Re: [AD] My Linux HA book is done! (yeah :-)

[Neil Cherry <njc@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 28 Aug 2006 09:54:01 -0400, Marc_F_Hult wrote:
> On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 18:28:48 -0500, Neil Cherry <njc@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
> message  <slrnee4m5g.pce.njc@xxxxxxxxxxx>:
>
>>On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 09:27:09 -0400, Marc_F_Hult wrote:
>>> On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 21:38:46 -0500, Neil Cherry <njc@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
>>> message  <slrnee2ctm.nst.njc@xxxxxxxxxxx>:

>>> ( I'm in the throes reconfiguring my HA systems for parallel use of inputs
>>> by more than one control system. There's no insurmountable obstacle to
>>> Linux-based controller(s) or devices being used in parallel with other
>>> PC-based controllers (CyberHouse, CQS, Homeseer) or microcontrollers, for
>>> sensor and actuator data that stays in the analog realm within the signal
>>> path. Let them compete for authority and control, as it were ... ;-)
>>
>>There's nothing in this book about bringing up a controller with Linux

-[a bit OT from the book posting ]------

I proposed a Linux based SBC (no MMU use) for the HCS (I call it the
HCS-L). I received a few no votes and got a bit wound up on the
definition of embedded. Robert Morrison, the engineer who created the
HCS_C, did save my butt by posting that he's still supporting the
HCS_C (the FPGA is beyond me). I'm still going forward with the
HCS-L. Right now I'm working on the daemon (my own code or a GPL
library) and the XPRESS parser (an interpreted language based on the
original HCS II XPRESS). Lots of work is needed but it's do-able. One
thing I must do is tidy up the web site. It has lots of information
but is so disorganized I can't find anything!

> But I think that there is ;-) -- at least by my own slippery definition of
> 'controller', which can include controlling only part(s) of a 'federated'
> system.

This is not in the book, the HCS-L came to me after my main Linux
server running Mr. House started having a sector with bad ECC
(grr). I'm going to bring the HCS II out or retirement (actually it's
the Spectra-Sense 2000) for a little while as a redundant system. I've
ordered a 200MHz ARM board that should arrive tomorrow. I'll begin
sometime after that getting it working. I have another project in
between that I must finish.

I'm not sure I understand but I fully intend the HCS-L to be flexible
and play nice with everyone else. I intend to create daemons that
permit communication from XPRESS to comm-links (remote u-controllers)
and 'soft-links' (software emulation of comm-links). The soft-link can
be a demon, a remote IP attached device (such as on a terminal server)
or a directly attached device on one of the ports of the HCS-L (such
as USB or Serial port). A soft-link can be anything (so I can replace
the HCS II X10 module with an Insteon module for example). I haven't
figure how to add the extra commands to XPRESS so it can dynamically
add 'libraries'. Oh outside software will be able to connect to the
daemons to send and receive commands. That way Software such as
Mr. House and other PC-based controllers (CyberHouse, CQS, Homeseer)
or microcontrollers, can interoperate with it. the software will
remain 'open source' but I haven't determined all the licenses (most
will be GPL V2).

> For example, Neil's chapter on rolling your own telephone PBX / VOIP
> is worth the price of admission all by itself in my opinion. This
> was something that I knew next to nothing about before starting the
> read.

Wow, thanks that's quite a compliment! It's the chapter I'm most proud
of (I spent 3 months on it).

> I even got to like the writing style. (The "Dummy" theme grated a bit at
> first.)

That was a really tough thing to learn (the style), the editors are
really patient and they even told me I'm not close to being the worse
author they've dealt with (Yikes!).

> Well done!  Thanks for your effort. I hope that you earn a nickel or two
> also.

I was paid for the effort but not for the time. I doubt I'll ever
see the royalties as I need to sell a certain amount before I see
royalties. But I didn't write it for money. :-) If they ever need it
to be updated I'll do it.

--
Linux Home Automation         Neil Cherry       ncherry@xxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.linuxha.com/                         Main site
http://linuxha.blogspot.com/                    My HA Blog
http://home.comcast.net/~ncherry/               Backup site