Raspberry as a Server

Some rev 1 RasPis had overheating issues with the LAN9512 due to a design error which caused the LAN9512's 1.8V regulator to work too hard.  Rev 2 has fixed this and has much better heat dissipation for the LAN9512, so unless you're putting RasPi on top of a hot piece of equipment you're probably OK even if it's in a case.  A number of people added heat sinks to the LAN9512 and the SoC, which can help especially if overvolting and/or overclocking.  Some have added thermal pads to conduct heat to a metal case.  A fan is overkill, but adds a Steampunk aesthetic.  My solution for my rev 1 RasPi is to mount it vertically so there's fan-less air flow across both sides of the board.  It stays quite comfy even without heat sinks, especially since I rarely hook up Ethernet.

I suggest searching for "cooling" and "overheating" here and at raspberrypi.org.

I leave my RPi permanently powered up as a media server working from NAS via LAN and so far no problems.

I recently bought 2 RPi's. One is already set up on my TV with RaspBMC (I can control it with my TV controller through the HDMI link!!! I'm sooo glad!!!) and the other will be used as a NAS . I found this site ( http://elinux.org/R-Pi_NAS) that explains how to set it up. I am worried about this warning: «Note that Samba is is very easy to use but is not suitable for high performance. You may not be able to access high-definition video quickly enough using Samba.»

Have you tried to play 1080p videos over your network using the RPi as a NAS? Thank you!

Angello Reid wrote:

 

but I'm wondering if there is a limit of usage in case if I leave it working 24/7.

root@raspberry-pi:~# uptime

11:22:27 up 62 days, 16:19,  3 users,  load average: 0.16, 0.05, 0.06

Obviously conditions vary, and depending on what your ambient temp is and what load you put it under etc your results may be different. However I've not had any problems as yet.

I've had my model b rev 2 running for over a fortnight without issue, but i do a daily sudo apt-get update followed by a reboot, I will be trying out the samba wiki / tutorial.

Just wondering how you all keep your pi's up to date or are ye simply updating and not rebooting?

Is the reboot a habit i've developed from years of windows OS's???

You'd only really require a reboot for a kernel or firmware change. Everything else is just an app that can be restarted.

Even then, unless your Pi is specifically vulnerable (un-firewalled public ip address maybe?) then there's probably no need for daily reboots.

Rebooting for every update is a windows bad habit. Unfortunately necessary for windows. Even so, MS only releases updates once a month so daily would be excessive.

In a different, non-RPi, context I have a machine currently showing

20:02pm  up 587 days  0:29,  0 users,  load average: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00

Oh, and I keep my Pi up to date by compiling everything from source, so 'up to date' is a somewhat relative term. I'm likely several steps ahead in certain areas while having a fixed, out of date, version of something else where compatibility or not having a distro do something stupid behind my back is an issue. YMMV, I don't expect what works for me is suitable for anyone else.

@quiggers: apt-get update will only refresh your package list, to actually bring the software up to date you need to apt-get upgrade

then a reboot is sometimes needed but actually rarely. constant reboots are indeed a windows practice, but I found myself not rebooting my windows as often as I should, and rebooting my linux more often  than I need because I find it more convenient than manually restarting some services or resetting part or the whole of the network stack.

EDIT: fixed a typo.

@OP: save for the network chip overheating on some rev1 already mentionned, the answer to your question is not really straight forward. The best is "under reasonable condition it probably won't overheat".

I've had my rev1 board on for days and days and it would be barely feel warm by touch (meaning the temperature is slightly higher than that of skin probably less than 40C) if also depends on the ambient condition and the workload. If you're webserving the network chip will warm up, if you are playing HD video then the video core will, if you are recompiling the whole distro from source then the CPU will probably join the dance.

That being said even if you are overheating, damage will either happen instantly or after a couple years of abuse (not a science fact, just personal experience) Active cooling never really hurts check with the coolerguys they carry small fans operating at 5V. you can probably power them from the same source you power the Pi, just don't power them FROM the Pi

ref http://www.coolerguys.com/fans.html

also just for fun : http://simbimbo.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/time-to-light-the-fires-and-kick-the-tires/

Hi Pat,  no I have not moved up to 1080p yet, although I use BluRay’s into the Sony TV quite regularly.  The RPi is still fixed on 720 for the moment and being sourced with video library on what is now quite an ancient Acer H340 NAS still using the original Windows Home server V1.0

rgds

From: pat_harpoon

Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2012 3:19 PM

To: Fred Parry

Subject: - Re: Raspberry as a Server

      Re: Raspberry as a Server

      created by Patrick Lampron in Raspberry Pi - View the full discussion