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NSLU2 aka SLUG

 

The Linksys NSLU2 is a small (130×21x91 mm) and cheap (~100€) consumer NAS device. It is used to make USB Flash memory or hard disk devices accessible over a network to share music, video, or data files with managed access by user name or group.

Hardware specs are:

• Intel IXP420 (ARMv5TE) CPU running at 266MHz (Originally at 133MHz)
• 32MB SDRAM
• 8MB NOR flash
• 10/100 Ethernet (built-in)
• 2x USB 2.0 host

The original OS is a proprietary Linux based system developed by linksys. It runs internal SAMBA server for file sharing and all configurations are done by web-browser. There is no other way to access the device! (At least from the original OS) …

1- Releasing the real potential of this little box:

I’ve installed an alternative OS from this great Linux community www.nslu2-linux.org. The UnSlung 6.8 Beta V23R63 will keep the original linksys web-interface and samba server but will open doors for the world. With this OS it is now possible to telnet or ssh into the Linux distro and install available packages for that specific distro. There are a lot of cool things that you can do with this little box, please check the howto section.

I’ve tested myself some of the howto all with success:

RedBoot/Flash

• InstallUnslungFirmware
  
• TelnetIntoRedBoot

Hardware

• OpenTheCase
• OverClockTheSlug
• AddASerialPort

Network Services

• FixTheClockUsingAdjtimexAndNtpclient

Remote Access

• UseOpenSSHForRemoteAccess

Email Services

• UseSmtpClient

Other

• Samba
• SambaFastStart

2- Debian 4.0R2 - Go that extra mile …
[installed: 02-01-2008]
[last updated: 03-05-2008]

I’ve have recently discover that Linux distro Debian is now prepared to run on this little box! This will give the slug the possibility to install almost everything available at the Debian repository, or at least the most common Linux apps. This can be done by following this great tutorial (Thanks Martin Michlmayr for this tutorial):

InstallDebian4.0R2

I’ve configured my slug to run from a 4GB USB Flash device, 500GB USB Hard drive for data storage and a 320GB USB Hard drive for backup.

After the installation I’ve started to tweak my new Debian slug:

• Synchronize Slug’s clock: apt-get install ntpdate
• Tips for running Linux on a flash device: http://www.cyrius.com/debian/nslu2/linux-on-flash.html
• How do I change the function of the power button on the NSLU2 to shut the system down as opposed to rebooting it?
• Beep ip address trough internal speaker / Beep when the NSLU2 has finished booting
• Lighttpd With PHP5 Support
• Install and configure SAMBA server
• Running command to configure PT language:
  dpkg-reconfigure -p low locales (added pt_PT ISO-88591)
• Install Dyndns update tool: apt-get install ddclient
  (selected interface web) http://ddclient.wiki.sourceforge.net/
• Install HD spindown utility: http://hd-idle.sourceforge.net/
  (Need more testing - HD is not spinning down)
• Spindown optimizations (Method5): http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/FAQ/SpinDownUSBHarddisks
• Install rdiff-backup for internall backup solution: apt-get install rdiff-backup http://www.nongnu.org/rdiff-backup/examples.html
• Keep Your Processes Running Despite A Dropped Connection: http://www.howtoforge.com/linux_screen
• Send email with scripts by using sendEmail tool: http://caspian.dotconf.net/menu/Software/SendEmail/
• Install Disk Usage tool: apt-get install durep
  (will create html files with data and bar graphs for better visualization)
  http://linux.com.hk/penguin/man/1/durep.html
  http://www.ubuntugeek.com/create-disk-usage-reports-with-durep.html
• Change console colors:
  http://jfmitre.blogspot.com/2006/04/arquivo-colourrc.html (Brasil)
  Apply point 2. of http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/unmaintained/Colour-ls
• Run script to a pre-defined time (nice to use when you need to wait for all files to be copied before running a backup): at -f /bin/beep_1234.sh now + 5 minutes
• Install htop tool: apt-get install htop http://htop.sourceforge.net/index.php?page=screenshots
• Install multitail tool: apt-get install multitail http://www.vanheusden.com/multitail/
• Change network configurations: http://www.youritronics.com/how-to-set-the-mac-address-from-etcnetworkinterfaces-in-debian/
• Add external DNS server to /etc/resolv.conf to fix problem from DSL router (stops resolving domains). Can also be fixed by adding IP/domain to /etc/hosts
• The slug fails to reboot with 2 drives connected: http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/Debian/TroubleShooting
• Auto mount/unmount external harddrive with autofs: http://www.greenfly.org/tips/autofs.html
• Auto mount/unmount remote fs with autofs and sshfs: http://www.tjansson.dk/?p=84
• Get a copy of my currently flashed image: cat /dev/mtdblock* > image
• Compile/Install webcam drivers (Logitech QuickCam Web): http://www.dicas-l.com.br/dicas-l/20050112.php
• InstalUsbWebcam HTTP Server - Motion

2.1- Slug Performance using Debian + Apache + PHP5 + MySQL + PERL
http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/uploads/SLUG_performance_report.pdf

2.2- Other Links

• Linux Commands

2.3- Psion 5mx terminal connected to Slug’s serial port (AddASerialPort mod required)

Every time I need to check something on my Slug I have to connect my PC and SSH into Slug’s to gain access to a shell … I finally decided to use my old psion 5mx series to connect to slug’s console via serial port. (Note: no software required to install, console is already running on serial port). Hurray, now my Slug has it’s own screen and keyboard!

2.4- Other Interesting Projects

• A High-Resolution IP Webcam: http://johnarthur.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/a-high-resolution-ip-webcam/
• Further notes on the NSLU2 and QuickCam Pro 9000: http://johnarthur.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/further-notes-on-the-nslu2-and-quickcam-pro-9000/

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