cyborgworkshop.org

Updated for ESXi 4
If you have a linux box and a 1 gig thumb drive, here is how to install VMWare ESXi onto that drive in 2 commands.    Download the ESXi ISO and then mount it in linux like so

mount -t iso9660 -o loop VMware-VMvisor-Installer-4.0.0-171294.x86_64.iso /mnt/esx

Now we’re going to write the installer file to the thumbdrive. I’m assuming the thumbdrive is /dev/sdb

tar xvzf /mnt/esx/image.tgz usr/lib/vmware/installer/VMware-VMvisor-big-171294-x86_64.dd.bz2 -O | bzip2 -d -c | dd of=/dev/sdb

This will take a little bit, but once it’s done you’re good to go. pop that drive into a USB boot capable board, configure your storage and away you go!

First off, WHIA v1 code is in the WHIA FAQ. It sucks, I know. that’s why I’m doing v2. Here is an outline of what I’m doing for v2.

• Communication is now query/response based instead of the arduino constantly chattering.
• Individual sensors can be queried or all sensors.
• No  more pressure sensors.  Too variable, instead my safety gear focuses on the number of registers open and inlet/outlet temperature. I’m considering a hot wire anemometer.
• I went back and forth on it, but I’m using two Arduinos talking I2C. One controls the inputs, one controls the outputs.
• Thanks to I2C, we have lots and lots of blinky lights this go around. Two for each sensor and one for each servo.
• I’ve stubbed in support for controlling the mini-blinds in each room via xbee or cheap 900mhz radio.
• I actually control registers instead of dampers in some of the rooms, chiefly the basement.
• Water sensors have been added in the basement and under the washing machine (long story).
• The big one, a web based gui for feedback and control this time.

It’ll be well into winter before this one is done and a few more weeks before I’m even at a stage where I can post code, but I’m going to stand up the v2 page anyways and just start putting everything out there. I did a really poor job of getting my code and schematics in shape and online for v1, so I figure the best way to remedy that is just to hang it all out for v2.

Thanks again all of you google ads clickers, you bought me servos and micros and are funding the work on v2!

VirtualBox 3 will allow you to have up to 8 virtual interfaces per VM. 4 of those you can create and control via the GUI, the other 4 you will need to use the command line for. No fear, Virtualbox makes this a very simple operation.
Here I’m adding virtual interface number 5 to a VM named pfsense. I’m setting that interface to be bridged to eth5 and making sure that the virtual cable is plugged in.

VBoxManage modifyvm pfsense –nic5 bridged
VBoxManage modifyvm pfsense –bridgeadapter5 eth5
VBoxManage modifyvm pfsense –cableconnected5 on

It’s that simple. You can use all of the connection types (nat, etc) and even change the type of nic hardware. It’s all fully documented on page 110 of the user manual.