Easy "SD Image" installation or step-by-step full install ?

[ricorico94]

Hi,

I'm new to domoticz and to Linux, so having to learn the linux commands and architecture makes me a bit nervous. However, if I had good reasons for doing so, I'd be glad to jump to linux as well..
However, I couldn't find any Pros and Cons for the "Easy install" against the "long" full, traditional installation on a Raspberry Pi 2. I tried to look on the wiki, in the manual, in the forum, in other websites, and I could only find some fragmentary info..
Could you give me url to such comparison ? or listing here the Pros and Cons ?
For instance, here are the current statements I found.. (hopefully, they're true).

in Favor of easy "SD Image":
- easy (indeed I tried yesterday, and it worked, or at least it seems working so far ! )
- you can still add some modules (such as the google calendar: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=8333&start=0 )

Against easy SD Image:
- I can't setup an AZERTY keyboard (no one succeeded according to websites..)
- you can't use your raspberry pi for anything else than Domoticz (webserver, NAS,..)

Are there pros and cons on memory usage ? reactivity ? compatibility ? addition of later modules to Domoticz (easy in "Easy SD image' case, complex in other installations..?) ? Update of Domoticz ?..?

br,
Ricorico94

[gizmocuz]

- you dont want to have anything other running then domoticz on your system
- if you login via putty, if your keyboard working then ?

[ricorico94]

- you dont want to have anything other running then domoticz on your system

Is it due to limited capacity of Raspberry pi or for other reason ? If I could avoid duplicating sveral raspberry pi (for instance for a small PHP server, like for interface with Domoticz..?

- if you login via putty, if your keyboard working then ?

When I access via Putty session, I use another computer, also with AZERTY keyboard, and that one works well (it was even working well before I change settings with "raspi config"). It's only when using the USB keyboard attached to raspberry that it doesn't work.

[gizmocuz]

So you use putty then

You dont want to mess with a system that controls your home with other things running on that device (but... that is my opnion! )

[ricorico94]

I agree I would most likely not want to use it for non secured purposes, but I understood that some features or use case of Domoticz require a webserver and thus avoiding a second raspberry to host it could make sense, as these webservers would be for Domoticz.
I was also thinking of other "features": for instance, as Domoticz seems very sensitive to loss of power and thus corruption of installation, I read that some people make regular backups, and it could make sense that such backups are stored somewhere else (local NAS or cloud, or whatever else). I read that someone was using rsync: but is it possible to use the SD image for rsync tasks or for periodic FTP transfer of a backup to another storage location ?

[oliviers]

Hi,
If you don't want to use Putty from another computer, you may also install a desktop environment (like LXDE) on your Raspberry, and use the "Terminal" tool in that environment.
That works fine for me with an AZERTY keyboard, even if, like many other persons, I never could get it working on the original console.

And if you add a browser (like Epiphany), you will be able to access the Domoticz interface straight from your raspberry (http://127.0.0.1:8080).... No need of another computer!

I would also not try to install too many things on that small computer... Domoticz standalone runs fine, why risking to destabilize it? At the end, we're talking about a less-than-40-€ computer, don't we ? So, buy a second one for the other purposes. And eventually an HDMI switch to switch your monitor.

Re. backups, after significant changes to my system, I bring it down, take the sdcard out, insert it in my Windows PC and use Win32DiskImager to create a backup image. Yes, there's down time, but I don't have a "5-9" SLA to observe....

Oliviers

[gizmocuz]

I strongly do not advice to install the desktop, it slows down the raspberry, and uses more memory
putty is the way to go, it is also not complicated

[happer66]

Your 'easy' vs. 'full' install wouldn't really be all that different, imho. In the end you get raspbian (wheezy or jessie) with domoticz on it...
If you install a lxde or another desktop enviroment there's always the option of not using it (if you have raspi-config just choose to boot to a command prompt, and you'll have the option of a desktop if/when you need one by using 'startx' or 'initx' or something of the kind).

Last I had a desktop on my pi I had to use iceweasel instead of epiphany to access domoticz because it didn't handle html5 all that well. That might have changed now though, but I would still say iceweasel>epiphany

To answer your initial question (I think), the easy vs full you outlined wouldn't really make much difference in the end (AZERTY keyboards aside, I don't even know how they look like - QWERTY user myself and proud of it, ha ha )
If you do the easy and decide you want to compile domoticz yourself it's just a few steps away (but trust me, gizmocuz builds new binaries almost every day so you wouldn't be left behind), and it takes 30-60 minutes or so to re-compile domoticz - and that's a long wait when you're waitin'... So if you're new to linux I would advise you to use the binaries.. and do choose the beta ones, gizmocuz is a busy beaver - but the 'betas' are really stable if you ask me! I build the sources almost every day and even they run like clockwork).

I don't think you're limiting yourself if you do the easy method, that's my point I think... It's kinda late here, and I'm really tired, so this post might not make much sense in the end...
But good luck all the same!

[oliviers]

Hi,

I strongly do not advice to install the desktop, it slows down the raspberry, and uses more memory

Well....
With LXDE, my CPU consumption is between 1.5% - 2%, and memory usage around 40%.... (Raspberry PI 2B)
So we have margin left ....

Regards,
Oliviers