Beginner's questions

Hi everyone, 

New user here, and kind of stuggling...

I bought 30 IOT2050 (20 advanced, 10 basic) for a projet where I want them as gateways between industrial equipments (various protocols and connectivities) and an MQTT broker. I wish to use Node-RED as much as possible. So far, I've only been using the advanced version.

Overall, I think it could be a little more user-friendly, finding the right procedure or information is like treasure hunting sometimes :)

I could say I am a beginner with Linux (I only had some basic uses of Raspberries so far) and I want to ask you what similar users could probably need too :

1) The OS :

I found quite hard to install Node-RED from mel-setup (even when using the Service Stick bergmanu provided to me). I finally managed after reinstalling the OS with the Service Stick.

- I always see command-line instructions without "sudo" but in most cases I need to use it for it to work, is it normal ?

- I have no clue on how to use the Open Source package "109780231_OpenSourceSoftware", I managed to open the 4 zip files but only to find more zip files... Can anyone explain it to me or refer to some documentation ?

2) Node-RED

The package provided with the IOT2050 (V1.0.3) is quite old and doesn't contain any GPIO nodes... Of course, I found some through the forum, some with broken links or just as linked files.

- Is there any official online repository with all usefull nodes/modules or anything ?

- Can we share the existing nodes on Node-RED's official node list so that it's (way) easier to use ?

I also managed to install the very last version, but if I'm right it means I will not be able to use GPIO...

3) GPIO

I was hoping it would be way easier to use the GPIO on these devices... I tried using the mraa as CLI but I can't make it work well (at least not with Analog pins). To be honest I was thinking Node-RED would come with specific nodes preinstalled such as on the Raspberry Pi.

I am also scared of wiring anything on the arduino pins : I tried a simple potentiometer on a 5V pin + GND + A0 and as soon as I plug the 5V, the IOT2050 turns off. When I do the same with 3.3V, the device makes some weird noise and restarts. Of course, I do not insist anymore...

- How come it does not behave as expected on a simple Arduino UNO ? 

- Can anyone help me on this matter ?

Thank you very much in advance !

Quentin

Hi bergmanu, 

First of all, thank you for your answer, it is much appreciated !

I'll keep the template just to make it more simple :) :

1) The OS :

Very nice to know, I just tried and it's much more logicial now.

2) Node-RED

I was talking about Node-Red's V1.0.3.

I just reinstalled the whole OS from the Service Stick (as shown in the "SIMATIC_IOT2050_IndustrialOS_Getting_Started.pdf" / paragraph "3.7 Re-install Industrial OS from scratch").

Node-Red is still in V1.0.3 and there are no "GPIO" nodes preinstalled :(. 

Do I need to burn the "IOT2050_Example_Image_V1.1.1.img" on an MicroSD card or can I install this image through the service stick onto the eMMC ? I would rather not rely on sd cards.

I can see on the pdf (3.6) that "Instead of IndustrialOS, it is wished to use the Example Image on the eMMc" but there is no mention on how to do so. 

3) GPIO

I will soon try them out again, I have been too busy lately... The potentiometer I used should be fine, but I'll try with another one (and with another IOT2050) and let you know !

Overall, thanks for your kind support.

Have a nice week !

Best regards :)

Hi bergmanu,

Thank you again, I found some time to give it a try and it worked perfectly : 

Just in case someone needs it (to sum up) : 

How to install the Example Image on the IOT2050 Advanced's eMMC :

1) Change the boot order to have the mmc1 last

fs_setenv boot_targets usb0 usb1 usb2 mmc0 mmc1

If it says that the file doesn't exist, get the file from this link

2) Install the Example Image on a MicroSD / USB Stick (it will only be useful to clear the eMMC and then proceed to the installation, it is NOT the final image that will be on the IOT2050) from your engineering station.

3) Restart the IOT2050 with the MicroSD or USB Stick already plugged in. Check that you are well booted from the Example Image using "root" username and password, the hostname should be iot2050-debian and you should have to change the default "root" password.

4) Clear the eMMC 

mkfs.ext4 /dev/mmcblk1

 5) Copy the Example Image file onto another USB stick from the engineering station and then plug it into the IOT2050

6) Install the Example Image on the eMMC from the USB stick