Schlagwort: File Server

  • A lightweight file server running entirely on an Arduino Nano ESP32

    A lightweight file server running entirely on an Arduino Nano ESP32

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Home file servers can be very useful for people who work across multiple devices and want easy access to their documents. And there are a lot of DIY build guides out there. But most of them are full-fledged NAS (network-attached storage) devices and they tend to rely on single-board computers. Those take a long time to boot and consume quite a lot of power. This lightweight file server by Zombieschannel is different, because it runs entirely on an Arduino.

    An ESP32 is a microcontroller with built-in connectivity (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth). Like all MCUs, it can “boot” and start running its firmware almost instantly. And while it runs, it will consume much less power than a conventional PC or a single-board computer. Zombieschannel’s project proves that the Arduino Nano ESP32 is suitable for a file server — if your expectations are modest.

    The hardware for this project consists of a Nano ESP32, an SD card reader module, and a small monochrome OLED screen. The SD card provides file storage and the OLED shows status information.

    Most of the work went into writing the firmware, which Zombieschannel did with assistance from ChatGPT. That has the Arduino hosting a basic web interface that local users can access to upload or download files. Zombieschannel also created a command line interface that provides more comprehensive access via a serial connection. 

    This does have limitations and the transfer speeds are quite slow by modern standards. But the file server seems useful for small files, like text documents. Zombieschannel plans to design an enclosure for the device and it should tuck unobtrusively into a corner, where it can run without drawing much power.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzPNge3pa38?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    The post A lightweight file server running entirely on an Arduino Nano ESP32 appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • Adding an LCD interface to an old file server

    Adding an LCD interface to an old file server

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Servers don’t usually need monitors, keyboards, or mice. Because the user only interacts with servers through separate devices under normal conditions, a server can just be a box with with a processor, RAM, storage, and network adapter. But that becomes an issue if something is wrong with the server that requires direct interaction. To help his dad in those situations, Abraham Limpo added an LCD interface to his father’s old file server.

    Limpo’s father owns an HP ProLiant MicroServer that he uses as a file server. Its only real job is to provide storage that is accessible over a network and/or the internet. It was a simple black box, but Limpo upgraded it to make it more usable. He installed an interface that includes an LCD screen and a couple of buttons. The LCD shows the file server’s IP address, so it is readable without having to check the router for that info. And the buttons let Limpo’s father safely shut the system down without having to SSH in.

    An Arduino Nano board monitors the buttons and controls the LCD screen. It receives information from the file server via a Node app. Limpo mounted those in the ProLiant MicroServer using a 3D-printed frame that sits in place of the unused drive bay. The LCD is just a standard 16×2 character model, but that is sufficient for displaying the IP address and a little bit of extra information.

    The post Adding an LCD interface to an old file server appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK