Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core Base => TCB Q&A Forum => Topic started by: ost on October 13, 2011, 09:20:27 AM

Title: hack eth LED's?
Post by: ost on October 13, 2011, 09:20:27 AM

I have a silent script running and Im looking desperate to find a visual feedback device to blink status/error codes.
My question is if anyone knows a way to hack the LED's of the ethernet controller, or are they are hardware wired?
Maybe by sending some dummy packets to nowhere?

I also have a SATA activity LED with no drive on that I could use if hackable.

Title: Re: hack eth LED's?
Post by: Rich on October 13, 2011, 10:40:38 AM

Hi ost
Instead of the NIC, how about the keyboard LEDs?
To turn on an LED

Code: [Select]

xset led NTo turn off an LED

Code: [Select]

xset -led NWhere N is as follows:
1=Numlock
2=Capslock
3=Scroll lock
This only effects the LEDs and will not toggle the actual keyboard function.

Title: Re: hack eth LED's?
Post by: curaga on October 13, 2011, 11:51:56 AM

You might just have some leds with kernel drivers, have you checked /sys/class/leds?

For the NIC, ethtool man page says it can blink the leds.

Title: Re: hack eth LED's?
Post by: Rich on October 13, 2011, 12:53:00 PM

Hi curaga
Ost mentioned blinking out error or status codes. Ethtool, from what I could tell, does not allow you
to control the LEDs, just blink them for N number of seconds. I checked  /sys/class/leds  on two
machines, one running TC3.4 and one running TC3.8.4 and both where empty, so I didn't pursue
that any further. The  xset  command being built in seemed like the simplest approach.

Title: Re: hack eth LED's?
Post by: curaga on October 13, 2011, 01:26:27 PM

Yep, as long as there's a keyboard attached and X running - I got the impression that there was no X.

Title: Re: hack eth LED's?
Post by: ost on October 14, 2011, 04:05:00 AM

Thanks, this is a silent system with no display or keyboard normally attached, so all I got is the ethernet LEDs and disk activity leds on SATA and IDE/CF. There is also a LED on the usb stick..
The sys/class/led is empty here as well.

Even the speaker may not be present for beeps.

Maybe I can make some signals by controlling fan speed? :D

Title: Re: hack eth LED's?
Post by: Rich on October 14, 2011, 08:44:30 AM

Hi ost
If it has a parallel port, attach an LED to that. Make sure the LED is rated for 5 volts or use a resistor
connected in series with it to limit current.

Title: Re: hack eth LED's?
Post by: bmarkus on October 14, 2011, 08:47:51 AM

Quote from: Rich on October 14, 2011, 08:44:30 AM

Hi ost
If it has a parallel port, attach an LED to that. Make sure the LED is rated for 5 volts or use a resistor
connected in series with it to limit current.

Or one of the control pins of an RS-232C serial port wich is usually on the motherboard even if not cabled to a connector.

Title: Re: hack eth LED's?
Post by: ost on October 17, 2011, 08:27:28 AM

Im sorry, I dont have parallel port or serial ports. In fact I have no LPC hardware at all (not even ps2 port). And I dont relally want to add any hardware at all.. But in theory I could use some USB IO adapter I guess.
Thanks for brainstorming tho..

Title: Re: hack eth LED's?
Post by: Rich on October 17, 2011, 10:27:31 AM

Hi ost
Since you keep on taking options off the table after solutions are suggested, I think your best bet
is to work out a code based on blink duration and pauses using  ethtool  and  sleep.