Configure Vortexbox for LCD Display

[jeff_f]

Hey Andrew,


On the slim forums a few weeks ago you told me to start a thread here about this and that you would help.


I'd like to get my VB working with a Matrix Orbital VK202-24-USB LCD display.


It is a 2x24 VFD display.


Hopefully it can be used to display now playing info and ripping info.


Thanks!

[andrew]

I think there is an mpd modules for this.




http://mpd.wikia.com/wiki/Client:Mpdlcd


http://mpd.wikia.com/wiki/Clie.....:Lcd-stuff (http://mpd.wikia.com/wiki/Client:Lcd-stuff)

[MikeDC]

What about an LCD screen that could show that AND album art? Something similar to the SB Touch screen, but without the control functionality.

[andrew]

MikeDC said:What about an LCD screen that could show that AND album art? Something similar to the SB Touch screen, but without the control functionality.


Just run a GUI with a web browser and use the SBS web interface on the screen.

[MikeDC]

Wouldn't that require a separate PC? I just want to connect an LCD to the VBA and get this display.

[andrew]

MikeDC said:Wouldn't that require a separate PC? I just want to connect an LCD to the VBA and get this display.


Yes that will work. You need to install Gnome desktop.

[MikeDC]

Thanks Andrew. Just a couple questions:




1. How do I install Gnome on the VBA?




2. So, I think what you're saying is that I connect a monitor to the VBA which is running Gnome and just run a browser to display some version of the SBS screen, correct?

[Ron Olsen]

MikeDC said:

Thanks Andrew. Just a couple questions:


1. How do I install Gnome on the VBA?



You first need to install the X Window System via


yum groupinstall "X Window System"


You can then install the Gnome Desktop via


yum install @gnome-desktop


As an alternative to Gnome, you can install the KDE Desktop (which I prefer to Gnome) via


yum install @kde-desktop



2. So, I think what you're saying is that I connect a monitor to the VBA which is running Gnome and just run a browser to display some version of the SBS screen, correct?



Yes. After you have installed Gnome or KDE, install firefox via


yum install firefox


When you run firefox, bring up the webpage at http://localhost:9000 for the SBS web GUI.

[MikeDC]

Thanks Ron!!




I got GNOME installed, but I did see several memory errors during the installation. And, it has pretty well crippled my little VortexBox Appliance.




Andrew, do I need to add more memory to the VBA in order to support a GUI?

[andrew]

MikeDC said:

Thanks Ron!!




I got GNOME installed, but I did see several memory errors during the installation. And, it has pretty well crippled my little VortexBox Appliance.




Andrew, do I need to add more memory to the VBA in order to support a GUI?




The appliance has 1GB of memory. This is more then enough to run Gnome. I have one here that has Gnome and quite a bit of Gnome software installed. It only uses a fraction of the total memory.




I have run Gnome on appliances with 25Mb with no problems.

[Ron Olsen]

Install the htop system monitor via


yum install htop


Then run htop from a terminal and check your system resource usage. Is there any swap being used? A well-running system should use very little swap, if any. It's OK if memory utilization is near 100% -- that's normal on a Linux system since it leaves things cached in memory.


What's happening with CPU utilization? Any processes using lots of CPU time? Any processes using lots of memory? Is firefox causing any problems with excessive use of memory or CPU time?


You can also check memory and swap usage on the VB GUI "System Status" page. Does this page show much disk swap being used?


You should be able to run a GUI on a VBA with 1GB of RAM, so we need to figure out what's going wrong.

[sonorejr]

I have been looking into LCD screens and I found one with integrated keypad. This would allow us to display artist/album/genres and allow for 5 button front panel contol of VBP. This would be a mountain for me to move, but if anyone is interested in helping program one just let me know at http://www.crystalfontz.com/pr.....x-usb.html (http://www.crystalfontz.com/products/index-usb.html)




This is a post on the Linux driver, but I have not read it to see if it's any help:


http://www.crystalfontz.com/fo.....php?t=4944 (http://www.crystalfontz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4944)


sonorejr