[D-Dan]

I’m still on it – no clue how. I guess the BS I sometimes post must count for something.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

Y’know – I’m an idiot. USB drive, trying to get it working as a network drive (with either a rootfs or two on it for the PIs, or a loopback device), plugged in to a router with restricted capabilities (CIFS rather than NFS, limited to FAT or NTFS). Now, two PIs, one running headless, not doing too much work, and powered 24/7, with nothing hanging off the USB ports.

I blame single malt whisky, but I had a revelation. Why am I using the router at all? Plug the drive into the under-utilised Pi and set up a proper NFS share from there.

The share is working (still NTFS at the moment, but tomorrow it will be ext4), and a proper NFS.

Doh!

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

Drezha wrote:

Looking at your original post – are you sure FAT32 will work? Isn’t that also limited to a 4Gb file size?

You are quite right. It was FAT32 and bombed at 4Gb. I went the long winded route, with a copy off, test an NTFS format, copy on procedure, which seems to be working. At the moment, I’m using dd to create a 64Gb file, which is currently at 16Gb, so looks like this might work.

Fingers crossed.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

I don’t mean to sound overly critical. RT is a different skill set entirely from my own. For example, this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oo293kIGPQ looks awesome in many parts, but I’d struggle to say it’s photo-realistic.

 

EDIT: Compared with https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/001/983/250/large/dee-van-hoven-nature-wild-grassfield16.jpg?1455551647

In a few years, I think the two (path tracing and RT) will come together, both as the programming and the hardware improve, but at the moment, the best path traced anims still leave the best RT behind.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

For the RT stuff, it’s low poly, with all the detail in the textures, which means putting a hell of a lot more effort into spec, normal, bump and reflections maps than you need to for a full 3D path tracer.

Path tracing, OTOH, tends to be based on highly detailed geometry and physically based shaders.

This is an issue when moving to RT, simply because the required detail isn’t there when converting. ie. The artist has to make standout, and technically superior textures for RT compared with what the path tracer artist has to do.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

The problems with real time rendering for the man at home is the amount of work that you have to do to get something looking half decent. Bear in mind that, unlike full on renderers (Blender included), real time work relies on low poly meshes with highly optimised texture maps. Creation of those maps can take an awful long time.

Having said that, some of the stuff produced on the unreal engine is absolutely amazing, but I shudder to think at the preparation time.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

Ed P wrote:

Could you make a Blender render farm from such a build?

 

Sadly, probably not. Whilst they can be clustered for some things, such as folding, there’s currently no mechanism to combine the processing power for a single task. Not to mention, there would be severe memory limitations for rendering.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

I’ve switched from official cases to a stacking case from ModMyPi. I have to say, it’s not just a space saver, but the ventilated build allows the Pis to run cooler and it looks nice, IMO, too. Best of all, it can be added to. I’m aiming for a 100 Pi tower 😉

 

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

Let’s analyse for a minute. We have a Government accusing Russia of murder on UK soil, without evidence (and escalating tensions whilst they are at it), then we have a woman who has been elected as PM by not a single man, woman or child authorising military attacks against a Russian ally, without Parliamentary approval, and without any solid proof of wrongdoing (remember, this atrocity happened in a rebel held town, and so could just as easily be hostile action).

If we are still a species next week, it’ll be a miracle, and will be no thanks to the megalomaniac Trump and the “trying to curry favour somewhere” May partnership.

Whatever happens in either case at the moment, until there is evidence, it is NOT in my name.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

I have a Ugee M708 on my desktop (Arch Linux) which works well, and wasn’t expensive. Support is built in to the kernel (I believe it uses the same chipset as the Huion).

 

All features seem to be supported, subject to the application supporting it (e.g. GIMP is hit and miss, but Krita and Blender work fine with regards to pressure).

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

I fell out withe the National some years ago. Horses being injured or shot for the sake of entertainment I finally found repugnant.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

There was a lecture about this, and it doesn’t hurt that the lecturer is easy on the eye.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

Mine is mainly used for reading the Metro on the train in the morning, playing Sudoku on the train in the evening, and generally entertaining myself during my after work beer. I settled on a Samsung Tab A (2016) this time, which is certainly up to the job for what I need.

Also got a genuine purpose built Samsung case, and much as I hate to say it, the extra cost seems to be well worth it. Much tidier than 3rd party cases, and has a (as far as I can see) unique stand mechanism which doesn’t involve having folding bits on the screen when closed and leaving an unsightly mess of smears on it. (My fingers still leave the mess, but hey ho).

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

Well, my plan to get one died with the death of my tablet the other day, so the money had to go on a new tablet instead 🙁

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

I very nearly got one at weekend. I currently have a P9+, and in the cold light of day, I couldn’t see that the P20 would offer me much over it.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

@Ed

SystemD is quite mature, now, and used by pretty much every distribution (yes, I took my time switching with the same concerns that you have), but controlling everything through the unit files is so much easier than hacking your way through, and it does, indeed, work as advertised, now.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

Ed P wrote:

If it doesn’t it is fairly easy to get a program to auto-launch on the Pi link. Some programs can be picky to auto-launch as they want other things like Ethernet up and running first. You can normally bodge these by launching a script with the requisite delays etc which then goes on to launch your desired program.

You don’t need to bodge anything. Most things start with a systemd.service file, to which you can add dependency order. That way, if, for example, you need the network online, you would add:

After = network-online.target

to the service file.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

I had no idea about PiHole, but having done a quick test, I love it, and one less extension for the browsers 🙂

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

I liked RetroPie that much, that I couldn’t decide between running the Plex install, or the RetroPie, so I just ordered a new Pi 3B+ and case. Probably won’t need an ethernet connection on it, so WiFi will be fine. SDCard is already prepped and working.

And next day delivery, all in £44. Now, look at the number of emulators it includes, and work out the original cost of them all combined. I reckon £44 is an absolute bargain.

As of tomorrow (or possibly Wednesday, since it’s late in the day today) I’ll have the plex server and the retro game machine up and running. Now, need to hunt down a spare good quality MicroUSB cable. I’m sure I must have one knocking about.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[D-Dan]

If I do bump into him, I’ll be sure not to yank at his clothes, then.

There is a Bill goes into one of the real ale bars, has hearing aids and is a slight build. Always wears a suit and tie, and I’d peg him at maybe 65. Dunno his surname. but I’ll check next Saturday. You never know….

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.

[Author]

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