MM and UBUNTU. Made for each other.

bhepler

I did learn the hard way that a miniPC running an Intel Atom processor and integrated graphics is not suitable for Ubuntu and therefore the MagicMirror. The IGP does not have drivers in Ubuntu 14, 16, nor 18 and uses most of its power to render the desktop.

I might put the server version on it and turn it into a gateway or something.

Mykle1

@bhepler said in MM and UBUNTU. Made for each other.:

Intel Atom processor and integrated graphics is not suitable for Ubuntu and therefore the MagicMirror.

The only two laptops that I’ve had trouble with are both ThinkPads. I struggled with them and eventually gave up.

However, I did have success with a little piece of $h1t with specs similar to what you mentioned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ8t3UoKYu0

Total cost = $11

Specs:

ASUS Eee PC
Intel Atom CPU N570 @ 1.66GHz x 4
2GB of RAM
Intel Pineview M Graphics
Display 8.5" width by 5.25" height
250GB HD
Integrated microphone
Built-in WiFi
VGA port (for external monitor)

$11 on craigslist

64-bit Ubuntu 14.04 LTS
MagicMirror v2.1.3

Modules:

MMM-Advice
AlarmClock
calendar
clock
compliments
Cocktails
EARTH
EasyBack
Events
FMI (Find My iPhone)
ImageSlideshow
Lunartic
newsfeed
NOAA3
PC-Stats
voice w/ Hello-Lucy
WunderGround

bhepler

@mykle1 - Sigh. I suppose I can try again. Did you have to do any fiddling to get the OS to use a graphics driver?

Mykle1

@bhepler said in MM and UBUNTU. Made for each other.:

Sigh. I suppose I can try again. Did you have to do any fiddling to get the OS to use a graphics driver?

No sir. I did a standard install of ubuntu 16.04LTS (I only use this version. I tried 18.xx and had trouble) During the setup of the installation there is a click box for “use third party drivers” or something to that effect. I always click (enable) that option. I don’t know if it’s worth mentioning but I always use a wired internet connection during installation. It’s just faster that way as it updates everything.

Let me know how you make out. :thumbsup:

Mykle1

Recommendation Update

Actually, this is more of a recommendation confirmation. While you can use ubuntu 18.xx and MM together, I don’t recommend it. I just did a clean install of ubuntu 18.04. Newest stable node and npm. MM v2.6.0. Yes, it runs MM but I don’t see any benefit to using ubuntu 18.xx over 16.04 LTS. I don’t like the changes to the UI in 18.xx and I really don’t like dealing with all the vulnerabilities.

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS has a more intuitive UI (IMHO) and there are NO vulnreablilities to deal with. NONE!

So, for the time being, I’m staying with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. It’s trouble free and MM loves it, too.

I did a test install of Ubuntu 18.04 on a machine I found in someone’s trash. That’s when the vulnerabilities reminded me of why I don’t like 18.xx. Look at the specs. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

batfastard

not gonna lie, i actually have a i5 mini pc laying around and have been fiddling with the pis for weeks now trying to get everything dialed in and your post got me a little pumped to be able to use this pc i got.

i got ubuntu installed no problem…

i know NOTHING about it so i couldnt even get past how to install the wireless adapter lol…

so im scrapping this and going back to install raspbian on the pc and will try it at that point.

justjim1220

@Mykle1 Nice Find! :)

justjim1220

@Mykle1

I had version 18.xx installed, up and going just fine on my dev machine

I am used to dealing with vulnerabilities, since I mainly work with Windows

But, I just have my mindset to run npm audit fix --force & npm i lodash@4.17.5 -g & npm i acorn@^6.0.0 -g after every install of MM2. only takes a few minutes extra and it fixes all the vulnerabilities. Except for a few that come with some of the modules. With Ubuntu 18.xx, if I remember, I think just the npm audit fix --force was all I needed to do.

Mykle1

@justjim1220

Yes, as I said, I too had ubuntu 18.xx and MM up and running. I just prefer NOT to deal with any vulnerabilities which 16.04 doesn’t have. I don’t know of any benefit to running 18.xx over 16.04 and, as I stated, I’m not a fan of the new UI in 18.xx. I ran MM over Windows when I first started. The disadvantages quickly became apparent. Hello-Lucy never would have happened if I didn’t leave Windows behind. I never looked back. :-)

Mykle1

By popular demand

Install ubuntu 16.04LTS (internet connection HIGHLY recommended)

You MUST (check box) “Install 3rd Party Drivers” during installation

Fully update the installation via the software manager after installation (It often needs to)

Install node (includes npm) (I use node 8 )

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_8.x | sudo -E bash -

It will ask you if you want to install curl (gives you the command). Do so. Then run #1 again

This will complete the installation of node and npm

sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

Check for success of node and npm installation in your terminal.

run node -v (this will show your version)
run npm -v (this will show your version)

Now install MM

Run git clone https://github.com/MichMich/MagicMirror.git in your terminal

You may be asked to install git here. Do so. Use the command presented to you in the terminal

Then run git clone https://github.com/MichMich/MagicMirror.git again

Then cd MagicMirror and run npm install

Then run your mirror npm start