Backup and restore of the working configuration

FYI, Mesa 5i25 and 6i25 work perfectly with Preempt-RT kernel.

JohnnyCNC wrote: because I am using a Mesa 5i25+7i76.

Sorry, but as far as I understand, the Mesa 5i25 is either a board with additional LPT ports, or a lab card with GPIO pins.
And not very new and quite expensive.
Is such a solution significantly better than the integrated LPT port?
I ask this question simply because I have repeatedly come across links to such solutions and I want to understand their nuances.

Now there’s a question on the topic - did I understand correctly that now it is possible to get the necessary kernel with real-time support, put it in a "live" and not in an archived distribution, and work quietly when receiving current updates?
If so, why is this not done in the current LinuxCNC distribution? Or is it already done, but I just did not understand this from the context of the discussion?

Ogogon.

ogogon wrote: Sorry, but as far as I understand, the Mesa 5i25 is either a board with additional LPT ports, or a lab card with GPIO pins.
And not very new and quite expensive.
Is such a solution significantly better than the integrated LPT port?
I ask this question simply because I have repeatedly come across links to such solutions and I want to understand their nuances.

www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACYBGNR46NwN......0i131.rOyi3w_d2b8
5i25 and the likes are FPGA (see above link) and they can be programmed to do a lot of things like step generation, PWM (Pulse Width Modulation, used to control a lot of stuff), encoder counting, or plain Input or Outputs.
Those are all things that parallel port can also do with the help of software, but it is not freely programmable, it has 3 modes depending on the number of inputs and outputs, and the maximum frequency it can do is more or less around 20KHz ( 20 thousand changes per second.
Mesa boards can do up to 10Mhz ( ten million steps or reads or changes per second )
And they are not expensive by any measure, i do have plenty of them just in case i might need them as they have proven extremely reliable.

As for the second part, there are several very good tutorials on how to install Linuxcnc on many Linux distros, there are two ready made images, i just added another 2 with Linux Mint.
Also you might want to ease up on the "updates" thing, Linux is not windows.

I take it you maybe a young fella ogogon ?
Do you really want to update while running gcode ?

Code doesn't disappear over time (assuming hardware does not go belly up), it'll still be there in 10 years time. And if the hardware is the same as it was 10 years ago, it will still work.
There's no used by date, what works will still work.
The Mesa gear works, so what if the 5i25 isn't "new", the design was nailed and it works, and seems to be a very flexible design.
Remember machine tools are not like mobile phones, they last provided you look after them. Should I replace my Myford ML7/Super 7 hybrid (don't ask how I got to this stage, it's built from parts bought off ebay) lathe because the bed is from 1953 and still within spec ?
If you want to run the latest, you can run Debian Buster with a 2.9 branch, you'll get your regular updates that you can install til your hearts content.
I'll run Stretch with a 2.8 branch and not bother with updates. And I dare you to hack my machine.


Shhh no one mention how many win95 boxes are still acting as print servers, rudimentary file servers, or hooked up to various EPROM/GAL/PAL programmers. Or DOS boxes for quick & dirty PCB design hooked up to old HP laser printers or plotters.
There's lot to be said about OS's that are older than the script kiddies lurking in their bedrooms.

tommylight wrote: As for the second part, there are several very good tutorials on how to install Linuxcnc on many Linux distros, there are two ready made images, i just added another 2 with Linux Mint.
Also you might want to ease up on the "updates" thing, Linux is not windows.

This is just great!
And how to access these treasures?

Ogogon.

Use the search function or browse the applicable sections of the forum.

Click on the "Recent Topics" link and browse the topics there.