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INDI Library v2.0.6 is Released (02 Feb 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Installing INDI/KSTARS-EKOS on a NanoPC-T4

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Does your Lubuntu system boot into a desktop? My Ubuntu system does (it starts the MATE desktop) and IIRC yours into LXDE. You should be able to add a start up application that starts the vino server for you. That’s what I did and it works like a charm.

Also have a look at the vino config settings using the dconf editor. it could be dconf2. I am not sure so please check yourself. There should be an option to keep vino running after you disconnect.
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5 years 7 months ago #28577

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Major breakthrough!
1. I got the NanoPC to login automatically upon booting.
2. It creates a hotspot automatically.
3. Starts the VNC server
4. Stays on after I quite my VNC client - and has no errors reconnecting over and over.

Now I just have two more task to figure out. Please offer suggestions!

A: I need the system to use a screen size of 1440 x 900 when headless (VNC). Right now it's a tiny block about 400x400 square!
B: need INDI Server to automatically start upon booting.

Then I will test it with my gear as a headless INDI controller for my Astro rig.

Making progress! Thanks all!
5 years 7 months ago #28642

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I solved this by writing a small script, making it executable (set the permissions accordingly) and calling it up during startup.
I need to check the exact syntax I used (once I get back home), but the core element was to use the command

xrandr -s 1440x900

In my case I used a different screen size, but 1440x900 is what you probably want for your Macbook Air.

You can check whether that works by calling up the terminal when you start up your NanoPC and then enter above command. The screen size should then change. If it does, it is simply a matter of calling up the command during startup. In that script you can then include other commands as you wish to be executed at startup (e.g. KStars). Or you can just add KStars to the startup items.
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5 years 7 months ago #28645

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Thanks! I looked (and tried) but 1360x768 is as close as I can get.
Where do I put the command so it occurs while booting?

PK
5 years 7 months ago #28646

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Ok I found an easy to to autostart that commend. I just opened Preferences from the desktop, opened Default applications for LXsession, clicked on Autostart, clicked +add, and just typed "sudo xrandr -s 1360x768"
When I hit enter, it changed the heading to "manually auto started application" and executes it!
I tested it, and my headless NanoPC T4 works great!

Now I just need to get INDI Web Manager up and running.
Last edit: 5 years 7 months ago by Peter Kennett.
5 years 7 months ago #28649

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That's great, Peter! Looks like you are basically there.
One question, though: Why do you need INDI Web Manager? I just run everything on my Pi3 or my Zotac and log in via VNC. In other words, no part of INDI or KStars is running on my Desktop. That way I am completely flexible and can log in seamlessly from any device I want, e.g. from my Desktop until I go under cover, and then during the night from my iPhone, to check on progress and occasionally make adjustments without having to get up.
5 years 7 months ago #28650

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That is a good point. I guess I was just trying to have all options on the table.
I will test it outside when I get a chance and see if any bugs pop up.

Thanks again for your help!
5 years 7 months ago #28654

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A more Linux-esque way of doing this is by adding an X config file in /etc/X11/xorg.conf with the proper settings for your display. But the xrandr method works as well, yes :)
5 years 7 months ago #28657

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Hi Wouter,

I also tried that, but I recall that I had problems with the new resolution remaining set in Xorg.conf. It would always reset again after shutting down the system. I ended up resorting to the xrandr script solution in the startup items.
Can you post how you changed the xorg.conf file to maintain a stable resolution when running a headless system?

Best

Jo
5 years 7 months ago #28669

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Hey Jo,

This is the xorg.conf file I use on my Odroid with Ubuntu MATE:
Section "Device"
Identifier      "ODROID"
Driver "armsoc"
Option "Debug"         "false"
Option "DPMS"          "false"
    Option      "NoFlip"    "false"
Option "NoHardwareMouse" "true"
    Option      "NoG2D"     "false"
EndSection
 
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier      "Default Layout"
Option "BlankTime"     "0"
Option "StandbyTime"   "0"
Option "SuspendTime"   "0"
Option "OffTime"       "0"
EndSection
 
Section "DRI"
Mode            0666
EndSection
 
Section "Screen"
Identifier      "Default Screen"
Device "Mali-Fbdev"
DefaultDepth    24
        SubSection "Display"
            Virtual 1400 1050
        EndSubSection
EndSection

Apart from that I made no changes to the system.

Cheers, Wouter
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Last edit: 5 years 7 months ago by Wouter van Reeven.
5 years 7 months ago #28670

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Thanks, Wouter,

Looks very different from mine. I will have to dive into this again when I get back home.
Problem is, I solved this issue for my own system more than half a year ago and have since mostly forgotten what I had to do. That's the problem, when you are not working with these systems every day.
Last edit: 5 years 7 months ago by Jose Corazon.
5 years 7 months ago #28672

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Ok, let me know how it went when you have tried this.
5 years 7 months ago #28676

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