Migrating Triumph-LS to Linux OS

Eugene Aksyonov

Well-Known Member
Dear Customers,

We have moved development of JField from WindowsCE to Linux OS. Therefore any new features will be released under Linux OS based JField only. We do believe we can provide better quality and performance for Tiumph-LS solutions. We have prepared the Migration Procedure in the manner to make this process as simple as it could be.
This thread is created in support of migration process and should answers on all related questions before starting, while or after completing the Migration Procedure. Please read instruction on Migration Screen in Home / System / Migrate to Linux OS since JField release 2.1.0.55.
Please be aware that migration to Linux OS is not available for Victor-LS yet, but we have it on the list.

Notices:
Some customers have incompatible USB sticks. We can't name the vendors, but be sure to use proven USB media to avoid any problems. We did all that could be done to avoid vendor dependancy but can't guaranty due to large market of USB sticks.

Features:
WiFi is Off: by default it is off on Linux implementation. Please turn it manually.
Project Maps path: path to background map is wrong in project and points to WinCE file system. Linux has it in different way to name devices. Please reassign the map in your project. Path to BackgroudMaps are: SD card: jdata/BackgroundMaps/. USB drive: jdata/BackgroundMaps/.

Known Issues:
Black Screen and booting... (fixed on Jul25 in WinCE release 2.1.0.57): Happens when user gets into the Migration screen and insert USB stick beeing on this screen.
Solution: insert USB stick into USB port before switching to Migration Screen. Then run Migrate.

Loop booting while migration(fixed on Jul 25): Please be sure that your SD card inserted into LS SD slot has no Active flag on its partition. You can check it on PC with help of "Disk Management" - it shows a word "Active" on the partition's bar. You can reset it with built-in "diskpart.exe" tool ran in cmd.exe (As Administrator mode). You should call "inactive" when you select SD related partition for applying.
 
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This linux os for LS, is it related to any known distro? What package system does it use for example? Does it use repositories? Are users able to install any additional software or libraries on it?
 

Matt Johnson

Well-Known Member
5PLS
The Linux OS was developed using the Yocto Project. No third party software is permitted to be installed by the user. To keep the size of the OS image down, there isn't a Linux desktop or GUI that can be entered by exiting J-Field like previously existed for the Windows OS.
 
Understand. Do you have plans for releasing SDK so people could somehow extend J-Field beyond what is given by Javad GNSS or adapt to own needs?
 

Matt Johnson

Well-Known Member
5PLS
Understand. Do you have plans for releasing SDK so people could somehow extend J-Field beyond what is given by Javad GNSS or adapt to own needs?

I don't think there are any plans to do anything like this. Do you have any specific examples of what you are wanting it to do that it currently doesn't?
 
No, I do not have any at the moment, but there are many special purposes which are not covered by J-Field, I believe. In fact, survey grade GNSS recivers are used more and more by people in various industries not related to geodetic surveying. They have various expectations, need simplified routines, easy workflow and especially they rather not study geodesy to perform trivial or, on the other hand, sophisticated task.
 

James Suttles

Active Member
Its not a deal breaker if we do not have a command line, its just that with command line, you can use the full power of the Linux OS. I could see writing a cron job to rsync certain directories @ a certain time, allowing you to backup the device on a schedule, for daily backups. Linux is the best platform JAVAD could have picked to put the JField onto, I was just thinking it would be nice to use some of the routines and commands that its capable of.

Many times on our CENTOS 7 server running SAMBA, I may need to find a file, using locate I can type the filename and the entire server is searched using locate, to find the file, instead of having to look through numerous directories, because sometimes things get saved in the wrong place, and finding it can be tough if there is a lot to look through.
 
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Matt Johnson

Well-Known Member
5PLS
Giving users full access to the filesystem would likely cause more problems than the benefits it has. Files could be deleted or modified that shouldn't be. All files associated with points and projects should only be deleted through J-Field as they have database records that need to be removed when they are deleted. The best method to backup data is export project archives at the end of the day to a cloud drive for all projects that have been modified. This can be done by from Collect / Project / Archive Several Projects. This ensures that all data for that project is backed up in a format that can easily and properly be restored.
 

Darren Clemons

Well-Known Member
Switched over first thing this morning. Entire process took about 25 minutes and seemed to go quite smoothly. All my projects, profiles, codes and settings were copied over without issues.
My first thoughts upon using the LS after the migration:
97FDCB5D-8214-4E77-A054-BAD256C5AB79.gif

Everything is so much smoother and faster, but without a doubt the biggest difference right out of the gate are the connections via Bluetooth and WiFi. Those have always been so sticky and cantankerous before now. When I first hit connect to find my T1M, it was only a matter of seconds before I was ready to go. That usually takes quite a bit of “searching” and “retrieving data”. Connection to my phone and Mifi was also much, much smoother and faster.

There were only a couple of things noticeable on our first day:

Seem to have to “tap” the screen upon booting up. There’s a quick “flash” showing the screen and then it goes black as if it’s been dormant for several minutes. Just a tap of the screen “wakes” it up.

The increased numbers available in all the white boxes is great. Many of us have asked for that for a while. Now on DTT for instance instead of 100. we get 100.126’ but is/will there be a way to set the number of decimal places ourselves? Once we get down very close it’s actually reading 0.0233. Nothing wrong with that but maybe just a setting to read 2 decimal places or 1 or whatever the user chooses?

Overall, a good first day with no major issues. So, so glad it’s finally here!!
 

John Thompson

Well-Known Member
I attempted to switch over first thing this morning. I now have a black screen with "Please wait: booting..." Been that way for several hours now. Suggestions?
 

Eugene Aksyonov

Well-Known Member
I attempted to switch over first thing this morning. I now have a black screen with "Please wait: booting..." Been that way for several hours now. Suggestions?
did you do all as instruction say? can you tell what was it doing before this booting message?
Did you try to remove USB or SD while migration?
 

John Thompson

Well-Known Member
I think I followed all the instructions. I watched the first few minutes, but I was not watching it to see what it was doing just before this message. I did not remove USB or SD. The instructions say use a USB drive with at least 16 GB. I don't have one so I'm using a 32 GB microSD card with microSD to USB adapter. Upper left LED is red, lower left LED is blinking red/yellow/green, right LEDs are green.
 

Adam

Well-Known Member
5PLS
Can you try a standard 16g USB. Also try removing the SD card and see if it boots up.
 
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Eugene Aksyonov

Well-Known Member
Jhon, try now to remove SD card and push power buton to reboot LS. It shold start again and try do a job. please report what is going.
don't remove the USB drive.
 

John Thompson

Well-Known Member
I removed the sd card in the back of the LS. Left the USB drive connected. Held in the power button until it shut off. Just pressing power button had no effect. Screen displayed something that I didn't catch, then Building FS on EMMC, Updading Root FS, Updating HOME FS, Sync FS, then Rebooting. Then rebooted. Then displayed Installing Updates, You've come a long way... Survey, then it played the start tune, then the screen went black. After a minute or so I tapped the screen and it had the home screen and a startup hint. Looks like all my codes, coordinate systems, settings, profiles, etc. are gone.
 

John Thompson

Well-Known Member
I shouldn't say "gone", just not installed yet. I can browse the contents of the USB drive, so I imagine that they are stored there somewhere and can be reinstalled. I await your instructions for how to do so.
 
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