Rack KITT
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A rack mounted LED array of [[wikipedia:blinkenlights]], 1RU, which emulates [[wikipedia:KITT]]s scanner by visual, but is similar to the [[wikipedia:BeBox]]'s blinkenlights for function. |
A rack mounted LED array of [[wikipedia:blinkenlights]], 1RU, which emulates [[wikipedia:KITT]]s scanner by visual, but is similar to the [[wikipedia:BeBox]]'s blinkenlights for function. |
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== What can it display? == |
== What can it display? == |
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* Status monitors |
* Status monitors |
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| − | ** KITT Scanner |
+ | ** KITT Scanner for system load indicator |
| + | ** Fill bars for memory/cpu/disk/whatever |
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* Error displays |
* Error displays |
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** Guru Meditation error |
** Guru Meditation error |
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** BSOD |
** BSOD |
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| + | ** Full bright |
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| + | ** red X |
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| + | ** scrolling words |
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* Screensavers (may require multiple in sync) |
* Screensavers (may require multiple in sync) |
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** Conways game of life |
** Conways game of life |
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** Matrix |
** Matrix |
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** PONG |
** PONG |
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| − | * other |
+ | ** Tetris |
| − | ** snow crash visual |
+ | ** Flames |
| − | *** heartbeat (slow speed) |
+ | ** ripples |
| − | *** screensaver (medium) |
+ | * other visuals |
| − | *** crash indicator(fast!) |
+ | ** snow crash randomness (error?) |
| + | ** heartbeat (status) |
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| + | |||
| + | It would also need a few buttons as it's own control at the 'standing at the rack' end, and maybe a basic 20x2 LCD |
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== Extending the basic idea == |
== Extending the basic idea == |
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* KITT scanner is at the left at the start of every minute, so ALL displays sync up, and it's easier to see which is fastest... |
* KITT scanner is at the left at the start of every minute, so ALL displays sync up, and it's easier to see which is fastest... |
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** say: scanner scans (a full left-right-left cycle) at X scans per 10 seconds, and only updates the speed every 10th second. That way every 10 seconds it is back to the left. 5 scans/10seconds = default. Integer scan count/10 seconds. |
** say: scanner scans (a full left-right-left cycle) at X scans per 10 seconds, and only updates the speed every 10th second. That way every 10 seconds it is back to the left. 5 scans/10seconds = default. Integer scan count/10 seconds. |
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| − | * most screensavers (esp Matrix) will improve across multiple lines, so a basic protocol to transmit data "down" and "up" (left/right too?) |
+ | * most screensavers (esp Matrix) will improve across multiple lines, so a basic protocol to transmit data "down" and "up" (left/right too? probably not for this iteration) |
== limitations == |
== limitations == |
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* how many LEDs can be lit at once as powered by USB? |
* how many LEDs can be lit at once as powered by USB? |
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| − | ** * http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?p=327983 - so, maybe 20? :/ Also, ensure USB driver is correct! |
+ | ** http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?p=327983 - so, maybe 20? :/ Also, ensure USB driver is correct! |
| + | ** Discussions with Brett at LCA2011 suggested closer to 80 or 100. |
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* how many LEDs can be controlled at what speed by PIC controllers? (PIC bandwidth?) |
* how many LEDs can be controlled at what speed by PIC controllers? (PIC bandwidth?) |
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* how much space (depth) to build this. The idea is it can sit in FRONT of a machine in a rack cabinet |
* how much space (depth) to build this. The idea is it can sit in FRONT of a machine in a rack cabinet |
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* http://www.thinkgeek.com/clearance/c58c/ - a thinkgeek product with 18 LEDs |
* http://www.thinkgeek.com/clearance/c58c/ - a thinkgeek product with 18 LEDs |
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* Have seen 36white LEDs reading lamp on ebay. USB powered. |
* Have seen 36white LEDs reading lamp on ebay. USB powered. |
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| + | |||
| + | note that Arduino will make all of this much simpler, it just wasn't around when I first came up with the idea. This page is yet to be refactored with Arduinoness :) |
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Revision as of 22:48, 27 January 2011
A rack mounted LED array of wikipedia:blinkenlights, 1RU, which emulates wikipedia:KITTs scanner by visual, but is similar to the wikipedia:BeBox's blinkenlights for function.
Contents |
What can it display?
- Status monitors
- KITT Scanner for system load indicator
- Fill bars for memory/cpu/disk/whatever
- Error displays
- Guru Meditation error
- BSOD
- Full bright
- red X
- scrolling words
- Screensavers (may require multiple in sync)
- Conways game of life
- Matrix
- PONG
- Tetris
- Flames
- ripples
- other visuals
- snow crash randomness (error?)
- heartbeat (status)
It would also need a few buttons as it's own control at the 'standing at the rack' end, and maybe a basic 20x2 LCD
Extending the basic idea
The basic display should be standalone, but racks tend to be in servers, stacked... so there should be a way to synchronise multiple rKITTs for easier overall displays. For eg:
- KITT scanner is at the left at the start of every minute, so ALL displays sync up, and it's easier to see which is fastest...
- say: scanner scans (a full left-right-left cycle) at X scans per 10 seconds, and only updates the speed every 10th second. That way every 10 seconds it is back to the left. 5 scans/10seconds = default. Integer scan count/10 seconds.
- most screensavers (esp Matrix) will improve across multiple lines, so a basic protocol to transmit data "down" and "up" (left/right too? probably not for this iteration)
limitations
- how many LEDs can be lit at once as powered by USB?
- http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?p=327983 - so, maybe 20? :/ Also, ensure USB driver is correct!
- Discussions with Brett at LCA2011 suggested closer to 80 or 100.
- how many LEDs can be controlled at what speed by PIC controllers? (PIC bandwidth?)
- how much space (depth) to build this. The idea is it can sit in FRONT of a machine in a rack cabinet
- remember to consider rKITT heatsink issues, and server case airflow issues!
further reading
- http://www.thinkgeek.com/clearance/c58c/ - a thinkgeek product with 18 LEDs
- Have seen 36white LEDs reading lamp on ebay. USB powered.
note that Arduino will make all of this much simpler, it just wasn't around when I first came up with the idea. This page is yet to be refactored with Arduinoness :)
