat it on top of an empty glass so that air could freely circulate around it.
Case? Well, maybe in the future......

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

I believe with USB connection the software on the computer polls the UPS.
Some UPSs with Network Management Ethernet cards can send out snmp messages which computer software listens for.

If you run Linux and the apcupsd software, you can set the apcupsd daemon to server mode and it will bring down all hosts connected to the UPS.

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Seti@Home classic workunits:20,676 CPU time:74,226 hours

A proud member of the OFA (Old Farts Association)

So running a PI ARM processor is getting you a respectable 400 odd RAC?

How much was the hardware? (with a parts list maybe?)

How much time did you spend getting it working?

Thanks. This might be my "next upgrade" project :)

Looks like one of the Pi's is running anywhere from 6 hours to 12 hours per task. Hmmmm......

Tom

Hi Tom,

1.) This was the first kit I bought from Amazon. $79.99
2.) This is the 5" display I got. It is powered and connected directly on the Pi. Cannot have the Pi in a case. Can be powered from USB. $35.99
3.) I then got 2 of these kits which do not come with an HDMI cable or the MicroSD card and OS (Linux). $54.99 each kit
4.) I got 2 32GB MicroSD Class 10 cards. It was a pack of 2 cards. $15.70 for the kit
5.) I also got 3 1FT Cat6 cables. I think I got them from Newegg, but they're not showing the brand I got which is Legend. Any will do. I got 1 footers because of my limited space. A couple 3 bucks or so. Do not remember. ;)
6.) I got 3 of these case with fan kits. They keep the Pis in a nice neat little stack; one footprint for all 3. $8.99 each kit
7.) And last, I got 2 of these standoff kits to build the stack. 1 kit was not enough. $12.99 each kit

The first Pi kit comes with everything but a monitor to get started. I didn't think about my monitor being a multi-input so I got a little 5" LCD display made specifically for the PI. I'll see if I can find a link to it and put it above, otherwise if you have a monitor that is multi-input, the first kit comes with an HDMI cable.

The first Pi took a couple days to get running on SETI simply because it was Linux and it was relatively new to me since it's not really a PC per se. It only took a few hours to get the other 2 Pis running SETI. There was more work involved because of no MicroSD card and Linux, but basically I already knew sorta what I was doing from the first Pi. I will have to put together what I did with the second Pis card and Linux wise. Gotta search around for stuff. Not like the hardware being all on Amazon. I'll get back to you with it.

Oh, one other thing that I already had from back in the '90s was a power strip. Don't get a power strip that is controlled by one socket to power the rest. That sucks. I will be replacing it with a UPS. UPS is better. :)

Have a great day! :)

Siran

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CAPT Siran d'Vel'nahr - L L & P _\\//
Winders 11 OS? "What a piece of junk!" - L. Skywalker
"Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide." - T'Plana-hath

Greetings,

@Tom H: The first Pi has instructions and the included MicroSD card already has the NOOBS software on it.

I'm having a heck of a time finding the install directions I used for the second 2 Pis. All I'm finding is a process that writes the ".img to the MicroSD card". There is no .img file in the .zip file I have for Raspbian Linux (NOOBS). The instructions I found were to unzip the .zip file. Then use a format tool to format the MicroSD card. I used SD Card Formatter which was recommended. Then copy the contents of the .zip file to the MicroSD card. Install it in the Pi, switch the Pi on and the install begins automatically.

I just found the instructions to install NOOBS on a Pi. This was what I used to get my second 2 Pis running Raspbian and SETI. The NOOBs download and card formatter links are on the page.

If you can, use a monitor with an HDMI cable and a wireless mouse/keyboard combo. There are no keyboard and mice connectors on a Pi. Once the Pi is switched on and the install begins, you will get a signal for the monitor. I just hit my monitor's Input button twice and it will automatically select HDMI if it is the first in the selection. It works on my Acer monitor that way. Any questions, I'll try to answer best I can. :)

Have a great day! :)

Siran

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CAPT Siran d'Vel'nahr - L L & P _\\//
Winders 11 OS? "What a piece of junk!" - L. Skywalker
"Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide." - T'Plana-hath

Greetings,

@Tom H: The first Pi has instructions and the included MicroSD card already has the NOOBS software on it.

I'm having a heck of a time finding the install directions I used for the second 2 Pis. All I'm finding is a process that writes the ".img to the MicroSD card". There is no .img file in the .zip file I have for Raspbian Linux (NOOBS). The instructions I found were to unzip the .zip file. Then use a format tool to format the MicroSD card. I used SD Card Formatter which was recommended. Then copy the contents of the .zip file to the MicroSD card. Install it in the Pi, switch the Pi on and the install begins automatically.

I just found the instructions to install NOOBS on a Pi. This was what I used to get my second 2 Pis running Raspbian and SETI. The NOOBs download and card formatter links are on the page.

If you can, use a monitor with an HDMI cable and a wireless mouse/keyboard combo. There are no keyboard and mice connectors on a Pi. Once the Pi is switched on and the install begins, you will get a signal for the monitor. I just hit my monitor's Input button twice and it will automatically select HDMI if it is the first in the selection. It works on my Acer monitor that way. Any questions, I'll try to answer best I can. :)

Have a great day! :)

Siran

Thank you and Bob Smith for the additional info.

Tom

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A proud member of the OFA (Old Farts Association).

Greetings,

@Tom H: The first Pi has instructions and the included MicroSD card already has the NOOBS software on it.

I'm having a heck of a time finding the install directions I used for the second 2 Pis. All I'm finding is a process that writes the ".img to the MicroSD card". There is no .img file in the .zip file I have for Raspbian Linux (NOOBS). The instructions I found were to unzip the .zip file. Then use a format tool to format the MicroSD card. I used SD Card Formatter which was recommended. Then copy the contents of the .zip file to the MicroSD card. Install it in the Pi, switch the Pi on and the install begins automatically.

I just found the instructions to install NOOBS on a Pi. This was what I used to get my second 2 Pis running Raspbian and SETI. The NOOBs download and card formatter links are on the page.

If you can, use a monitor with an HDMI cable and a wireless mouse/keyboard combo. There are no keyboard and mice connectors on a Pi. Once the Pi is switched on and the install begins, you will get a signal for the monitor. I just hit my monitor's Input button twice and it will automatically select HDMI if it is the first in the selection. It works on my Acer monitor that way. Any questions, I'll try to answer best I can. :)

Have a great day! :)

Siran

Thank you and Bob Smith for the additional info.

Tom

FYI the Pi has USB connectors so you can attach any USB keyboard and mouse.

I bought a starter kit, pi, pi case, HDMI cable, keyboard, mouse, and power supply, NOOBS SD card from Adafruit. Already had a spare cat 5 cable. Putting the Pi into the case took the longest, attached the cables, turned on the monitor and powered it up. NOOBS asked which O/S to install, and pretty soon it had finished the install. A quick trip with the package installer brought BOINC from the repository and then attach the projects. Even with DSL you should be done in under an hour if you have ever done any linux before.

I actually went through a couple of other steps as I wanted to use a larger SD card for long term, so I had to D/L the NOOBS .zip, expand it, put in on the SD card, then the steps above. I also put several other linux utilities on as I'm doing some other things with the Pi beside crunch. Also got the heat sink, it really is a must if you crunch. I run it with the top off so there is some airflow. If I was doing it again I'd likely get a case with a fan.

Oh, once you have set the Pi up, you can go headless and use VNC or whatever other fav remote desktop you like to control it. With a little more TLC you can make it a file server too. If you have some linux skills, it could even host a website.

after looking at this particular host, submitted link is this website from Japan https://icesword.co.jp/en/onlinestore/

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-[ snip ]-

Thank you and Bob Smith for the additional info.

Tom

FYI the Pi has USB connectors so you can attach any USB keyboard and mouse.

Duh! ;) Most wireless mouse/keyboard combos are USB even Bluetooth is USB. Ah, but what you're saying is you can hook up a USB keyboard and a USB mouse. Nah, I like the wireless combo better, one single dongle to deal with both. ;)

-[ snip ]-

Oh, once you have set the Pi up, you can go headless and use VNC or whatever other fav remote desktop you like to control it. With a little more TLC you can make it a file server too. If you have some linux skills, it could even host a website.

I must be doing something wrong here. I use RDC to access my Pis. Through it I can do anything on the Pi except deal with BOINC and shutdown or reboot each Pi. I have yet to figure out how to even shut down the BOINC client on each Pi through RDC. If I use the combo and HDMI cable I can shut down or reboot each Pi, but I still cannot use the BOINC Manager to shut down the client. It is not connected to the client. Oh well, perhaps I'll spend more time on them. ;)

Years ago I built a Linux PC and did get a web server running on it. It was not accessible from the outside and only I could see it using my KVM. I could access it from my Win7 PC. ;) I had no clue what I was doing, but was proud of myself for at least getting that far. ;)

Have a great day! :)

Siran

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CAPT Siran d'Vel'nahr - L L & P _\\//
Winders 11 OS? "What a piece of junk!" - L. Skywalker
"Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide." - T'Plana-hath

after looking at this particular host, submitted link is this website from Japan https://icesword.co.jp/en/onlinestore/

Greetings,

The .jp in the URL is the key to the answer. Yes, it is from Japan. :)

Have a great day! :)

Siran

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CAPT Siran d'Vel'nahr - L L & P _\\//
Winders 11 OS? "What a piece of junk!" - L. Skywalker
"Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide." - T'Plana-hath

I must be doing something wrong here. I use RDC to access my Pis. Through it I can do anything on the Pi except deal with BOINC and shutdown or reboot each Pi. I have yet to figure out how to even shut down the BOINC client on each Pi through RDC. If I use the combo and HDMI cable I can shut down or reboot each Pi, but I still cannot use the BOINC Manager to shut down the client. It is not connected to the client. Oh well, perhaps I'll spend more time on them

Siran

To shut down BOINC from a terminal or ssh prompt type “sudo service boinc-client stop”. To start it up again “sudo service boinc-client start”.

To shut the Pi down “sudo shutdown now” or “sudo poweroff”. Note it takes a few seconds to flush to disk/SD card, the green led will blink while it’s doing that. When done it still keeps the red power led on, but at that point you can remove the power.

To reboot the Pi “sudo reboot”.

I don’t put BOINC manager on my Pi’s. I use BOINCtasks on my laptop or ssh into them and use the command line. BT can handle all the BOINC stuff and the ssh session is used for OS updates, etc.

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BOINC blog

I don’t put BOINC manager on my Pi’s. I use BOINCtasks on my laptop or ssh into them and use the command line. BT can handle all the BOINC stuff and the ssh session is used for OS updates, etc.

So your PI's are not connecting directly to the server? I don't see them on your computer listing.

Tom

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A proud member of the OFA (Old Farts Association).

I must be doing something wrong here. I use RDC to access my Pis. Through it I can do anything on the Pi except deal with BOINC and shutdown or reboot each Pi. I have yet to figure out how to even shut down the BOINC client on each Pi through RDC. If I use the combo and HDMI cable I can shut down or reboot each Pi, but I still cannot use the BOINC Manager to shut down the client. It is not connected to the client. Oh well, perhaps I'll spend more time on them

Siran

To shut down BOINC from a terminal or ssh prompt type “sudo service boinc-client stop”. To start it up again “sudo service boinc-client start”.

To shut the Pi down “sudo shutdown now” or “sudo poweroff”. Note it takes a few seconds to flush to disk/SD card, the green led will blink while it’s doing that. When done it still keeps the red power led on, but at that point you can remove the power.

To reboot the Pi “sudo reboot”.

I don’t put BOINC manager on my Pi’s. I use BOINCtasks on my laptop or ssh into them and use the command line. BT can handle all the BOINC stuff and the ssh session is used for OS updates, etc.

Hi Mark,

I never thought of using the terminal and terminal commands to do that. Sign of a Linux noobie. ;) I will keep this in mind when I need to deal with my Pis. Thank you! :)

Have a great day!

Siran

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CAPT Siran d'Vel'nahr - L L & P _\\//
Winders 11 OS? "What a piece of junk!" - L. Skywalker
"Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide." - T'Plana-hath

IIRC RDC blocks you from being able to do some things. I know in DOZE it won't allow you to select a reboot of a remote machine. VNC will.

IIRC RDC blocks you from being able to do some things. I know in DOZE it won't allow you to select a reboot of a remote machine. VNC will.

Hi Gary,

At the risk of sounding cynical, VNC does not seem to be the right fit for me. I hate everything CLOUD! I don't do anything that requires an account on a cloud. I don't even have an account at Micro$oft for their OneDrive service for Windows 10. The free and professional versions only work through a cloud connection. And why does each device need software installed? I did not have to install any additional software on my Pis to access them with RDC. All I needed to do was make a few configuration setting changes/additions on each Pi.

If I cannot do something with RDC, then I will use my wireless combo and HDMI monitor input on each Pi. RDC eliminates the extra keyboard and mouse and video input. But hey. I'll do what it takes and without the requirement of a cloud account, free or pro.

Have a great day! :)

Siran

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CAPT Siran d'Vel'nahr - L L & P _\\//
Winders 11 OS? "What a piece of junk!" - L. Skywalker
"Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide." - T'Plana-hath

VNC is a stand alone app, and very small at that.

The Pi likely already has 'DesktopSharing' you are likely using it.
On Windows install TightVNC, you don't need the server.

Connect to Pi IP address, done :D

VNC is multi-platform - Mac, PC, Linux, Phone even, it doesn't care.

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