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Running Linux On Your Swimming Pool

Forkenhoppen writes: "Ever considered having a computer look after your swimming pool maintenance? Check out this project by Richard J. Kinch. Mr. Kinch uses a Linux box configured with several shell scripts to control the chlorination levels of his pool."

174 comments

  1. Oh good God! by gatesh8r · · Score: 2, Funny

    What next? A device that runs Linux so that their toilet flushes? :-)

    --
    Karma whorin' since 1999
    1. Re:Oh good God! by tickleboy2 · · Score: 1

      That gets me wet just thinking about it! :-)

      --
      The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you. - Tom Bradley
    2. Re:Oh good God! by heliocentric · · Score: 5, Funny

      What next? A device that runs Linux so that their toilet flushes? :-)

      Hmmm... will you settle for one running slackware here -

      http://tbp.berkeley.edu/~harlan/projects/ToiletPap er.html

      --
      Wheeeee
    3. Re:Oh good God! by Ralph+Malph+Alpha · · Score: -1

      That (A) makes no sense and (B) isn't funny. Face it, you tried to come up with a creative FP, and you just failed at the creative part.

      --
      _________________
      EBAY SAFETY TIPZ!
    4. Re:Oh good God! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I like the www.ishit.ca one better, has pictures. I wonder what distro it runs.

    5. Re:Oh good God! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      umm http://www.ishit.ca/how.htm would have probably been better eh?
      It seems like its a windows box, that controlls the linux one using php

    6. Re:Oh good God! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, seeing all it is, is script.. It's not a 'Linux' thing per say... Hell, I can do the same on *BSD, Solaris, AIX, HP-UX, you name it!

    7. Re:Oh good God! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      >What next? A device that runs Linux so that their toilet flushes? :-)

      then you could flush linux down the toilet!

    8. Re:Oh good God! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmmm.. it even has an LCD screen and mp3 player. Gives a whole new meaning to Garbage in, Garbage out

  2. How many first posts in one day! by Pr0n+K1ng · · Score: -1

    A man can never have enough!

    --

    Oh well, back to dowloading pr0n...

    Pr0n K1ng

    1. Re:How many first posts in one day! by Ralph+Malph+Alpha · · Score: -1

      Oh, the shame!

      --
      _________________
      EBAY SAFETY TIPZ!
    2. Re:How many first posts in one day! by Pr0n+K1ng · · Score: -1

      I know! And it was so fucking close, too! He beat me by literally seconds. Seconds, god damn it!

      --

      Oh well, back to dowloading pr0n...

      Pr0n K1ng

  3. How to run Linux on your swimming pool by Klerck · · Score: -1

    1. Plug server into an outlet

    2. Get in swimming pool

    3. Pull server into pool with you

  4. Wow! by SirDrinksAlot · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Is there anything linux doesnt do!?

    I should make up a linux box that uses an Athlon to power my lavalamp!

    1. Re:Wow! by Restil · · Score: 2

      Got one... although its only a 486 that does it. But its running linux.

      To to the link in my sig and go to the den cam... and turn on the lavalamp. :)

      -Restil

      --
      Play with my webcams and lights here
  5. Misleading Title!!!!!! by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Hooking crap up to a serial port isn't exactly the same as inserting a Debian CD in your skimmer basket and installing LILO on your pool's boot sector.

    Anyway, mine runs NetBSD just fine.

    - A.P.

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  6. What was that again... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Hmm, is it just me, or does anyone else have that faint voice in the back of their heads screaming something about bathtubs, blowdryers, and toasters that may have adaptable relevance to this situation...?

    Er, i'm sure it wasn't important, otherwise i wouldn't have remembered that much of it. :)

    1. Re:What was that again... by heliocentric · · Score: 1

      does anyone else have that faint voice in the back of their heads screaming something about bathtubs, blowdryers, and toasters that may have adaptable relevance to this situation...?

      You mean you can hear them, too?? Do yours keep telling you about register 3 being open for 5 items or less?

      Except my faint voice that screams isn't so faint.

      --
      Wheeeee
    2. Re:What was that again... by ClickWir · · Score: -1
      In the text it says that he took precautions about things like that. The computer is inside the house, even.

      Relevance? No, not really.

  7. haha, go linux.. umm, no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    With it you'd prolly be 6 feet under .. water that is.

  8. What do you use Linux for? by Dionysus · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Hmmm... this really got me thinking, maybe a poll question?

    What do you use Linux/*BSD for?

    I have a firewall/file/mp3/mail server running Debian Linux (Woody), and a desktop system running Win2K and Debian Linux (dualboot).

    --
    Je ne parle pas francais.
    1. Re:What do you use Linux for? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmmm... this really got me thinking.

      You must be using linux so you could brag on slashdot. But guess what, nobody cares.

    2. Re:What do you use Linux for? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      High Times has confirmed: *BSD is dying
      Yet another crippling bombshell hit the beleaguered *BSD community when recently High Times confirmed that *BSD accounts for less than a fraction of 1 percent of all servers. Coming on the heels of the latest HighTimes survey which plainly states that *BSD has lost more market share, this news serves to reinforce what we've known all along. *BSD is collapsing in complete disarray, as further exemplified by failing dead last [HighTimes.com] in the recent HighTimes comprehensive networking test.
      All major surveys show that *BSD has steadily declined in market share. *BSD is very sick and its long term survival prospects are very dim. If *BSD is to survive at all it will be among OS hobbyist dabblers. *BSD continues to decay. Nothing short of a miracle could save it at this point in time. For all practical purposes, *BSD is dead.

      Fact: Linux sucks dead donkey cock.
      Only homosexuals use linux.

      Furthermore,slashdot is for sickos.

    3. Re:What do you use Linux for? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I have a Linux box controlling my social life
      - how about that?
      :)

    4. Re:What do you use Linux for? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      I have a small rubber Linus Torvalds figurine with a small motor, embedded controller, and a little audio transducer in it. The embedded controller runs a small cut-down version of the Linux kernel (it's a StrongARM chip).

      What it's used for is a vibrating butt plug.

      It wiggles like a lil' fish out of water, and at regular intervals the speaker emits: 'I am Linus Torvalds, and I pronounce Linux squeenix!'

      The rubber 'Tux the Penguin' buttplug that they included in the Corel Linux package was the inspiration for this wonderful use of embedded Linux. Have you had your lover embedd Linux in you yet?

    5. Re:What do you use Linux for? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Finally, an application for that old x286, huh?

  9. More linux ideas by Ralph+JewHater+Nader · · Score: -1

    I wonder if I can use Linux to control my jew-killing ovens....

    --

    1. Re:More linux ideas by Metrollica · · Score: 1

      No. IBM did that job.

      --



      --Metrollica
    2. Re:More linux ideas by Metrollica · · Score: 0, Offtopic
      --



      --Metrollica
  10. IRC HELP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Can you guys suggest how to use a "proxy" to hide my real IP address so I can connect to an IRC server anonymously?

    1. Re:IRC HELP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Come on moderator, flamebait, flamebait...

    2. Re:IRC HELP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Funny,Iwas going to ask the exact same question!

    3. Re:IRC HELP by October_30th · · Score: -1
      Why would you want to hide your identity?

      Only criminals and terrorists would do so. Have you stopped being a terrorist, yet?

      --
      The owls are not what they seem
  11. Re:Oh good God! -- your answer!! by UU7 · · Score: 1

    www.ishit.ca The internet enabled toilet.. runs on linux. Don't know if the feed is up

  12. Not bad but . . . by ahfoo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    How about installing an electronic ozone system? They're supposed to be quite efficient and don't require much maintenance as they're basically just a fancy neon tube that the water passes by. I understand they've been required in many european countries since the seventies.

    1. Re:Not bad but . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is that the same as the ultra-violet stuff to kill bacteria? I've seen those in a few fast food places here.

    2. Re:Not bad but . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      An oxygen rich environment exposed to 250 - 254 nanometer ultraviolet light will produce ozone. In a swimming pool, the bulk of the ozone reverts to oxygen in a few minutes. But in those few minutes of ozone uberoxidative frenzy, it will eat any organic matter --yes including candy bars and chopped up corpses although it could take a few months to get rid of an adult corpse using a neon tube and a swimming pool. The teeth and bones should be ground up separately if you're not authorized to dispose of the corpse in question as they are only borderline organic material and will probably just swirl around the bottom of the pool for years.
      But anyway to get back on topic, just using a straight chlorine system is primitive at this point though oddly common in the States.

  13. Overkill????? by jsimon12 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    As much as I am a fan of putting Linux where ever it is possible but lets be honest, this is overkill for the application. There is considerably more mundane technology and none-tech devices that can perform this job, just as effeciently.

    1. Re:Overkill????? by mckeever · · Score: 2, Funny

      I've seen worse.

      The local rep for one of the major DSP manufacturers uses the eval boards he's given for home automation... his hot tub is currently controlled by a 600 MIP 32-bit DSP unit.

      He claims the temperature hasn't changed more than half a degree in the past year.

    2. Re:Overkill????? by Metrollica · · Score: 1

      Come on! The last thing Slashdot readers want is an article with Linux running on a computer.

      --



      --Metrollica
    3. Re:Overkill????? by ccmay · · Score: 2, Funny
      I loved it when I got to this part:

      I cut up ready-made cables and stripped the ends to attach to the protoboard via cable ties; there's no point in making more work than necessary.

      You don't say...

      -ccm

      --
      Too much Law; not enough Order.
    4. Re:Overkill????? by ndogg · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I would not say it is overkill. I have taken care of a pool before (for over half of my life, I have lived in a house with a pool.) Taking care of a pool is a tedious and repetitive task. There are a lot of things that could and should be automated.

      For example, this guy could extend this to controling those self-propelled pool vacuums to clean the pool (and do the backwash as well.) There are actually pool vacuums that propel themselves and clean the floor bottom by themselves. They climb right up the wall and back down. It is a really neat sight to see. I could imagine using the computer, putting the vacuum in a small compartment with an automatic door that the computer could open and close to let the vacuum out. Also, instead of having the vacuum having to run the vacuum nearly all the time like you would normally do (the vacuum has no AI or anything, it largely just goes back and forth), the computer would know the dimensions of the pool and how it is shaped and so strategize the fastest way to vacuum the bottom.

      Also, chlorine is not the only chemical that needs to be put in the pool (but is the main component.) All pools have to worry about algae and the vacuum and chlorine are not enough to handle algae, so a lot of pool owners have a stock of algaecide for that.

      I could also imagine there being cameras on the pool connected to the computer so that the computer could determine if there are people in it, the cleanliness of the pool, etc.

      There are so many tedious tasks to taking care of a pool that having a system that is automated would be a blessing to many pool owners.

      --
      // file: mice.h
      #include "frickin_lasers.h"
    5. Re:Overkill????? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1
      As much as I am a fan of putting Linux where ever it is possible but lets be honest, this is overkill for the application. There is considerably more mundane technology and none-tech devices that can perform this job, just as effeciently.

      I approve of using a computer for basically any task. It allows you to create managed services; You can see what's been happening. It's analogous to an employee; You can ask them what's been going on. It's a lot harder to log in a simple mechanical system, though it's been done (using time clock technology, or similar.)

      With that said, linux is almost certainly overkill for this project. You could handle every aspect of pool maintenance with a 4.77MHz IBM PC-1 with 64kB of RAM and a pair of 360K floppy drives (one for OS, one for app and logs) running a teensy little program. You would have to develop some custom hardware for the purpose, but you have to do that anyway. I'd opt for PIC chips, as they speak serial without you having to actually do all the work of it.

      However, I would not use the PC. I would use something more or less modern, at least a 486, and run something like linux or some flavor of BSD on it. Why? Because it makes development so much easier, and because it allows you to do other things, too. You could later decide to hook up a PC weather station to it, for example. If it had a precipitation gauge your machine might preemptively add chlorine to make up for the dilution, for example.

      Also, let's not forget the geek factor. Who among the slashdot readership doesn't have some kind of computer lying around unused? Hell, I've got a ppro180 and a 486 both sitting around; I've thrown away 486s, 386s, et cetera, because no one I knew wanted them and I was not about to go on a lengthy quest for a buyer. Might as well use it.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    6. Re:Overkill????? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks for your "approval" dickhead...

      I don't approve of you using anything more than an IBM PC (4.7mhz 5160)

      -Anything more is overkil for your limited typing skills, human.

  14. Yeah, but by mESSDan · · Score: 2, Redundant
    What happens when some script kiddie gets access to your pool's box and raises the acid content so much that everytime you go for a swim, you come out missing 3 layers of skin.

    Or some chemist hacker figures out a way to add "pee" to your pool by modifying what chemicals the program puts out.

    Just food for thought. ;)

    --

    -- Dan
    1. Re:Yeah, but by The+BOFH+Troll · · Score: -1

      How about Mr. Malda making "semen" and adding that to the pool.

      Then your daughters, wives, girlfriends, etc, will become a bitch to Mr. Malda.

      Poor females.

      --

      - The BOFH Troll

    2. Re:Yeah, but by Metrollica · · Score: 3, Funny

      Thought this would be appropriate

      Homer: Ah, there's nothing like rising with the sun for a quiet,
      peaceful dip in your very own pool.
      [cheers, dives in]
      [comes up covered in algae, yells and sputters]
      [Lisa walks out] Lisa, the Blob has got me! Don't touch me or
      he'll get you too.
      Lisa: Dad, you have to put chlorine in the water every day to keep it
      clean.
      Homer: Chlorine, eh?
      [later, all the kids scream and rub their bloodshot eyes]
      Ralph: [coming up] Ow, my face is on fire!

      --



      --Metrollica
    3. Re:Yeah, but by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      well, it's linux...

      go go team lax security ?
      yay redhat..
      etc

  15. dude! by saviorsloth · · Score: 2, Funny

    My family in The Sims could so use that. a free cookie to the first person to make that an item :)

  16. Question... by The+BOFH+Troll · · Score: -1

    Has Mr. Malda peed in it?

    Is the water really his semen?

    --

    - The BOFH Troll

    1. Re:Question... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      No, I think Malda has defiled it by installing Slashcode on the computer.

  17. Re:Oh good God! -- your answer!! by UU7 · · Score: 1

    Oh, and it has a section showing how it works =)

  18. MS is finished by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    This is the app that will finally bring Linux into the mainstream. I had previously thought that the linux powered christmas tree would win over the masses, but it turned out to just be a computer running linux, that sat in a christmas tree.

    This looks like the real deal however. Watch out Microsoft.

    1. Re:MS is finished by Joe+the+Lesser · · Score: 1

      That's right baby. MS is all washed up.

      (Pun intended)

      --
      "I only speak the truth"
      Karma: null(Mostly affected by an unassigned variable)
    2. Re:MS is finished by Metrollica · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Don't worry about Microsoft's future, Windows CEMeNT is on its way.

      --



      --Metrollica
  19. "Several shell scripts for chlorination".... by nakaduct · · Score: 1, Redundant

    ... and Tripwire to turn it purple if someone pees in it.

    1. Re:"Several shell scripts for chlorination".... by Strike · · Score: 1

      The existance of things like this for real pools is a myth

    2. Re:"Several shell scripts for chlorination".... by motox · · Score: 1

      cat /dev/poolout | fgrep -v shit > /dev/poolin

    3. Re:"Several shell scripts for chlorination".... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He was talking about Tripwire, a linux security program that detects unauthorised changes, not a pee-detecting chemical.

    4. Re:"Several shell scripts for chlorination".... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The existance of things like this for real pools is a myth [snopes2.com]


      Its a joke, laugh... Idiot.

  20. Re:Oh good God! -- your answer!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    HAHAHHA

    I want one lol

  21. this is more home automation..... by azephrahel · · Score: 1

    But its still VERY cool.

    I'd think there would be more decent home automation tools/devices around.

    Unfortunately there isn't that much out there, and what there is mostly identical to what my 55 year old EE neighbor had from the 80's when he played with home automation on his vic 20.

    Happily this article has some links and such that provide practical examples....

    Still the best example home automation is the Coffee howto ;)

    --
    You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely.
  22. the real sun is probably a better measure by ndevice · · Score: 2, Insightful

    while the use of calculated sunrise and sunset times are pretty neat, a simple photosensor might be an idea too. (Of course, the photosensor might get dirty and give faulty data.)

    And what happens if the server hangs (which is possible if not likely)? The pool might get much more clorination than he hoped for.

    Parallel backup safety systems is probably a good idea here - perhaps just a 555 variant (cascaded?) circuit with a long, if not accurate, delay time that shuts down the system if it ever stays on too long.

    1. Re:the real sun is probably a better measure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      while the use of calculated sunrise and sunset times are pretty neat, a simple photosensor might be an idea too.

      Hmm, in one case, hacking consists of blinding the photosensor with a flashlight at midnight (a kid could do it). In the other case, to hack the system you'd have to stop Earth's rotation, or transport the swimming pool to another timezone. Much more difficult.

    2. Re:the real sun is probably a better measure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      many kids sneak into your lawn to look for photosensors ?

      fucking dumbass

    3. Re:the real sun is probably a better measure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually yes, I think kids would sneak in if I were bragging about how my pool chlorine levels are controlled by a linux box with photosensors to detect daytime.

    4. Re:the real sun is probably a better measure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are bazillions of motherboards now that have watchdog timers.

  23. What theme is he running? by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm willing to bet it's Aqua.

    --

    "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
  24. MOD UP!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I realize the parent post isn't politically correct, but it is funny none the less.

  25. That is all good by active8or · · Score: 1

    Untill something goes terroibly wrong....

    "Mr. Kinch uses a Linux box configured with several shell scripts to control the chlorination levels of his pool.""

    Imagine what would happen if there was a big bug ;) Like say, and infinite loop exit error while adding the stuff...

    Mvh:
    - Knut S.

  26. Pretty cool. by Soko · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Something like this would be a prime candidate for Embedded Linux running on a smaller, weathertight, dedicated device instead of a full blown PC tho.

    The headline remined me of what I used to say to the people (several years ago) in the office when I had to re-boot a NetWare server:

    "Everybody out of the memory pool!!"

    Soko

    --
    "Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
    1. Re:Pretty cool. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The headline remined me of what I used to say to the people (several years ago) in the office when I had to re-boot a NetWare server:

      "Everybody out of the memory pool!!"


      I gather that your office mates probably want to punch you in the face sometimes.

    2. Re:Pretty cool. by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 2

      Embedded Linux is certainly a prime candidate, with a network connection for updating the configuration. The only catch is that most embedded linux boards that I have come across cost around the same as an old x586 or more. The day I can get an embedded Linux board for less than $300 (USD) is the day that I will consider making a purchase.

      --
      Jumpstart the tartan drive.
    3. Re:Pretty cool. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps a Familiar iPAQ in a water-tight freezer baggie?

  27. Similar Project by T3kno · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I am thinking about doing something similar with a reef tank that I am going to build. Hook a cheap 486 or pentium up to all of the monitors and dosers that I need to run the tank. I would also like to hook it up to the light ballasts and pumps and have them controlled by some sort of software that mimics the sun and moonlight in the corals natural habitat. What would be really cool is some sort of random cloud generation, as well as random storms in the winter. Even some water temperature variations would be nice.

    I was origionally going to use X10 for the design, but I am going to look closer at his custom designs and possibly use those. I really would like to stay away from X10 because of those damn popup windows that they started. I really dont want to support that sort of company.

    I am really glad he did this project, it really gives me some good ground work on which to base my smaller project on.

    --
    (B) + (D) + (B) + (D) = (K) + (&)
    1. Re:Similar Project by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I was origionally going to use X10 for the design, but I am going to look closer at his custom designs and possibly use those. I really would like to stay away from X10 because of those damn popup windows that they started. I really dont want to support that sort of company.

      Nah. Even with an old 486 it would be better to use X11--prolly X11R6, but don't ask me which directory it's in! ;-)

    2. Re:Similar Project by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      I must say it again. X10 and X10.com are two different things. Type X10 into google and you'll see other companies selling modules. X10 is a protocol. X10.com is an annoying popunder ad marketing piece of junk. Don't confuse the two.

    3. Re:Similar Project by lthornto · · Score: 1

      Actually, it wouldn't be that hard to find a reef site that you could mimick. I'm sure you can find constant weather, and water temp data from all over the world. You would need full time internet access.
      It would be a close model of an actual environment, but your fish would be limited in seasonal migration patterns, food sources, etc.
      It would be very relaxing to watch the tank, while realizing that the water conditions are exactly like some favorite spot in the Bahamas.

  28. its alive by crystalplague · · Score: 2, Funny

    Feb 10, 2002- A test script was run to more accurately monitor the chlorine levels. everything seemed alright until a power surge interrupted the script. the box hummed strangely. The water took on an eerie glow. arcs of electricity shot through the water. steam floated over the water. small globs of matter formed and floated to the surface. they began to take shape. the realization struck me like a bat...the machine had created primordial life...it was god. dun, duun, DUUUN!

  29. I hate to be a FUD prophet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    but .. he's using shell scripts! .. and the kernel isnt realtime.. if that thing fails .. his pool get overchlorinated and cause health issues.

    Ah well, I suppose he's not running a life support system on it.

    -johan

  30. The pool guy says: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I had to recompile your kernel to add chlorine support.

    1. Re:The pool guy says: by Ken+Dale · · Score: 1

      Does changing from chlorine to baquacil require a kernal update?

      or just a patch? lol

      --
      Ken Dale Email: Protection on /. AIM: Ken D 4th
  31. What if it died, GO BACTERIA!!! by Jo+Mamma · · Score: 1

    Just thinking about a power outtage, or any other thing to cause the box to die, bacteria spawing pool anyone?

    i know he would still check it once in a while manually but still

  32. New iMac? by heliocentric · · Score: 1

    I should make up a linux box that uses an Athlon to power my lavalamp!

    Oh wait, the iMacs don't have linux it's OSX, and they aren't Athlons and they are pixar lamps not lava lamps... so close!

    --
    Wheeeee
  33. *BSD is dying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    It is now official - Netcraft has confirmed: *BSD is dying

    Yet another crippling bombshell hit the beleaguered *BSD community when recently IDC confirmed that *BSD accounts for less than a fraction of 1 percent of all servers. Coming on the heels of the latest Netcraft survey which plainly states that *BSD has lost more market share, this news serves to reinforce what we've known all along. *BSD is collapsing in complete disarray, as further exemplified by failing dead last in the recent Sys Admin comprehensive networking test.

    You don't need to be a Kreskin to predict *BSD's future. The hand writing is on the wall: *BSD faces a bleak future. In fact there won't be any future at all for *BSD because *BSD is dying. Things are looking very bad for *BSD. As many of us are already aware, *BSD continues to lose market share. Red ink flows like a river of blood. FreeBSD is the most endangered of them all, having lost 93% of its core developers.

    Let's keep to the facts and look at the numbers.

    OpenBSD leader Theo states that there are 7000 users of OpenBSD. How many users of NetBSD are there? Let's see. The number of OpenBSD versus NetBSD posts on Usenet is roughly in ratio of 5 to 1. Therefore there are about 7000/5 = 1400 NetBSD users. BSD/OS posts on Usenet are about half of the volume of NetBSD posts. Therefore there are about 700 users of BSD/OS. A recent article put FreeBSD at about 80 percent of the *BSD market. Therefore there are (7000+1400+700)*4 = 36400 FreeBSD users. This is consistent with the number of FreeBSD Usenet posts.

    Due to the troubles of Walnut Creek, abysmal sales and so on, FreeBSD went out of business and was taken over by BSDI who sell another troubled OS. Now BSDI is also dead, its corpse turned over to yet another charnel house.

    All major surveys show that *BSD has steadily declined in market share. *BSD is very sick and its long term survival prospects are very dim. If *BSD is to survive at all it will be among OS hobbyist dabblers. *BSD continues to decay. Nothing short of a miracle could save it at this point in time. For all practical purposes, *BSD is dead.

    Fact: *BSD is dead

    1. Re:*BSD is dying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      dude! where were you when fbsd 4.5 was released?!

  34. And in related news.... by Alsee · · Score: 2

    A Linux box to control the porch light! It receives sunrise/sunset times over the internet to decide when to switch the light on and off. It even factors in weather related adjustments!

    We can finally throw away those damn photocell controllers!

    -

    --
    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    1. Re:And in related news.... by Kirruth · · Score: 1

      Yes! And a Linux box to control the temperature of your heating: throw away your silly thermostats!/P?

      --
      "Well, put a stake in my heart and drag me into sunlight."
    2. Re:And in related news.... by Ophidian+P.+Jones · · Score: -1

      Your sig is really gay.

      1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20....

    3. Re:And in related news.... by passion · · Score: 2

      Ah... but what if there is an eclipse, or even a meteorite blocking the sun... you want real-time hardware intelligence taking over that job.

      --
      - passion
  35. Water + Electricity by rackrent · · Score: 2, Interesting

    = smart people who can negotiate them. By the time any kind of control for the pool filtering & lighting system reaches it, it's gone through so many physical and electrical insulations, that it should be completely safe. Heck, I could control the Atlantic ocean if my blender ran more than Redhat 4.0 and I had the right kind of seals.

    Seriously.... from what I saw on this page (before it got /.'ed), this is a pretty neat idea, as it would elminate all of those stupid manual timers (which generally keep very poor time) and eliminate the need for continuous monitoring of pool chemical levels.

    --
    --- There is a man in a smiling bag.
  36. how about those pool robots? by OmegaDan · · Score: 5, Funny

    this is cool, but ... I always loved those pool cleaner bots that drive around the pool bottom and pick up debris. Could we get a rediculously complicated computer controlled one? let it be run by perl scripts and have a mysql database to log the ammount leaves picked up and ammount of urine in the pool. This will be served from the pool robot itself running a custom apache rig via an 802.11 underwater access point :)

    this would be a proper geek project

    1. Re:how about those pool robots? by jcoy42 · · Score: 1
      I always loved those pool cleaner bots that drive around the pool bottom and pick up debris. Could we get a rediculously complicated computer controlled one?

      This is a pretty good idea. I've got a pool navagator, and it works pretty good, but I have an "L" shaped pool and the thing shys away from going into the shallow end around the corner. It's a pain in the butt to have to keep relocating it to the shallow end.

      Point: there is money here. This pool vacuum runs about $400, and from what I've seen, pool owners don't care about spending $400 for something to eliminate the tidium of cleaning the pool. So there is money in this market.

      And why stop there? The same technique could be used for lawnmowers, much like this one but you wouldn't have to bury tracks.

      Sounds like an opportunity for some X-titsup.com coders to turn a buck..
      --
      Never trust an atom. They make up everything.
    2. Re:how about those pool robots? by Netzkind · · Score: 1

      From what I learned in school, emitting radio-waves under water has no other effect than warming it all up a bit.
      That's why submarines use sonar and no radar, as water doesn't allow them microwaves to properly "move around".

      Or am I wrong?

    3. Re:how about those pool robots? by Netzkind · · Score: 1
      From what I learned in school, emitting radio-waves under water has no other effect than warming it all up a bit.
      That's why submarines use sonar and no radar, as water doesn't allow them microwaves to properly "move around".

      Or am I wrong?


      Uhm, I forgot about the real issue:
      That's why you won't be able to use some 802.11-Access for this, as it's based on electro-magnetic waves, known as microwaves AFAIR.
    4. Re:how about those pool robots? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Submarine communications usually rely on Very Long Wave frequencies, which do travel (And can travel very far) under water.

    5. Re:how about those pool robots? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think the problem would be that they'd also make the robot serve web pages. Then someone would post it's address here and the poolbot would get /.'d

      :)

    6. Re:how about those pool robots? by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 1

      Those robots are completley powered by water pressure. Maybe this calls for a water powered Linux system?

      --
      Jumpstart the tartan drive.
  37. Nice feature by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are over the limit for the number of friends and foes you can have. Please remove some from your list before adding any more.

  38. ZX 80 by cheezehead · · Score: 1

    Well, that's wonderful. But why is this news? Does he really need Linux to do this? I bet a Sinclair ZX 80 could do the job as well. Don't get me wrong, I like Linux and all, but this story hardly seems a prime example of why Linux is better than anything else. Just my $0.02.

    --

    MSN 8: Now Microsoft even has bugs in their ad campaigns.

    1. Re:ZX 80 by nusuth · · Score: 1
      Absolutely correct. I could do a similar thing with my 18 years old cpc464 (4Mhz Z80, 64Kb ram)under Locomotive Basic (default rom basic.)

      ZX80 probably will need a 16k expansion card, and hand translated machine code, but sure, it can be done.

      --

      Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room!

    2. Re:ZX 80 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why would you need more than 1k of RAM for this? (Did the ZX80 have 1k, or was it less? I know the stock ZX81 had 1k...) Its just a simple feedback system.

      Sure you'd have to do it in raw assembly, but so what? A PIC could probably handle the requirements for this guys pool.

    3. Re:ZX 80 by nusuth · · Score: 1

      It was 1k just like ZX81, but I'm not sure how much of it were actually avaliable to programs. It didn't have a separate video memory. My tightest program (which was a sprite engine) on a Z80 were 470 something bytes, I assume the pool control would take at least as much (math routines, timers etc.)

      --

      Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room!

  39. Dem pesky neighbours by LadyLucky · · Score: 5, Funny
    try {
    PoolState poolState = pool.getPoolState();
    if( poolState.getChlorineLevel() < MIN_CHLORINE_LEVEL ) {
    dispense();
    }
    } catch( KidPissedInPoolException kpipe ) {
    MainsPower.reRouteTo( pool, MainsPower.MAX_VOLTAGE );
    }

    Sorry. I just had to.

    --
    dominionrd.blogspot.com - Restaurants on
    1. Re:Dem pesky neighbours by stud9920 · · Score: 0, Offtopic
      PoolState poolState = pool.getPoolState();
      This is poor OO. as it's a method of class Pool, we KNOW it's the poolstate we're gonna get.
      Besides, suppose you then add a jacuzzi and do jacuzzi.getJacuzziState(), I wish you very much fun in writing a function that checks the state of each. Not that it's hard, only not very nice.
      I suggest you rename getPoolState() getState(). This way, it will be much easier to abstract the API later for your jacuzzi.
    2. Re:Dem pesky neighbours by zeppelin71 · · Score: 1

      I don't see a reference to a pool class anywhere - just a variable named pool - who knows what class.

  40. hell thats nuttin'.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I run the wife's personal massager on the linux box...brrrrrrr!!!!

  41. One doubt by umeshunni · · Score: 1

    Just one doubt - Is this guy talking about the paged pool or the non-paged pool?

  42. Wow, the money I can save! by one-egg · · Score: 2
    Boy, I can't wait to do this to my spa.

    I'll guess I can get an adequate Linux box for $300. Then I need power to run it, special hardware to handle the chemicals, and of course about $500 worth of my time (at best) to set it all up.

    When I'm done, I can get rid of that $5 timed-release dispenser that has kept my chlorine levels stable for years. The chemical costs will remain about the same, of course, but hey, I can get a geekiness award.

    As to the timer, if I were going to waste my time to create elaborate software that knows the daylight schedule, why not just wire up a few SCR switches to a photocell? Or better, run the pump at night when evaporation is lower and never have to change the timer settings?

    I figure he'll earn his money back in about 2 decades. By which time the PC will have long since rotted.

    OK, this kind of project can be fun for its own sake. But let's not pretend it makes economic sense.

  43. a Linux zealot's pool party by nomadic · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Thanks for inviting me to the pool party!"

    "No problem, Ed."

    Ed enters the water.

    "Ahhh! It burns!"

    "That's impossible, Ed. You see, the chlorination levels are controlled by several scripts running under Linux. It's Open Source, so it's stable and it can't help but work."

    "For the love of all that's holy, someone help me!"

    "You see, with open source any bugs that would have cropped up would have been immediately been fixed by the many independent programmers around the world who check the source code."

    "Oh the pain! My skin is being flayed from my body!"

    "See the neighbor's kid over there? The one in the Limp Bizkit t-shirt with the baseball cap? He's one of the many open source coders around the world who maintain the system I use to automate my pool. Don't let his age, lack of education, or immaturity fool you; because he's an open source coder he's far superior to any corporate drone with a masters in CS. Now don't you feel better?"

    "Oh, the pain! It's like acid!"

    "Ed, the chlorine level is precisely monitored, as I've been telling you. Whatever you're feeling is most definitely not the result of chlorine."

    Ed finally manages to crawl out of the pool. His skin is an angry red, and his hair has turned white.

    "Ohhh...someone...help..."

    "Ok, I see how it is, Ed. You're one of those Microsoft supporters, just trying to spread FUD about the open source movement. I think you should leave."

    1. Re:a Linux zealot's pool party by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How did this stupid troll get marked +5? It's obvious it's a troll. The fact it runs Linux means nothing; It's the programming of the actual application which would monitor and control the chlorine. The OS means nothing. Blame it on whoever wrote it.

      Oh well, I should remember not to feed the trolls. They're just so hungry for attention!

    2. Re:a Linux zealot's pool party by shinji1911 · · Score: 1

      FUCK YOU! Go stick your head up your wet ass, pigfucker!

    3. Re:a Linux zealot's pool party by fliplap · · Score: 1

      Maybe it is a troll, so what if it is? It's funny, laugh!

    4. Re:a Linux zealot's pool party by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >pigfucker!
      It is not nice to refer to your girlfriend as pig

    5. Re:a Linux zealot's pool party by TheCrunch · · Score: 1

      Someone should have thrown him a dot net.

      --
      My life is one big siesta in which I'm dreaming I wished my life was one big siesta.
  44. And I thought I had too much free time by Kasmiur · · Score: 1

    apperently this guy has more.

    --
    -THIS SPACE FOR RENT!
  45. Interesting slashdot effect by flacco · · Score: 4, Funny
    When I try to load the page, all I get is a blank screen with this across the top:

    Swimming poo

    Ick.

    --
    pr0n - keeping monitor glass spotless since 1981.
    1. Re:Interesting slashdot effect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I saw a sign outside of a pub the other day, proudly proclaiming Free Poo

      Methinks they should have used water-proofing for their sign.

  46. White History Months are March to January by Artifice_Eternity · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Are 11 months not enough?

    1. Re:White History Months are March to January by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Thats right, because no one mentions Black History outside of Black History Month do they?

    2. Re:White History Months are March to January by DavittJPotter · · Score: 1

      "Are 11 months not enough?" you ask. Hrmm.

      Well, the thing is, your flippant little quote illustrates exactly the quote you're responding to. We've got Miss Native American, Miss Black America, Miss $non-white$-America - but if we (us damn whites) were to have a "Miss White America" or "White American History Month", we'd be branded racist, and culturally insensitive.

      The NAACP and its sympathizers have done more to damage 'racial relations' than any other movement. It's the exact attitude that any group is 'special' or different or should be recognized as such that's preventing true harmony among people of differing skin tones and language.

      --
      "If there's hope, it lies in the proles..."
  47. Official 9-11 Story Impossible by Commienst · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Russian Air Force Chief Says
    Official 9-11 Story Impossible

    [Posted 13 September 2001]

    As one considers the terrible events of Sept. 11 and observes U.S. media reaction, so pervasive and consistently military that it appears choreographed, doubts increase. The following is from pravda.ru, a Russian language Website (politically centrist, nationalist). In some places the English translation is confusing, so we added alternate phrasing in brackets.
    - Jared Israel

    [Start report from Russia] "Generally it is impossible to carry out an act of terror on the scenario which was used in the USA yesterday." This was said by the commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, Anatoli Kornukov. "We had such facts [i.e., events or incidents] too", - said the general straightforwardly. Kornukov did not specify what happened in Russia and when and to what extent it resembled the events in the US. He did not advise what was the end of air terrorists' attempts either.

    But the fact the general said that means a lot. As it turns out the way the terrorists acted in America is not unique. The notification and control system for the air transport in Russia does not allow uncontrolled flights and leads to immediate reaction of the anti-missile defense, Kornukov said. "As soon as something like that happens here, I am reported about that right away and in a minute we are all up," - said the general. [End report from Russia.]

    Pasted from: The Emperor's New Clothes

    --

    I am into the copy and paste.
  48. India helped FBI trace ISI-terrorist links by Commienst · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    India helped FBI trace ISI-terrorist links

    by MANOJ JOSHI
    12 October 2001
    'THE TIMES OF INDIA'


    NEW DELHI: While the Pakistani Inter Services Public Relations claimed that former ISI director-general Lt-Gen Mahmud Ahmad sought retirement after being superseded on Monday, the truth is more shocking.

    Top sources confirmed here on Tuesday, that the general lost his job because of the "evidence" India produced to show his links to one of the suicide bombers that wrecked the World Trade Centre. The US authorities sought his removal after confirming the fact that $100,000 were wired to WTC hijacker Mohammed Atta from Pakistan by Ahmad Umar Sheikh at the instance of Gen Mahumd.

    Senior government sources have confirmed that India contributed significantly to establishing the link between the money transfer and the role played by the dismissed ISI chief. While they did not provide details, they said that Indian inputs, including Sheikh's mobile phone number, helped the FBI in tracing and establishing the link.

    A direct link between the ISI and the WTC attack could have enormous repercussions. The US cannot but suspect whether or not there were other senior Pakistani Army commanders who were in the know of things. Evidence of a larger conspiracy could shake US confidence in Pakistan's ability to participate in the anti-terrorism coalition.

    Indian officials say they are vitally interested in the unravelling of the case since it could link the ISI directly to the hijacking of the Indian Airlines Kathmandu-Delhi flight to Kandahar last December. Ahmad Umar Sayeed Sheikh is a British national and a London School of Economics graduate who was arrested by the police in Delhi following a bungled 1994 kidnapping of four westerners, including an American citizen.

    (C) 'Times of India' 2001, Reprinted for Fair Use Only

    It is important to note that the United States historically has given money to Pakistan to funnel into the Muhjaden and Taliban through Pakistani Intelligence.

    --

    I am into the copy and paste.
  49. Geez, I'd Hate to Have His Internet Bill by SkewlD00d · · Score: 1

    /.-ing some fool, now he's gonna have a $1000 internet bill. At least, have someone mirror their pages on some service that is /.-resistant. Should we feel guilty? Probably.

    Linux flushes a toliet, it cleans your Windows, and it scrubs so you don't have to!

    --
    The biggest trick the devil pulled was letting lawyers become politicians so they can write the laws.
  50. Be careful! by dag2001 · · Score: 1

    Surely Tux will make the pool freezing cold so he can go in for a dip now and again - so be ready for that when you jump in!

    1. Re:Be careful! by orakle · · Score: 1

      Yeah, maybe you should run BSD on your pool. Chuck would keep the pool nice and warm for ya :)

      --
      unzip; strip; touch; grep; mount; fsck; yes; more; fsck; umount; make clean; sleep
  51. Um.... by SkewlD00d · · Score: 1, Informative

    1) This guy should learn chemistry first, if he's going to try to write ionic equations.

    Hypochlorous acid is HClO.

    2) Breaboards are not ideal for switching loads or controlling things as a permanent solution, probably should make a PCB and solder the components on, as breadboards tend to make crappy connections (similar to a cold solder joint).

    3) Probably should use optocouplers and protection diodes on *anything* you build and attach to your computer(s).

    4) Real men use languages like perl and c, not wussy shell scripts. jk, at least it's not labview or vb script on winbloze or macs.

    My two centidollars.

    --
    The biggest trick the devil pulled was letting lawyers become politicians so they can write the laws.
  52. Princess Margaret found dead! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I just heard some sad news on the radio -- Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, died "peacefully in her sleep" at the age of 71 after suffering a stroke. The details were a bit hazy, but it seems that she suffered the stroke on Friday afternoon. She developed cardiac problems during the night and was taken from Kensington Palace to the hospital at 0230GMT. I'm sure everyone in the /. community will miss her -- even if you didn't enjoy her antics, there's no denying her contributions to the British culture. Truly a British icon.

  53. Jon Katz aka Nathaniel Bar-Jonah by October_30th · · Score: -1
    --
    The owls are not what they seem
  54. Not a monitoring system by ambclams · · Score: 1
    I know from experience how irksome it can be to have to regularly monitor and maintain pool chemistry, so I thought this could be interesting.

    I don't meant to belittle this effort, but it's important to notice that this system specifically doesn't (yet) monitor chlorine or other chemical levels. That's a shame, since it seems to me like this could be the most powerful aspect: a continuous feedback system that could, say, adjust the chlorine level when it gets too high or low.

    It's hard to fault him for that, since it seems like it would be impractical to do actual monitoring, as the article says: The technology required to sense these chemical parameters requires a delicate probe be inserted into the plumbing, with an amplifier and analog-to-digital converter interface to the computer. These probes are rather expensive at about $100/each, require calibration every month or so, and wear out in about a year. Without some less-expensive, improvised alternative, these costs seem to exceed the possible savings in reduced chemical demand or manual dosing.

    But the net result here seems to be not much more than an elaborate scheduling and electrical system -- a glorified timer-box that happens to be running Linux, if you will. It does have a few advantages: more complex configuration possiblities, and the capability to determine daylight hours. But I still have to question whether it would ultimately be less costly -- in terms of time as well as money -- to implement this using more mundane hardware.

    (I do note that this page has a lot of detail about the chlorination system, which looks to be well written. The liquid chlorine pump setup sounds like an impressive achievement -- but the Linux part is not quite as special as it's made to appear here.)

    --
    Life is far too important to be taken seriously.
    1. Re:Not a monitoring system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What he needs for monitoring is simple: A MINDSTORM! You can get little paper strips that turn various colors depending on chlorine levels. So he makes a mindstorm that dips the strip into the pool, a webcam sees the strip colors, and the script does some color matching to determine the chlorine levels!

      Ta da!

  55. WTF? by shaunak · · Score: 1

    Using a linux box to do a job that can be done by some basic electronic circuits deserves praise and applause?
    slash-WE-LOVE-LINUX-AND-LAP-ANYTHING-RELATED-TO- IT -UP-dot.org

    --
    -Shaunak.
  56. Swimming Poo by Gekke+Eekhoorn · · Score: 1

    Well, it's apparantly being slashdotted a bit, and when I went there, I saw only the following at first:

    Swimming Poo

    I just had to share that with you people :-)

  57. Shell script and linux by Migx · · Score: 1

    What can't you do with them ?? It's like statistics..... What can't you prove with them ??

    --
    Migx
  58. A sign seen near an hotel (p)ool. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Note: There is no P in our OOL. Please keep it that way!
  59. this is great but. . . by oyenstikker · · Score: 1

    How bout a project for Linux for your Mother's Desktop?

    --
    The masses are the crack whores of religion.
  60. hmmm by eske · · Score: 1

    I don't hope he is running the pool program on the same as his webserver....maybe a /. effect could make the program go wild.... "father father the pool is red and green and cold....." ;)

    --
    What rimes on recursion What rimes on recursion What rimes on recursion What rimes on recursion
  61. Market this thing by jabster · · Score: 1

    would there be a market for a thing like this?

    somebody could probably package this thing a make a decent buck selling these.

    keep the instructions on line, but market it for your typical joe.

    --john

    --
    Slashdot: you'll not find a more wretched collection of villainy and disreputable types...
  62. Note to self by gruntvald · · Score: 1

    Always, and I mean *always* use clickable thumbnails as your primary image.

  63. Overkill by tkrotchko · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The problem with this system is that its automating something that is more easily handled by cheap mechanical devices. Mechanical autochlorinator technology is cheap and works.

    Most people think a pool with too much chlorine will have a "chlorine" smell and will irritate your eyes. This is a fallacy; pools get that funny smell because the available chlorine has been turned to chloramines. The only way to get rid of the chloramines is to add more chlorine. So ironically, a "chlorine" smell in a pool is a sign of poor maintence and NOT ENOUGH CHLORINE! Your eyes will not be irritated, your skin won't turn red, you won't be harmed by too much chlorine in a pool.

    Besides this is attacking the wrong problem. Keeping the proper chlorine levels in a pool with the proper chemistry is simple. Combined with the mechnical device I've already mentioned makes checking the chlorine levels a once-a-week chore for a residential pool. Its the least bothersome part of running a pool.

    The tricky part is the rest of the chemistry (particularly total alkalinity and pH). It can be done via automation, but there's no particular need to have a computer do it. Again, its a once-a-week check, and then you add small doses of chemicals at that time if it needs to be balanced. But the balance is critical to everything about the pool and the health of the people in it.

    The bottom line is that you have to check it once a week yourself anyway, regardless of the automation system. Spend your time swimming, not inventing the equivalent of an electric dog polisher.

    --
    You were mistaken. Which is odd, since memory shouldn't be a problem for you
    1. Re:Overkill by LM741N · · Score: 1

      I agree with you that his Linux device is overkill, but I disagree about the affects of too much chlorine. Many people are simply intolerant or allergic to it. We've been using Baquacil, which is a hydrogen peroxide/organic disenfectant based system. We get many reports from people that they didn't know smimming in a pool could be so comfortable without the irritation and smell of chlorine.

    2. Re:Overkill by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      actually, I am in a company that is looking to create cheap hardware for the home. $100 for a main controller. we are using 10baseT with small inexpensive($30, hopefull 15) controllers using poe. This guy is in the right place at the right time. Hopefully, we can sell him on using our hardware with his software and sell homes. BTW, external monitoring is very useful. don't want to control, just monitor.

    3. Re:Overkill by tkrotchko · · Score: 3, Informative

      In my experience, people who say this are intolerent to bad pH balance or chloramines. I've had people tell me that "they can't tolerate chlorine", and tell me my pool hardly has any chlorine.

      The truth is, I keep my pool chlorine levels relatively high. The trick is proper pH balance.

      Incidentally, I don't have any experience with Bacquil, but the people who I know that use it, I never like the clarity of the water.

      That's not a knock on anything, everybody keeps their pool the way they like it; we've been happy with chlorine (in fact, I had the ozone generator removed because I'm convinced residential ozone generators are useless).

      Pool season in only 3 1/2 months. Can't wait.

      --
      You were mistaken. Which is odd, since memory shouldn't be a problem for you
  64. Seems a bit pointless by Tony+Hoyle · · Score: 2

    After all, houses with pools generally don't sell for much less than half a million, so if you can afford something like that you can afford to hire a human to do the work of cleaning it for you (hell, you can probably afford to hire an army of topless models to do the cleaning for you!).

    1. Re:Seems a bit pointless by Quixote · · Score: 2

      After all, houses with pools generally don't sell for much less than half a million,

      You must be in the Bay Area...
      In the rest of the country (US), this isn't the case. You can buy a house with an outdoor pool for about $250K on average in "normal" areas.

    2. Re:Seems a bit pointless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In Nevade, Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California, Florida many homes 150K have pools.
      Up north, due to heating and maintence, expensive homes have the pools

    3. Re:Seems a bit pointless by cr0sh · · Score: 2

      Hell, here in Phoenix, it is even possible to do it for less - ok, maybe the house and pool aren't new, but tommorow I will be looking at a 3 bdr house w/covered RV parking, covered patio, and diving pool (ie, pool with 10 foot deep end) - and it is selling for "only" $120,000!!!

      --
      Reason is the Path to God - Anon
  65. Wheel re-invention by gruntvald · · Score: 2, Insightful

    When I got to the first part about not using X10, and making his own controller, (despite crud complaints about X10 stuff not being made for high voltages), I gave him the benefit of the doubt. When I got to the next part about not using a basic stamp either, I figured we were at the wheel re-invention stage, and lost interest. Not only that, it doesn't use sensors for chemical level detection ... oh well. However, this kind of stuff always has the potential for interest - folks - you might like homepower magazine too www.homepower.com - especially if you live are being shafted by California power policies right now!

  66. Aquarium maintenance by thing12 · · Score: 2

    There are lots of programs out there now that remind you when things need to be done in an aquarium -- but this kind of thing (not the one on his site, that's still open loop, it just acts on faith that the chemicals its adding are actually needed) would be very useful in aquarium maintenance, especially marine/reef aquariums. You could set up pH, specific gravity, etc... meters and based on those add chemicals and fresh water. Or you could run all those tests manually and have the system add the appropriate amounts based on the numbers you feed it. I'm sure large public aquariums run systems like this to keep things in check, but it would be cool to do it at home.

    1. Re:Aquarium maintenance by thing12 · · Score: 2

      An example of a commercial system... basically does all the stuff I want, I forgot all about these guys :-) Neptune Systems lots of cool toys to keep everything in check. It's not open source though, so you're kinda stuck with the interface they provide you.

  67. Mister House Dusu-Ka! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    OR... you could just run Mister House!!! Any machine with Perl will do! Control everything without having to reinvent the wheel.

    I even have my wife's vibrator hooked up to an X-10 module and controlled by Mister House. That way I can zap the bitch when I'm at work, or allow the public telepresence control! Now, who gives a fuck about pools when I can do that?!?

  68. I'm already doing that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    X10 is a protocol, you dont have to buy gear from X10.com. As far as running all your reef stuff off a PC, just make sure a power outtage doesnt screw things up. My tank's calcium reactor got stuck in 'on' for a full week and the doser added so much nitrazorb that all my stoneys died. Make sure the UPS lasts an hour, and that everything goes off when the box powers down. I did this by routing the power of all the pieces through the PC power supply.

    Just some food for thought.

  69. /.'d by wirzcat · · Score: 1

    I believe his little server croaked.

  70. Mirror of Site.. by The+Breeze · · Score: 1

    Well, I got there too late...guess the guy doesn't read slashdot - here's all his site says:
    Swimming pool control with Linux
    Something happened Saturday, February 9, 2002, resulting in this Web site getting hammered with hits and overloading the server. Why is my site
    getting 10,000s of hits this morning?
    Was there a provocative link posted somewhere?
    Please someone email me about this at:
    kinch@truetex.com
    Richard J. Kinch

    Guess the guy's mailbox is gonna get full now, too...hehe

  71. Slashdotted! by Frankus · · Score: 1

    Swimming pool control with Linux
    Something happened Saturday, February 9, 2002, resulting in this Web site getting hammered with hits and overloading the server. Why is my site getting 10,000s of hits this morning?
    Was there a provocative link posted somewhere?
    Please someone email me about this at:
    address deleted
    Richard J. Kinch

  72. slashdot is getting more stupid by the day by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    as I get older and older, I realize how stupid and immature slashdot really is. Who cares if someone can control some trivial thing with a linux box. That's nothing great at all. Report big milestones, not stupid little events like this.

  73. geeky pools without added chems by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    note that with proper attention to biology and chemestry, one can maintain a swimming pool without added chemicals:
    http://www.permaculture.co.uk/mag/Articles/Swimm in g.html

  74. X10 Ads (a bit off-topic) by daviddennis · · Score: 2

    Worse yet, the ads are misleading. They imply that the quality of images produced by an X10 camera is adequate.

    Fry's had a demonstration of the XCam, and the picture was so fuzzy as to be virtually unusable. Even the voyueristic possibilities inherent in the X10 ads would be destroyed by the awful quality.

    You have been warned.

    D

  75. Process Control by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Process control technology is actually quite advanced and uses a considerable amount of technology. I guess Linux is OK for a pool, but I would be reluctant to use Linux (or windows for that matter) in a serious industrial control application. There are a few trusted vendors who sell integrated plantwide control systems that rarely fail. Check out www.controls.com for more info.

  76. This post is troll / undermoderated / offtopic. by dag2001 · · Score: 1

    LOL!

  77. Re:Oh good God! -- your answer!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it's called a bathroom porn cam!

  78. aquarium? by josepha48 · · Score: 2

    I wonder if I can do this with my aquariums? It would be nice to have the pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates, Kh and GK automagically measured or easily accessable. Rather than having to use drops for each test.

    --

    Only 'flamers' flame!

  79. He should have just used by ellem · · Score: 1

    Pool::Clean

    that module has saved me hours of icky pool cleaning. Thank you CPAN!

    --
    This .sig is fake but accurate.
  80. ... by Old+Wolf · · Score: 1

    ...a Beowulf cluster of swimming pools?

    The hydroslide could autoswitch to whichever pool had the fewest people in it

  81. Looks like right app for something like a MicroPLC by ssheth · · Score: 1

    Micro and Mini PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) would be appropriate for an application like this and are very inexpensive with the added benefit of being able to run 24/7 without ever needing reboots or kernel updates, etc.

    They can be programmed very easily with ladder-logic programs (basically large chunks of IF a AND b OR c TURN x ON/OFF) and already have built-in timers and counters that make an app like this as easy as pie.

    A microPLC like a Mitsubishi Alpha with 4 inputs/2 relay outputs is about $85 and $110 for 6 inputs / 4 relay outputs.

  82. But what about.. by Patrick+Cable+II · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... the gene pool?

    Too bad we cant have a linux box control that ;-)

    ..pcable

  83. pictures by blastcenter · · Score: 1

    I want to see the pictures !!!

    --
    ----------------------------
    Savencu Catalin
    Blastcenter.com
  84. DoD by pagercam2 · · Score: 1

    Kinda makes those $800 NASA toliet seats look like a sweet deal. Wouldn't a $1.50 PIC do about the same thing and allow the purchase of $998.50 worth of cold, frosty beer?

  85. Best pool I ever swam in... by cr0sh · · Score: 2

    Was a salt-water pool. The filtration/cleaning system was electrical based, and super simple looking and small to boot. The water was VERY gentle, you could easily open your eyes underwater without any burning, and when you got out, you weren't "sticky".

    Now, true - maybe a chlorine pool can be the same way with proper care and attention to everything - I don't know, I have never owned a pool. But I tell you, the cost in savings of chemicals alone for a salt water pool make it seem worth it (basically, you use big bags of salt, and a bit of electricity - cheap).

    --
    Reason is the Path to God - Anon
    1. Re:Best pool I ever swam in... by tkrotchko · · Score: 2

      An interesting thing that I've learned...the chemicals are the least expensive part of running a pool. The most expensive part (aside from equipment repairs) is the cost of electricity to run pumps. That adds about $40-60 a month in the summer.

      --
      You were mistaken. Which is odd, since memory shouldn't be a problem for you
  86. don't feed the.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you know the drill, pay some attention...

    my gawd, there's like a gazillion X10-trools out there and everyone falls for them. this while they're stupid, childish, and misleading.

    ps i work for X10.com of course...

  87. Least expense... by cr0sh · · Score: 2

    True, I would have to concede that running the pump is the most expensive thing, and you don't get away from that with a salt-water pool. I tend to wonder, though, whether you have to run a salt-water pool pump more or less? Would be something interesting and worthwhile to know, to say the least.

    Still, the advantages of simple salt over pool chemicals still make sense, if only for the simple reason that one is safer (overall - storage, transport, use) than the other (chlorine/acid vs salt)...

    --
    Reason is the Path to God - Anon
  88. Months by rjamestaylor · · Score: 1
    • --

    • When is white history month, or chinese history month, et al?
    July. As in "July! July about dis, 'n July about dat. All you white people lie, lie, lie!"

    ;->

    --
    -- @rjamestaylor on Ello
  89. Running linux IN your swimming pool? by kyoorius · · Score: 1

    Very impressive, but do you run linux IN your swimming pool?

    http://www.datawhorehouse.com/defcon9/?slide=7