Building a Car Computer

Forum: User Feedback
Topic: Building a Car Computer
started by: Headly

Posted by Headly on Aug. 07 2005,07:01

Hi Guys,
Let me start by saying what a great looking distro!
I really hope I can get DSL to do what I want.

I’m working on a project to build a computer for my car with the ultimate goal of hooking it to the GPS that I already have installed and using it for navigation in remote areas of Australia. I thought rather than guessing and using trial and error to pick the best way to install DSL (for my project) I thought I’d ask the question early.

The hardware (on order) I plan to use is a mini ITX motherboard with an 800 Mhz CPU and 512 Mb ram. Due to potential vibration problems on rough roads I have opted not to use a hard disk but instead to use a 512 Mb CF card with one of those gadgets that connects it to an IDE controller. I may or may not install CD / DVD drive depending on how small the unit comes out. So USB or Ethernet will probably be the only way for me to get things in and out after the initial install. I’ll be able to hook up a CD while it is on the test bench.

I have read the FAQ’s and some of the documentation and I can see that there are many ways that I could approach this project. I have been playing with DSL on my laptop and have a bit of an understanding of how it all goes together however some areas are a bit blurry but I’ll wait until I run into specific problems before I ask those questions.

OK enough of the introduction and on to my questions.

1) What is the best way to boot from my IDE/CF card and load my applications?

2) Can I change the default Boot: options so that I don’t need type anything as the system starts up?

3) Should I be running from RAM (toram) so I don’t wear out my CF card in a hurry?

4) Has anyone used DSL with a touch screen instead of a mouse and an on screen keyboard when only a small amount of input is required?

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

David

Posted by RoGuE_StreaK on Aug. 08 2005,00:56

Some general thoughts, I'm not really qualified to give "advice" as I haven't used half of what you are talking about:

1, 2, 3. I'd say frugal install, loading toram, WITHOUT a swap partition. From what I've heard having a swaf on CF is a great way to destroy the CF in a hurry. And as you have 512MB RAM, may as well use it!
As you won't be dual-booting (correct?), a frugal setup just using the default LILO boot-loader should be fine, and lets you change all of your boot options, including putting in "toram". Experiment first booting from liveCD to see what kind of boot options you can throw in to get the most out of your system.

4. No idea.

My thoughts are to experiment with a liveCD, get the settings and packages the way you want them, then create a backup file with these settings to put in your root directory, along with your desired dsl packages, so that they automatically load when you boot. Instant custom system.
Oh, I think I read somewhere about a setting to disable the "configuring hardware" at boot, saving time if you haven't made any hardware changes since you configured, but I haven't tried it and don't know the full story. But anything to speed up boot time would probably be worth investigating.

Posted by mstrhelix on Aug. 08 2005,03:43

Acually they already have car kits for this very purpose and I know it will run DSL. check out mini-itx.com they will sell you the whole kit or let you buy the pieces and put it together yourself....

Next question

Posted by cbagger01 on Aug. 08 2005,03:55

4) If your touchscreen uses the standard PS/2 mouse protocol, it should work fine with DSL. Otherwise, you will probably need to get XFree86 and use special drivers.

Also, there is an xvkbd.tar.gz extension in the "apps" section of the myDSL repository that can be used as an on-screen keyboard. It is commonly used as a point-and-click virtual keyboard for the XBOX port of DSL (xbox game controller is a mouse pointer, but not a keyboard).

However, if you are going to require heavy use of touchscreen inputs, my advice is to get a distro that is more oriented towards the touchscreen input method. Basically, you need a Linux version of "Windows XP tablet edition". There are some nice projects out there that use Linux and PDAs so it is definately a do-able assignment. For example, check out the "familiar linux" distribution for the Compaq IPAQ PDA with touchscreen inputs.

Posted by dmizzel on Aug. 25 2005,07:37

I haven't tried it yet, but it looks really cool! (except... it's not DSL)

Coyote MediaCar:

< http://translate.google.com/transla....&u=http >

And here is a car computer project using it:

< http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/bmwpc/ >

Posted by MrM on Sep. 04 2005,22:02

u dont wanna use hdd because of vibrations... try to use hdd from notebook (u can connect it through adapter) it is not so vulureable to vibrations as typical hdd. more. u can install it on some kind of suspension ;) its always more than 512mb.

Posted by timb on Sep. 09 2005,11:25

Quote (Headly @ Aug. 07 2005,03:01)

I am a newbie - about 4 hours old - but I have been there done some of that today....

I am using mini itx sp13000 in a car computer case.... 512mb ram 128mb CF for a hard disk

1 follow the frugal install pdf document - it worked first go - with brain in neutral. With the 128Mb CF there was TONS of room

2 - need a few more hours - but yes - you will be able to do this

3 - yes use toram BUT watch out everything loads so damn fast you will start looking at your beloved desk/game/hot machine and thinking - how come you are so slow?

- toram - oh yeah

4 - not yet but thats where I am headed - for my application

this may not help - but at least you know that some one else is out there doing it - good luck - and if you get to the touch screen before me - let me know how it goes.... I am expecting to have to modify (maybe write) a usb driver for it.... how hard can that be?