This system is designed to display real-time network data. It receives GET requests with the data set in query parameters and publishes them to a browser canvas.

!! NOTE: Nothing will launch automatically upon bootup. Until we decide what system we are going with, you will need a keyboard and monitor.

• 2U rack
• Mac Mini
• Matrox TripleHeadToGo Digital SE
• 3x HDMI screens
• 3x 2A power supplies
• power strip
• 3x HDMI cables
• miniDisplay and USB extension cables
• 3D printed frame for HDMI screens [link](coming soon)
• Laser cut frame for faceplate link

Make sure the Triple Head is setup properly and the three external screens are showing as a single screen before proceeding.

Pull this repo to the Mac Mini’s desktop. All directories that appear Capitalized are operational animations that respond to live data. You can run them individually, or launch the menu with index.html (recommended). To do the latter, follow these steps:

1. cd into the “server_rack_display” dir.
2. run “node server.js”
3. Navigate browser to localhost:3000

Select the animation you want to run by right-clicking and opening in a new window. This will open a small (500 x 500) preview of the animation. To create a full-size (3840 x 716) canvas, toggle the ‘1’ key. Move the screen to the rack monitor. Press ‘1’ if you haven’t already, then force the browser into full screen mode. Voila.

To send data to the server, send GET requests to the Mac Mini's IP address with the port appended and the query information formatted like this:

http://<IP Address>:3000/update?cpuLoad=<#>&ramUse=<#>&cpuTemp=<#>

Javascript Example:

var baseURL = "http://<IP Address>:3000/update?";
baseURL += "cpuLoad=" + cpuLoad;
baseURL += "&ramUse=" + ramUse;
baseURL += "&cpuTemp" + cpuTemp;

httpGet(baseURL, null, null, null, function(err) {
	console.log(err);
});

If running locally and you need to feed it some dummy data, use the “Sender App” to do that:

1. open another Terminal window, and cd into the “server_rack_display/sender_app” directory.
2. run python -m SimpleHTTPServer 8000
3. open new browser window and navigate tolocalhost:8000 to see the data controls

This app will send a GET request with the data in the query parameters, just like it would happen with any other real data.

BARS

• CPU Load - overall height
• Ram Usage - bar size
• CPU Temp - color hue of bars

BALLS

• CPU Load - speed
• Ram Use - number
• CPU Temp - color

RINGS

• CPU Load - frequency
• Ram Use - diameter
• CPU Temp - color

BOXES/"FIREFLIES"

• CPU Load - spin speed
• Ram Use - num of boxes
• CPU Temp - color

TEXT

• CPU Load - (direct)

(as of 12/14/2015)

• Neuron/Node animation
• Particle Illusion tests (Peter's suggestion)
• show new results to Peter and get feedback for next round
• make final solution boot up automatically
• add connection feedback
• single screen solution is shipping from China and should be installed soon
• try NeoPixel solution (LED)