Netboot: pi zero stylee edition
While we wait for a multicart from
@brizzo or
@Darksoft.....
@Finisterre and I have been working on some netboot alternatives. Basically ways to make it a little easier to accomplish, i.e. automation.
One way we've explored is using the travel router class of network devices, such as a tplink tl-mr3040 or a tl-mr3020, plugged into a netdimm and run them in bridge mode. This can work off your home router, if it can dhcp properly. See:
Details on how to use the "REMOTE" (DHCP) setting with a NetDIMM to get a "GOOD" Network Test
@Finisterre coded up a ruby web application that will poll the dhcp leases file and auto populate a drop down so you can push games based on active dhcp'd netdimms. All of this was combined with an asus tinkerboard and a local network was built for linking cabs and/or just general mass netbooting. Asus tinkerboard serves up an access point that the tl-mr3020's are auto configured to connect to. A web app is served up by the asus tinkerboard. One can join the AP with a phone/tablet/laptop/computer, then just push games out. The same functionality exists off the ethernet port on the asus tinkerboard. There are a lot more details here (like assigning multiple IP addresses to a network interface due to the fact that games auto assign different IPs to platforms like the Chihiro) but that is a little background to get us here.
So,
@Finisterre and I were talking recently and he suggested a solution where you could just swap out sd cards and auto load a new game. This would be akin to the CF readers, but over ethernet. We talked a bit about it, then let it marinate.
Well, insomnia is a motherfucker and I couldn't sleep last night. So I banged it out in a couple hours.
Here you go:
I'm currently working out a few kinks, but it should be ready to go soon. So hopefully I'll be posting an sd card image soon or steps on how to recreate it. To accomplish what occurred in the video you'll need these:
A pi0 (I am using a W in the video, will test on a regular ass pi0) - $5 at microcenter
A power cord for the pi0 - regular ass microUSB cable
A usb network adapter - these start at about $4 on amazon, locally probably more like $10
A micro sd card - any size over 2gb will work. - 8bg can be had for ~$5 on amazon
A regular ass network cable - you do not need a cross over cable
So you are looking at <$20 here. Plus a netdimm. (for all caveats related to netdimms, see
@twistedsymphony thorough post here:
How to Net-boot NAOMI/Tri-Force/Chihiro Using Pi-Force Tools)
The scripts I wrote look in a specific folder, take the file in that folder, and pushes it to the netdimm. To change games you would put the .bin in the appropriate folder on the sd card, shove it in the pi0, then let it boot up. Or just have a stack of sd cards are deck ready to go.
Netboot: pi zero stylee edition