Back to the basics - Installing Node-RED in Odroid (Part 1)

So far, I have been playing around with a cloud-based Node-RED framework (FRED) and a companion dashboard (Freeboard). Node-RED being the place where the logic is designed and tested. Freeboard being the graphic tool to display whatever might be relevant to the problem at hand (inputs, outputs, data from the web, etc). This  combination proved to be efficient for learning purposes and quick prototyping.

It is time now to focus on the a lower level since my main goal is to develop expertise on using Linux small computers as the brain of IOT control. I believe that, no matter how the sensors and remote devices get smarter, it will be always necessary to have a piece of hardware and software as the control center for an IOT solution.

I will document in this post how I have  installed Linux (Ubuntu), Node.JS and Node-RED on my  choice of  Linux computer, the ODROID computer from Hardkernel.



Board:

* Amlogic ARM® Cortex®-A5(ARMv7) 1.5Ghz quad core CPUs 

* Mali™-450 MP2 GPU (OpenGL ES 2.0/1.1 enabled for Linux and Android)
* 1Gbyte DDR3 SDRAM
* Gigabit Ethernet
* 40pin GPIOs + 7pin I2S
* eMMC4.5 HS200 Flash Storage slot / UHS-1 SDR50 MicroSD Card slot
* USB 2.0 Host x 4, USB OTG x 1 (power + data capable)
* Infrared(IR) Receiver
* Ubuntu or Android OS

eMMC Memory Module:

Ranging from 8GB to 64 GB. The module comes with Ubuntu image pre loaded.

What if you need  to update the OS of the eMMC Module ?  No worries since the below  eMMC Module Reader will allow you to connect the eMMC to an USB connection of your desktop computer or laptop  (via a card reader like shown below);

Case:

For safety and easy of use the board is housed in a customized box by hardkernel:

WIFI

IEEE 802.11b/g/n 1T1R WLAN module with Antenna. 

The Realtek RTL8188CUS-GR is a highly integrated single-chip Wireless LAN (WLAN) USB2.0 network interface controller compatible with the 802.11n specification. It combines a MAC, a 1T1R capable baseband, and RF in a single chip. The RTL8188CUS provides a complete solution for a high throughput performance wireless client. 

Power supply:

AC 100~240 Volt input 

DC 5Volt / 2A output Switching mode power adaptor EU / Korea compatible Plug specification : inner(positive) diameter 0.8mm and outer(negative) diameter 2.5mm 
The PSU's plug has 4.8mm round contacts. If your location uses a different socket (such as a 4.0mm EU-style plug, Australian socket, etc.) an adapter may need to be obtained by you.

Video: