[kwlug-disc] Small low power server for HomeAssistant

[Charles M]

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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