Word from the High Seas!

Plat'Home recently heard from Steve Castellotti. Steve was instantly one of our favorite ideas - we were initially a little worried about the effects of salt water on the servers, but thought we would give it a go. Steve has received the OpenMicroServer and sent over some more detail on how he will be testing it out.

For the past two years I have been living aboard a trimaran in New Zealand. Like many computer professionals always working with bits and bytes can make technical accomplishments feel diminished because they are so intangible. This experience has helped provide a direct and physical hobby to enjoy and explore, working not only with one's hands but producing something that can be seen, touched, and shared. However, along with that environment comes special challenges, needs, and considerations for technology which include power consumption, physical space, reliability, and flexibility. Enter the OpenMicroServer.

My project will focus on integrating the OpenMicroServer into the existing hardware on board, and leverage the facilities of the Linux operating system to replace as many of those larger systems as possible. To begin, when at port I need a single, centralized server on the network to connect online via mobile data and act as a gateway to the internet. I also require a single repository for all of my data for work, as well as backup for my day-to-day laptop. The OpenMicroServer with a mobile connection and external hard drive attached to its USB ports will eliminate an oversized, overpowered machine that takes up far more valuable space immediately.

Next, while underway I need to be able to monitor the GPS positioning, performance data from the engine, and most importantly battery charge and discharge states from the bank. Considering the OpenMicroServer is already wired for 12 volt input and uses a maximum 3 amps of power, those savings are a huge benefit over a generic computer or even most laptops.

Finally, I am looking forward to simply experimenting with the device and coming up with new ideas as its capabilities unfold.

We are excited to hear back from Steve and be updated on the process! Stay tuned, we should have more feedback from our winners in the next couple weeks.

Thoughts from the Winners

We recently heard from all the winners that they have successfully received the servers and are hard at work getting their tests set up and ready to run. At Plat'Home, we hope to receive updates soon! In the meantime, we asked a couple of our winners how they felt about winning the OpenMicroServer and to describe their idea in a bit more detail.

We thought we would share some of the interesting initial thoughts straight from the minds of the winners:

Martin Ewing:

"I have an affinity for Open Software Systems, and I was tickled to have the chance to apply this device to some real-world problems. Because of the increasing cost of home heating and cooling systems, there is an urgent need for intelligent monitoring, control, and analysis tools allowing homeowners to know how well their system is working, so they can improve efficiency and reduce costs. The OpenMicroServer (OMS) may be the right combination of robust packaging, communications, processing, and flexible I/O for such an application. My initial objective is to connect the device to monitor operation of a "hydronic" heating and domestic hot water system. The OMS can collect data autonomously for web display and download to a local PC or through an Internet connection. High-level programming tools (hopefully, Python) should allow tailoring the system for specific installations with minimal programming skills. Longer term, the system can be enhanced to support intelligent control strategies for utility systems, including electric power usage."

Colin Duplantis:

"I intend to use the OpenMicro Server as an irrigation controller. Paired with the Rainbird Rain8Net controlled by the server's built-in RS232 interface and my purpose-built software, the controller will manage the irrigation needs of my 5-acre mini-ranch. The server controls activating the irrigation pump as well as up to 16 valves simultaneously. Currently, the software works on a set schedule, but, with the addition of inputs like a rain sensor, a wind sensor, and ground conductivity moisture sensors, the software can actually decide what needs water and when the appropriate time is to water. Additionally, the server calculates the most efficient combination of valves to turn on at once to match the performance curve of the irrigation pump. This prevents pump cycling, which uses excess electricity and increases wear and tear on the equipment. I was really excited to have a piece of hardware designed specifically for my environment. I think that the Plat'Home's small size and power requirements along with its resistance to heat and dust make it the ideal solution for my problem."

The Return of Chicken Sitter!!

Everyone here at Plat'Home was a big fan of the "Chicken Sitter" submission by Gordon. If you recall, Gordon has 4 hens that need a babysitter:

The hens naturally enter the coop in the evening and I close the door to keep out a wide array of predators. Since I may want to take a vacation or spend an evening on the town someday, this seems like a good job to automate. The server would view camera footage inside the coop and determine, as close to nightfall as possible, that all the hens are inside and close the door. The server could also handle daily feeding and watering duties.

Gordon was a close runner up to winner #4 in our initial selections. We have good news though! Due to lack of contact details from winner #4, we have chosen to award Gordon an OpenMicroServer to test out his chicken sitter idea!

We will be watching closely to make sure all those chicken's are taken care of!

Steady as she goes...

As you all knew, we were planning to choose the 5th contest winner at Interop NY 2008. We'd like to thank everyone who took the time to participate in the closing round of the Will Linux Work contest, but we regret that there was no real feasible winner idea and therefore we are going to move forward with our four original winners:

• Winner #1 lives aboard a trimaran in New Zealand and needs a small, low power device to record positional data and monitor the engine, fuel reserves and rate of consumption. The OpenMicroServer will be put to the test against constant motion, vibrations, a sweeping variety of temperature conditions and the risk of electrolysis from lack of proper grounding and presence of salt water.

• Winner #2 will use the OpenMicroServer as a controller for amateur radio repeaters in an unheated container on a 4200’ hilltop. He will also use Asterisk (open source VOIP solution) and modified USB audio dongles to interface with the radio.

• Winner #3 will use the OpenMicroServer as a home utility automation device to be more efficient with energy usage. The system will monitor heating zones, hot water and air conditioning system cycle times to allow extracting daily information and plan strategies for fuel and cost savings. Advanced versions of the system will allow for time-of-day scheduling to take advantage of variable utility rates.

• Winner #4 will use the OpenMicroServer as an irrigation control system. He has developed software to control his 5-acre pasture and orchard ranch’s irrigation system, but needs a server that can deal with the hot California summer heat (104°F and more) and ubiquitous dust.

And the Winners Are......

Drum roll please!

Today Plat’Home unveiled the four winners of the “Will Linux Work?” contest. As you all know, Plat’Home has been scouring the blogosphere and twittersphere on the hunt for the wackiest and most interesting ideas to test out their OpenMicroServer and see if Linux can really work in any environment.

Today we announce the winners :


• Winner #1 lives aboard a trimaran in New Zealand and needs a small, low power device to record positional data and monitor the engine, fuel reserves and rate of consumption. The OpenMicroServer will be put to the test against constant motion, vibrations, a sweeping variety of temperature conditions and the risk of electrolysis from lack of proper grounding and presence of salt water.

• Winner #2 will use the OpenMicroServer as a controller for amateur radio repeaters in an unheated container on a 4200’ hilltop. He will also use Asterisk (open source VOIP solution) and modified USB audio dongles to interface with the radio.

• Winner #3 will use the OpenMicroServer as a home utility automation device to be more efficient with energy usage. The system will monitor heating zones, hot water and air conditioning system cycle times to allow extracting daily information and plan strategies for fuel and cost savings. Advanced versions of the system will allow for time-of-day scheduling to take advantage of variable utility rates.

• Winner #4 will use the OpenMicroServer as an irrigation control system. He has developed software to control his 5-acre pasture and orchard ranch’s irrigation system, but needs a server that can deal with the hot California summer heat (104°F and more) and ubiquitous dust.

Why are there only four winners you ask? When there are clearly five OpenMicroServers to be awarded?! Plat’Home will award the fifth server to the Interop NY conference attendee with the best idea. This week Plat’Home will be attending the conference and will be asking attendees to submit potential scenarios onsite at their booth No. 1137. The fifth winner will be chosen at the end of the conference.

Our first four brave little servers have begun their voyage across the world to their new destinations though and are getting ready to be pushed to the limits! Please stay tuned to see how they fair! We will be reporting updates from the winners on the blog and Twitter feed and will cover the results of the experiments after October 7th.

The Will Linux Work? Contest is Now Closed!

Today is the final day of the Will Linux Work? Contest. Thank you to everyone who has participated and for giving us such great ideas! (Ok, if you send in a great idea by midnight tonight, pacific time, we'll still take it.)

We had people suggest home automation systems, chicken coop protectors, motorcycle internet automation, sailboat GPS systems, solar panel trip recorders...the list goes on and on! Really impressive all the interesting ideas out there.

Plat'Home is now in the process of reviewing all the submissions and we will notify the winners... shortly. Please remember to submit your email addresses to plathome [at] pageonepr [dot] com if you haven't already!

Thank you very much to every who submitted, and best of luck!

IDEA: Chicken Sitter

Gordon said...

I don't have a thermal chamber to test your devices, but I do have 4 hens that could use a babysitter. I propose, in order to give the CPU a workout, a chicken recognition program.

The hens naturally enter the coop in the evening and I close the door to keep out a wide array of predators. Since I may want to take a vacation or spend an evening on the town someday, this seems like a good job to automate. The server would view camera footage inside the coop and determine, as close to nightfall as possible, that all the hens are inside and close the door. The server could also handle daily feeding and watering duties. Email or twitter updates could also be provided.

This is a great idea! We love the thought of our servers watching over and protecting a coop of chickens!

IDEA: Relief From the Heat

Colin said...

I would use the Plat'Home server as an irrigation controller. I have developed software to control my ranch's irrigation system (5 acres of irrigated pasture and orchard). The problem I have is the controller in the pump room is subject to California Foothills summer heat (40C and more) and, worse, ubiquitous dust. I have yet to find a server that can run reliably in this environment.

Ah yes, the Californian summer is a challenge for hardware! We haven't had much of a summer over here in Tokyo yet, but I've heard this year has been pretty hot in the States. Our OpenMicroServer is already controlling things like a conveyor belt for sushi, so why not a water pump for a ranch in California?

IDEA: A Super Server to Run All Servers

Mark said...

Alongside my Bulletin Board System, media server, and Apache, I would love the opportunity to see if the Microserver could stand up to the test of running all of these servers in addition to an ArcIMS viewer.

That's an interesting page you have running, and the OpenMicroServer would sure be a power-saving alternative to host it. The question remains what threatening environment you offer that demands roughed-up server hardware? It doesn't have to be a hurricane. Or a bunch of school kids. Maybe you have a nasty house cat?

IDEA: Unleash a Fury of Kids!

einfeldt said...

Throw a server or two at us and let us have our middle school students bang on it for a while for video editing, photo editing, music editing, and (gasp) Internet browsing! Have you ever seen a roomful of 12 year-olds stress testing an Internet connection? It's not pretty.

Oh, we have seen what school kids can do to hardware! And yes, it's not pretty! Luckily, the OpenMicroServer is made in Japan and built with a sturdy aluminum case which can take on the odd drop or juice spill.

Hello My Name Is....

We are now entering the last week of the "Will Linux Work?" contest. We have received countless great ideas and will be choosing our winners by the end of the week.

Yes, you heard right...winners, in the plural sense! We have received so many great ideas and since we have 5 OpenMicroServers to give out, instead of giving them all to one person we have decided it would be much more interesting if we picked 5 different winners. This way we can really put the little servers to the test and try out the 5 best ideas.

We need your contact details though! If you have submitted an idea on this blog or on our Twitter account please email your name, email address and shipping address to plathome @ pageonepr . com We will be in contact with our winners by the end of the week, so hurry and get those contact details in!

Just to refresh your memories – if you are chosen as a winner, we will ship you a free OpenMicroServer and then you will have one month to test out your idea and report your results back to us by October 5th, 2008.

Hurry and send in your contact details!!