[kwlug-disc] Small low power server for HomeAssistant

[Ron Singh]

Using a laptop also means having a built-in UPS...the battery:-)

Thanks,

Ron Singh


On Fri, Feb 2, 2018 at 11:04 AM, Charles M <chaslinux at gmail.com> wrote:

> In fact one of our first Xubuntu- based KODI servers was a netbook we had
> on/connected 24/7 to our TV. The netbook sat on a glass stand with lots of
> breathing room.
>
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 2, 2018 at 10:28 AM Ron Singh <ronsingh149 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Khalid, this project is very exciting! Would like to have an idea of the
>> networked devices you plan on using.
>> I wonder, despite the fact that they are not fanless, would a laptop not
>> suffice?
>>
>> See, I have an X220(i5-2540M), set up as a torrent/playback PC that is
>> never turned off, it is hooked up via a DP/HDMI cable to a TV set and uses
>> a HID-compliant wireless mini keyboard(with trackpad)
>>
>> In the BIOS, I have the Intel SpeedStep feature turned off, the power
>> settings are "battery optimized" and the thermal setting is also for fan
>> optimized.
>> Essentially, this 2,4Ghz CPu spends most of it's time at 800-ish Mhz. One
>> can force it to stick around 800-ish Mhz via TLP, but I have not tried that.
>> It runs Mint-Cinnamon-18.1, essentially Ubuntu 16.04.1 with the Cinnamon
>> DE.
>> With the laptop's screen set at minimum(it is all set up in the
>> basement), the X220 uses 11 watts idling and 23 watts streaming/playing
>> back 1080P media.
>> The X220 has a slow-poke 5400rpm 750G HDD which is set for a 5 min
>> spin-down when idle.
>>
>> Would this platform(an i5-equipped X220) or any other i3/i5 laptop be
>> appropriate for this end-use?
>> I have looked into fanless PCs in the past, based on mobile Intel chips
>> and crippled desktop chips, but they are pretty spendy with current models
>> starting at $400 and still needing RAM and storage.
>>
>> I have not played yet with this tool:
>> https://01.org/powertop/downloads/powertop-v2.9
>> but it looks real promising in its ability to really fine tune some
>> powersaving features of an Intel platform.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Ron Singh
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Feb 1, 2018 at 2:40 PM, Khalid Baheyeldin <kb at 2bits.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Looking into home automation, I settled on Home Assistant
>>>
>>> https://home-assistant.io/
>>>
>>> This is written in Python, and there is a Raspberry Pi 3 image for it
>>> already (Hassbian, based on Raspbian, which is Debian derived).
>>>
>>> Alternate install methods do work, and I managed to get it up and
>>> running on a good old AMD server running Ubuntu 16.04 using Python venv.
>>>
>>> https://home-assistant.io/docs/installation/virtualenv/
>>>
>>> Now, I want it to be permanently hosted on its own lower power server.
>>> The Raspberry Pi 3 is an option, but I want to make sure I explore other
>>> lower power servers that run stock Debian or Ubuntu 16.04 (or 18.04 soon).
>>> The reason is: the rich repository. If you want some package, it is already
>>> there, and you are not stuck.
>>>
>>> So an Intel/AMD server is desirable.
>>>
>>> Zotac have some servers that take power from a 12v adapters, and
>>> fanless, but they will be over $300 and up after one puts a CPU and SSD
>>> disk in them. An RPi3 is ~ $100 with a case and a microSD card.
>>>
>>> There is Beagle Bone Black, and Pine64. There is also Odroid. But all
>>> these have a very small community and running Debian/Ubuntu on them with a
>>> rich repository will not be viable in the long run.
>>>
>>> So the questions are:
>>>
>>> 1. Does anyone here use Home Assistant? Would like to hear your
>>> experience with it.
>>>
>>> 2. What other options are there for low power, low footprint servers
>>> that run stock Debian/Ubuntu?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Khalid M. Baheyeldin
>>> 2bits.com, Inc.
>>> Fast Reliable Drupal
>>> Drupal optimization, development, customization and consulting.
>>> Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. --  Edsger W.Dijkstra
>>> Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. --   Leonardo da Vinci
>>> For every complex problem, there is an answer that is clear, simple, and
>>> wrong." -- H.L. Mencken
>>>
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>>>
>>>
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> --
> Charles McColm
> Blog: http://www.charlesmccolm.com/
> Twitter/Identica/Google+: @chaslinux
>
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