dash-deploy

rapid dashbboard deployment on Raspberry Pi

##get started

ssh login to raspberry and clone the repository

ssh -l pi raspberrypi.local
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt install git
git clone https://github.com/ebirn/dash-deploy

Now form within the cloned directory dash-deploy

Install required software packages: mostly X server, fonts, browser

sudo apt install --yes $(cat packages.txt  | tr \\n ' ')

Maybe follow up with a package update and reboot the system for good measure (and new kernels)

sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo rpi-update

# patch fstab
sudo sh -c 'cat tmpfs.fstab >> /etc/fstab'

# disable swap
sudo dphys-swapfile swapoff

# journal on tmpfs
sudo sh -c 'echo "Storage=volatile" >> /etc/systemd/journald.conf'

# allow any user to start X
sudo sed -i 's/console/anybody/' /etc/X11/Xwrapper.config

# noswap kernel cmdline
sudo sed -i ' 1 s/.*/& noswap/' /boot/cmdline.txt 
sudo apt-get remove dphys-swapfile

# cleanup 
sudo apt-get autoremove

# reboot for new kernel and firmware
sudo reboot

prepare ~/.xinitrc

cp xinitrc ~/.xinitrc

set variable DASHBOARD_URL in ~/.xinitrc to the website that yould be used as dashboard i.e. your Grafana Dasboad Playlist, Kibana Dashboard, etc.

configure system services

sudo addgroup pi tty
sudo cp dashboard.service  /etc/systemd/system/dashboard.service
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable dashboard.service
sudo systemctl start dashboard.service

The raspberry Pi will start the graphical user interface in fullscreen and load the dashboard website - also when rebooting the device

TODO

integrate read-only mounted rootfs https://help.ubuntu.com/community/aufsRootFileSystemOnUsbFlash

Enjoy the new insights 😎