Custom equipment monitoring with OpenWRT and Carambola [linux.conf.au 2014]
Sometimes as a sysadmin you may need to monitor something that doesn't quite "fit". Perhaps you need to keep an eye on the backup generator, read status from an RS-485 connected control system, or talk to something exotic using i2c. But you want the familiarity and control of your Linux operating system. And management has imposed a tight budget, putting that dedicated $1+K monitoring system out of reach.
There are plenty of hacks on the web, mods to home routers and such, but you need engineering, documentation and repeatability. The Raspberry Pi, really aimed at the education/hobbyist market, has limited onboard networking.
In this presentation I will show how to meet all the above requirements using inexpensive, pocket sized, commercially available and supported embedded computers, running the OpenWRT Linux distribution for low up-front cost and only a few hours of time invested.
Topics covered include a brief overview of commercially available devices, configuring and automating installation of OpenWRT, connecting to i2c and other devices, and integrating monitoring into an existing system by means of SNMP, email or other mechanisms.
Andrew McDonnell has been a software engineer for well over a decade, having spent many years before that hacking code since receiving his first Commodore 64 at age 12. He has significant experience programming in C++, Java and Python and a multitude of scripting languages. Outside of family and work he sometimes has time to play with his collection of 8-bit and PC/XT-vintage computers; computing and electronics has always been his passion. He intermittently maintains a blog at blog.oldcomputerjunk.net sometimes posting how he solved a problem in the hope it may be useful to someone else.
by Andrew McDonnell
http://sysadmin.miniconf.org/presenta...
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