nanopi-neo--First Experience

2 nanopi-neo--First Experience

In the last section we introduced Nanopi Neo's appearance, resources, interface, etc., is not full of expectations of Neo. Without further ado, let's have a quick experience.

Figure 1.4 Nanopi NEO v1.3 Open box Check

Because Neo is started with an SD card, we need a microSD card/TF card with a running system, the system used for this experience is ubuntu-core with qt-embedded. OK, let's get started. 2.1 Preparation Work

To open your Nanopi Neo toy, please prepare the following hardware:
Nanopi Neo Motherboard
microSD card/TF card: CLASS10 or above 8GB SDHC card
• A card reader or a computer that can be plugged into an SD card
• An external power supply with a microUSB interface, which requires output as 5V/2A (can use the same size mobile phone charger)
• One USB switch serial port line
• An internet-capable network cable

Then download the required firmware and tools (address: Https://pan.baidu.com/s/1boQFxN5#list/path=%2F), and the firmware and tools we use here are shown in table 1.4.

Table 1.4 Firmware and tools download list

2.2 about Ubuntu Core

The Ubuntu core with qt-embedded is a lightweight Ubuntu system that has no x-windows environment and uses qt-embedded as a graphical interface, based on the official Ubuntu core system development. Ubuntu Core is a compact version of Ubuntu that can be safely run on autonomous machines, devices, and other digital products connected to the Internet. From smart homes to drones, these devices will revolutionize many aspects of our lives, but they need a different operating system from a traditional PC system to ensure it is more secure and manageable. The Ubuntu core provides a software platform that is easy to update and upgrade, allowing vendors to easily create differentiated devices that extend the life span of their products through software upgrades. 2.3 Making Ubuntu-core with qt-embedded system TF card

Unzip the downloaded firmware and burn-write tool separately, insert the TF card under Windows, and run the Win32diskimager tool as an administrator. Then select the TF card's letter, select the system firmware, and click the Write button to burn it.

Figure 1.5 Using the Win32diskimager tool to burn writing on Windows

Wait a moment, appear as shown in Figure 1.6 The hint window is burning successfully.

Figure 1.6 Burning write process using Win32diskimager tool

Note: If your system firmware holds a directory that is too deep or the path contains Chinese characters, it may cause write failure. 2.4 Boot Operation

It is best to install the heatsink before the power on and then insert the prepared TF card into the microSD slot of Nanopi Neo, as shown in Figure 1.7.

Figure 1.7 Nanopi-neo after installing the heatsink and TF card

Using a network cable to connect Neo to the local area network, it is recommended to debug the serial port at the same time (the use of DuPont line directly with the USB to the serial module connected, only Rx and TX, do not need a serial DC power supply). Finally connect to the USB power supply (5V/2A), Neo will be on the electric boot, when the blue led flashing on the board, indicating that the system has begun to start. The overall wiring of NEO is shown in Figure 1.8.

Figure 1.8 Nanopi-neo boot operation wiring Diagram

Open HyperTerminal connection Neo debug serial port (baudrate=115200), you can see the system started printing information. Figure 1.9 shows some of the information that U-boot started printing, and we can see that the U-boot version is 2011.09-RC1.

Figure 1.9 U-boot Printing information

Figure 1.10 shows some of the information that the Linux kernel starts printing, and you can see that the Neo memory size is 512mb,linux kernel version 3.4.39-h3.

Figure 1.10 Linux Kernel printing information

2.5 Login System

The Ubuntu core provides us with two login accounts, respectively:
(1) Ordinary User: The user name is pi, the password is pi
(2) Super User: User name is root, password is FA

If you are already connected to debug the serial port, when the system is started, you can see the interface shown in Figure 1.11 in the terminal. You can see that the system is set up PI user automatically login ttyS0, so do not enter the password.

Figure 1.11 Nanopi Neo via debug serial port login Ubuntu Core

We can use the command ifconfig to view Neo's IP address, and if you do not have a connection to debug the serial port, you can view Neo's IP address from the router. Assuming the IP address is 192.168.100.106, we can telnet to Nanopi neo via SSH. I use the SECURECRT 7.3 login Here, this time we log in with the root account, and the login is shown in Figure 1.12 after success.

Figure 1.12 Nanopi neo via ssh login Ubuntu Core

2.6 View System Status

We can use the top command to view the operation of the system, press "1" to expand CPU statistics. As shown in Figure 1.13, you can see that the CPU is really a quad-core, running Qte-demo, systemd and other processes.

Figure 1.13 Top Command View Ubuntu core performance

On this system, you can use the Cpu_freq command to view information such as CPU temperature, as shown in Figure 1.14.

Figure 1.14 Cpu_freq View CPU temperature

In addition, Ubuntu Core integrates Rpi-monitor, which allows you to view system status using a browser. As you can see from the name, Rpi-monitor was first based on the raspberry-pie project, which is based on Perl, built in webserver, and uses fewer SD cards after optimization. Because of its strong customization and scalability, you can switch to a familiar web Server, display service status, and even use it for video surveillance.
Execute the command "PS-EF" to discover Rpi-monitor does not run automatically, then executes "rpimonitor" to try to run manually. Error. "/etc/rpimonitor/data.conf" was not found.

pi@nanopi-neo:~$ Rpimonitord
Error while openning configuration file "/etc/rpimonitor/data.conf" because No such File or directory

Let's check this file to find that it is a soft link and the link is not valid.

pi@nanopi-neo:~$ ls-l/etc/rpimonitor/data.conf
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root, Mar-13:55/etc/rpimonitor/data.conf ;././rootfs/h           3/rootfs-core-qte/etc/rpimonitor/template/nanopi-neo.conf

So, we find our Neo board corresponding to the nanopi-neo.conf file, to do soft links again. Then start Rpimonitor or reboot the Ubuntu core.

pi@nanopi-neo:~$ sudo ln-sf/etc/rpimonitor/template/nanopi-neo.conf/etc/rpimonitor/data.conf

Next, enter the IP address and port number in the PC's browser: 192.168.100.106:8888, you can see the interface shown in Figure 1.15. Here you can see a variety of system information, such as version, CPU load, temperature, memory, file system, network, and various statistical data.

Figure 1.15 Using Rpi-monitor to view system status through a PC browser

Click on "About" will see a two-dimensional code, sweep through the phone, you can view the phone, as shown in Figure 1.16, is not very convenient.

Figure 1.16 Using Rpi-monitor to view system status through a mobile browser