Multi Display Media Server: HDMI, LAN. Your Advice

[greggpb]

Order this from pi factory.co.za



* add wifi if you keen


Install the default rasbian image on the sd card..

install chromium

autostart opening chrome on your webpage.. and boom...

Connect the pi to the hdm and usb port of you screen and you are done..

Should Take about 15 mins I am doing another one this week.. so I can send you the instructions..

** dont order 2 cases like it did.. oops

 

[|tera|]

Order this from pi factory.co.za

View attachment 121515

* add wifi if you keen


Install the default rasbian image on the sd card..

install chromium

autostart opening chrome on your webpage.. and boom...

Connect the pi to the hdm and usb port of you screen and you are done..

Should Take about 15 mins I am doing another one this week.. so I can send you the instructions..

** dont order 2 cases like it did.. oops

Please post the instructions. I kind of need it before deciding to fork another R1000 cash on something that might not work. I don't think my bosses are happy that I'm wasting money on things that don't work.

Can I configure a static IP, default gateway and edit the networking settings of the PI, or does it also require DHCP such as the Chromecast?

How would I manage the PI? Remotely, or how does it work? Does it have an interface and how do I get it to display what I want to on the TV etc.?

Thanks.

 

[greggpb]

We the Pi runs raspbian which is effectively Debian Linux.. so it can be a fully fledged server.

I am managing mine using VNC ()

Mine is setup using DHCP, but Static IP is an option

Mine has a website it views and refreshed every 60 seconds.

I am not sure if you are trying to stream media ?

 

[|tera|]

Thank you Greggpb.

No, I'm trying to achieve exactly what you are doing, viewing a website etc.
Could you please send me the instructions, a bit more in detail via pm or even in this thread how to configure it and set everything up.

If I can see it and get an understanding of everything it will help me a lot to see if this is the way forward for us.

Thank you for your time.

 

[greggpb]

CREATE BOOTABLE SD CARD

Using the Win32DiskImager program
1. Download the distribution from the raspberrypi.org downloads page or from a mirror or torrent. Make sure the distribution is for the Raspberry Pi, as others will not work. Usually these are zipped (compressed) files ending in .zip or .gz (something like "distribution-name.zip").
2. Extract the image file from the downloaded .zip file, so you now have "distribution-name.img".
3. Insert the SD card into your SD card reader and check what drive letter it was assigned. You can easily see the drive letter (for example G by looking in the left column of Windows Explorer. You can use the SD Card slot (if you have one) or a cheap Adapter in a USB slot.
4. Download the Win32DiskImager utility (it is also a zip file). You can run this from a USB drive.

5. Extract the executable from the zip file and run the Win32DiskImager utility; you may need to run the utility as Administrator! Right-click on the file, and select 'Run as Administrator'
6. Select the image file you extracted above.
7. Select the drive letter of the SD card in the device box. Be careful to select the correct drive; if you get the wrong one you can destroy your data on the computer's hard disk! If you are using an SD Card slot in your computer (if you have one) and can't see the drive in the Win32DiskImager window, try using a cheap Adapter in a USB slot.
8. Click Write and wait for the write to complete.
9. Exit the imager and eject the SD card.


SET TO BOOT TO UI

$ sudo raspi-config



SET STATIC IP
(this can also be don in raspi-config)
The quick way: assign a static IP address to your Pi. This is simple, but runs the risk of clashing IP addresses with other devices on your network since your Pi's address will no longer be managed by DHCP.
You can do this in Debian Squeeze on the Raspberry by modifying the /etc/network/interfaces file.

I removed the original iface eth0 line and replaced it with the following:

iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.1.222
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.168.1.1

On reboot, your Pi should now be using the static address specified in /etc/network/interfaces.


INSTALL CHROMIUM

$ sudo apt-get install chromium-browser



SETUP CHROMIUM TO AUTOLOAD WITH GUI

edit /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE/autostart and add the following line

@chromium --kiosk --incognito http://My.Awesome.site.co.za



this is a first pass let me know where you get stuck ?

 

[|tera|]

Thanks for the steps, appreciate it.

I'm stuck here already:

Where do I configure this and how do I configure this?

SET TO BOOT TO UI

$ sudo raspi-config


Do I connect the PI to the TV and the network and do that, or do I connect it to a pc, or a Monitor, or to what?

Apologies if it sounds daft, but I'm lost.

 

[greggpb]

Software is installed onto a SD car on a normal PC.

The Pi is a Full computer, so insert the SD card into the slot , then connect it to a monitor, lan cable and with usb keyboard and Mouse to set it up.

It will boot up and you will get a terminal that is where you type all the Commands

 

[AVSupply]

Thanks for the steps, appreciate it.

I'm stuck here already:

Where do I configure this and how do I configure this?

SET TO BOOT TO UI

$ sudo raspi-config


Do I connect the PI to the TV and the network and do that, or do I connect it to a pc, or a Monitor, or to what?

Apologies if it sounds daft, but I'm lost.

If you going to invest that much in a small piece of kit, why not put in a few more hundred bucks and get a dual core Android Box that supports a wired or wireless network connection, a Chrome web browser, remote desktop software, teamviewer, and anything else you might need, out of the box?

 

[greggpb]

If you going to invest that much in a small piece of kit, why not put in a few more hundred bucks and get a dual core Android Box that supports a wired or wireless network connection, a Chrome web browser, remote desktop software, teamviewer, and anything else you might need, out of the box?

par exemple ?

 

[|tera|]

If you going to invest that much in a small piece of kit, why not put in a few more hundred bucks and get a dual core Android Box that supports a wired or wireless network connection, a Chrome web browser, remote desktop software, teamviewer, and anything else you might need, out of the box?

Could you please suggest such a device and does it have a HDMI connection and can I do everything as you suggested?

Software is installed onto a SD car on a normal PC.

The Pi is a Full computer, so insert the SD card into the slot , then connect it to a monitor, lan cable and with usb keyboard and Mouse to set it up.

It will boot up and you will get a terminal that is where you type all the Commands

Thank you for all your advice and help. I will forward it along to my colleagues and we'll decide. Thanks again.

 

[AVSupply]

Could you please suggest such a device and does it have a HDMI connection and can I do everything as you suggested?

I pm'd you earlier on but never received a response. I'm not sure what you need to display on those LCD TVs, but if all you need is something to display on a Web Browser, or an application to stream digital content, one of our Media Players should do the trick

This is the most popular one we stock -> http://www.avsupply.co.za/product_info.php/droidtv-media-player-with-android-422-and-xbmc-p-437

 

[AVSupply]

If Bluetooth is important, this is a very nice media player / mini PC that can be strapped to the back of a monitor or TV

http://www.avsupply.co.za/product_info.php/android-quad-core-mini-with-xbmc-p-641

We currently out of stock but will have more in the next day or two (at customs as we speak)

 

[|tera|]

I pm'd you earlier on but never received a response. I'm not sure what you need to display on those LCD TVs, but if all you need is something to display on a Web Browser, or an application to stream digital content, one of our Media Players should do the trick

This is the most popular one we stock -> http://www.avsupply.co.za/product_info.php/droidtv-media-player-with-android-422-and-xbmc-p-437

Thanks,

As said earlier.

My requirements are:
Something to display a Web Browser such as Chrome with data that we have on our internal LAN. We will host the content on an internal Server, so the device should just be able to load and display it.

I need to be able to assign an IP address, default gateway and DNS Server to the Device, hence the reason a Chromecast won't work. I need something that works "without" an internet connection available as well.

We need to be able to use the device via Wifi preferably.

Can I remotely manage this device?

Would the above device work for these requirements?

I received your pm, but did not have the time to discuss the issue via pm, as everything is in this thread, so please keep the conversations here.

 

[AVSupply]

Thanks,

As said earlier.

My requirements are:
Something to display a Web Browser such as Chrome with data that we have on our internal LAN. We will host the content on an internal Server, so the device should just be able to load and display it.

I need to be able to assign an IP address, default gateway and DNS Server to the Device, hence the reason a Chromecast won't work. I need something that works "without" an internet connection available as well.

We need to be able to use the device via Wifi preferably.

Would the above device work for these requirements?

I received your pm, but did not have the time to discuss the issue via pm, as everything is in this thread, so please keep the conversations here.

Yes, my suggestion is to get the Q7 Quadcore Box then if wireless is important (external antenna). We should hopefully have them today or tomorrow.

Where in SA are you?

 

[|tera|]

Please see my edit above, you were too fast to reply. Would I be able to remotely manage this device, or do I need to physically be at the location of the device to manage it? Does it support Teamviewer, or VNC etc. ?

I am located in Mpumalanga, Nelspruit.

 

[AVSupply]

Please see my edit above, you were too fast to reply. Would I be able to remotely manage this device, or do I need to physically be at the location of the device to manage it? Does it support Teamviewer, or VNC etc. ?

I am located in Mpumalanga, Nelspruit.

Yes, it supports teamviewer

I'l test it tonight and see how much functionality it offers

EDIT: There are other remote desktop tools like VLC available. I'll test a few and confirm which works best

 

[|tera|]

Yes, it supports teamviewer

I'l test it tonight and see how much functionality it offers

EDIT: There are other remote desktop tools like VLC available. I'll test a few and confirm which works best

VLC is a Video/Audio Player, you possibly meant VNC?

Thanks for the testing offer.

If you could please verify if we can configure Manual Network Settings as well, as this is possibly on the most important factors of the sale. This and the HDMI functionality.

Thank you for your advice and assistance so far.

 

[AVSupply]

VLC is a Video/Audio Player, you possibly meant VNC?

Thanks for the testing offer.

If you could please verify if we can configure Manual Network Settings as well, as this is possibly on the most important factors of the sale. This and the HDMI functionality.

Thank you for your advice and assistance so far.

Yes, VNC

Static IPs are possible and all boxes have an HDMI port

Will you need remote control of the device at work, or will you need to connect over the internet?

Thanks

 

[|tera|]

Yes, VNC

Static IPs are possible and all boxes have an HDMI port

Will you need remote control of the device at work, or will you need to connect over the internet?

Thanks

We will need to Remote Control the device over LAN mostly, but Internet Remote Control would be cool as well, but not a necessity.

Thanks.

 

[AVSupply]

We will need to Remote Control the device over LAN mostly, but Internet Remote Control would be cool as well, but not a necessity.

Thanks.

Thanks, I'll test a few combinations for you