What can you do with the Sheeva Plug
From ComputingPlugs
This question has been asked all over the net; what can you do with the Sheeva Plug? Well, if you have a NSLU2 and hacked it to run Unslung or SlugOS. Then you don't need to read any further, the Sheeva Plug is faster, more memory, better connectivity and easier to hack alternative to NSLU2. It runs Ubuntu or Gentoo and have a well stocked repository. It is everything the NSLU2 was made to be by the community but now designed as the primary purpose. Don't think about it any more, just order it, you'll love it.
For the rest, let me first say what the Sheeva Plug is not.
The Sheeva Plug is not a desktop computer. It is not meant to be used as a low power desktop with a screen, keyboard and mouse. You do not interact with it directly, only through the network. You could possibly attach a USB video output, USB keyboard and mouse but that would be silly. For the cost of the Sheeva Plug, USB video, keyboard, mouse and the screen you can get a cheap netbook. If that is something you're looking for, [the fitPC] will probably be better.
The Sheeva Plug is a headless server, and it is a very good headless server. People seem to think that a server as a big powerful machine that sits in a climate control room. Yes, there are those kinds of server, but most servers are just ordinary machines that serves files or provide some kind of networked service to users. The one thing all servers have in common is that it is always on.
People asks: Why do you have to leave your computer on? If you need to use it, just turn it on.
That is true, and for a while now people do turn off their computers because the computer is too noisy and draws too much power. I like to compare the Sheeva Plug to network routers that I'm sure you have. The router, believe it or not, is a computer. In fact, some people have gone through the trouble of hacking a router(openWRT) to do what the Sheeva Plug does. The router provides a services, and even though you don't use the service all the time, you simply leave it running for convenience. That is what the Sheeva Plug will provide, convenient services that is always available.
Here are some services the Sheeva Plug can provide:
- Centralized file server
- If you have multiple computers in the home or business, then a centralized file server will be very useful. It allows access to the files by multiple computers easier and it creates an environment where backups are easier to maintain. If the Sheeva Plug is attached to the Internet, then all you files are available for you anywhere you have access.
- Web server
- Web server does not always mean amazon or ebay. You can have a web server to host your pictures or video.
- Bittorrent
- Attach a big harddrive and let it go. Nothing else needs to be said.
- Usenet
- Upload or download from the Usenet with pan.
- SSH tunnel
- Secure all your web access from open networks with a SSH tunnel to your home network.
- Alarm clock
- Wake up other computers on your network.
- tvRSS
- Automatically torrent the latest TV shows with a RSS feed from places like tvRSS
- MythTV backend
- Run the entire MythTV backend on the Sheeva Plug.
There are much of use for the Sheeva Plug. If you want to know about other ideas, take a look at this forum.
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May 18 2009 1:59 pm
Please keep comments clean and constructive. Inappropriate comments will be removed. Thank you.
Jun 05 2009 8:16 am
Here is what I intend to do initially.
TwonkyMedia (DLNA mediaserver) SAMBA (network filesharing) FTP (Internet filesharing) rTorrent (obvious)
Lighthttp (webserver)Jun 05 2009 9:48 pm
I've never tired twonkymedia so I can't comment on that, but all the other will work just find on the SheevaPlug.
Jun 13 2009 9:00 am
A couple of media software sources have builds for media server software for the Sheeva Plug. The guys at Axentra (http://www.axentra.com/en/) have offered to fully install their HipServ OS (RedHat) and software and send it back for free. I also have access to eyecontechnologies.com software to use as well as HipServ. Just for fun I also got the pogoplug version as well. What I am asking: Is it worth looking into the other media server programs or would it be better to just set up mythtv backend?
Jun 13 2009 1:51 pm
It depends, the mythtv backend is really used to record shows like a DVR (or in my case, schedule recordings). But if you're looking for a pure media server, I hear media tomb is pretty good.
media tomb is in the repository, so just apt-get it
Jul 09 2009 12:51 pm
We bought a pair of 'plugs as soon as they were announced.
First thing we did was turn one into a web server: www.AzaleaRSS.com/Pogoplug/ All on an 8GB flash drive with Nginx and PHP.
I'd love for the other one to be a Tor box or run Squid with Iranian IP addresses.Jul 24 2009 12:49 pm
I guess one more possibility of the PogoPlug could be to host a personal OpenVPN server, along with SSH. And Jerry, that's a nice PlugServer you got there :)
Aug 13 2009 3:15 pm
Has anyone tried to install CrashPlan (which needs Java) on the plug? Not sure if there is a Java port for this CPU, but something like this device would make an ideal always on backup destination with a big fat cheap USB external disk.
Aug 14 2009 9:49 pm
Well, sun-java6-jre is available in the repository. So getting java to run might be as simple as apt-get install sun-java6-jre. Oh, sun-java5-jre is also available.
Aug 24 2009 2:47 am
Where it is true that the SheevaPlug is not designed to be a desktop PC, and a FitPC is a better option in most cases, it is still worth looking at. I am looking to install a couple of EPOS screens for a client, and I think that the SheevaPlug is the way forward:
I've been quoted £900 for an EPOS screen.
The Fit-PC2 Value is £175 inc. p+p to UK.
The SheevaPlug is only £85 inc. p+p. OK, so I then need a USB2VGA - £38 from eBuyer, and a USB hub - £4, but the total price inc. p+p is only £131.
I then need a TFT (£85 for 19") and a touch screen kit (£60), making an EPOS screen for £276 - less than one 3rd of the price I was quoted!
I haven't looked into it yet, but I see no reason not to go for a USB monitor - eBuyer have one for £115 instead of £123 (£85+£38).
Also, I'm not sure if it's possible, but I was thinking that one SheevaPlug ought to be capable of running two screens... if anyone has any thoughts, please let me know!
Davii
Aug 31 2009 2:16 pm
I suppose that's possible. Certainly it would be cheaper to build your own than buy a ready made EPOS. I'm not too sure if you could run multiple screens on the sheeva plug right now because that would be the X drivers has to understand 2 different USB2VGA cables. I would be a pretty neat trick if you could.
Sep 04 2009 3:27 am
Is anyone using the Sheeva to host websites? Basically a LAMP server with static IP is what I want to create.
If so, any pointers on the actual how-to portion of setting same up?
Thanks.
Sep 04 2009 5:41 pm
Rabideau, you're using a website running on the sheeva plug right now. I have instructions here that describes how to setup LAMP. I also have real time stats on the system. Both are linked from the front page.