Pi Software and Hardware issues, Linux

[VK2ZIW]

Hi all,
Banana Pi (original) Allwinner A20 based
======== Kernel 4.2.X USB bugs a show stopper =============

Fedora 22 and Centos 7

USB works BADLY.
My $9 Gigabyte K6150 keyboard works well but as soon as you plug in any other USB device,
every USB device stops.
My Gigabyte wireless keyboard and mouse combo doesn't work. Period.
A USB1 or USB2 hub is not 'seen'.

With kernel 3.x.x everything worked well!!

Alan VK2ZIW

[VK2AVR]

So you're using a Banana Pi, not Raspberry Pi. The thread title is somewhat generic and "Pi" is assumed to mean "Raspberry Pi", which it's not. Sorry to nitpick.

Every time I think about buying one of the knockoffs I read a post like this that makes me think "yeahh.. maybe not".

[ZL2BKC]

Successful operation of USB requires a good reliable power source. Often there is insufficient power budget left for USB peripheral operation and wall adapter ratings are questionable. I recommend you try a good power adapter capable of 2A to see if that solves your issue. The apple iPad adapter is a good example of a trustworthy 2A adapter.

Wayne

[VK2ZIW]

VK2AVR
When the "Raspberry Pi" family has a SATA interface, I will consider them. Period.

Yes, I have a Raspberry Pi, the 1st. with only 256Mb of RAM, sorry, useless.

My question to you is:
Have you tried an o/s with kernel 4.2 X with several USB devices ?

As a Repeater Controller, it needs USB audio dongles and serial adapters.

[VK2CSW]

...The apple iPad adapter is a good example of a trustworthy 2A adapter.

Wayne

Until it electrocutes you

https://www.apple.com/au/support/ac-wallplug-adapter/

[VK2AVR]

^^ I'd still trust an Apple power supply over a Chinese one any day.

http://www.righto.com/2014/05/a-look-in ... ricey.html

When the "Raspberry Pi" family has a SATA interface, I will consider them. Period.

That's your choice and you're free to make it.

Yes, I have a Raspberry Pi, the 1st. with only 256Mb of RAM, sorry, useless.

Depends what you're trying to do with it. If you are trying to build something with strong SATA / Ethernet performance then you are better off with an x86 Mini-ITX motherboard. This isn't a deficiency of the Pi, it's simply that you're asking a $35 SBC to be something that it's not.

I have a Pi 2 at home and it is almost fast enough to consider using as a desktop replacement. Almost. Rendering websites is still too slow for my liking though. But for $35 it is *extremely* capable. Having said that, I see a lot of people trying to turn their Pi into a NAS. The Pi is not well suited to that task, you should use an x86 motherboard instead.

My question to you is:
Have you tried an o/s with kernel 4.2 X with several USB devices ?

As a Repeater Controller, it needs USB audio dongles and serial adapters.

I run a Pi 2 running Raspbian Jessie in my car, and it uses a 4.1 kernel. The USB is fully loaded with a wireless keyboard/trackpad, lightning connector for my phone (for charging and personal hotspot over USB), a Wifi dongle running in AP mode and a GPS. Everything works perfectly.

[VK2ZIW]

Fixed
===== power ==== POWER ==== USB POWER ====

The Banana Pi has the capability to switch the power to the USB.
Problem is, their switch device looses too many volts.

So, I put a wire from my 5V in, direct to the USB socket pair, all fixed.

The Banana Pi is perfectly suitable for a NAS with ONE SATA disk.
Perhaps a 2nd disk on the 2nd USB port.

All good, Alan VK2ZIW

[VK2ZIW]

Then came kernel 4.15.X and the introduction of Power Management.

Laptop and tablet power management has introduced many driver changes.

NOT ALL GOOD.

Ubuntu 16.04 with kernel 4.15.0-39-generic on my PC, ASRock Q1900-ITX repeatedly just stops
until I unload the GUI and boot up, just command line.
systemctl isolate multi-user.target
systemctl enable multi-user.target
systemctl set-default multi-user.target
revert: systemctl set-default graphical.target

==== Pi ====
Here also, same problem, just freezes, Fedora Linux upsbox 4.18.0-0.rc8.git1.1.fc29.armv7hl
Now running fine without the GUI, but only with "systemctl set-default multi-user.target" as above.
Booting up with no HDMI screen or USB keyboard & mouse plugged in, doesn't help.

In both machines, I thought I had a SATA controller problem.

==== A Raspberry Pi 3 Killer ====
Have a look at the RockPro64 by the PINE64 group. It has a PCI-E slot for a SATA controller!
Now, 3x 13Tb SATA disks and an SSD....

Alan VK2ZIW