Posts for: #2023

Stratis 3.6 Released

Red Hat engineers have released Stratis 3.6, an incremental update to their Linux storage solution. Stratis, which utilizes the Rust programming language and is built on the XFS file-system and LVM, aims to provide functionality similar to ZFS and Btrfs. However, its adoption in the wild remains limited.

Stratis 3.6 introduces several new features and improvements. Users can now set size limits on file-systems, ensuring better control over storage usage. The release also includes a persistent keyring for Clevis, which enhances security. D-Bus handling has been improved, allowing for better communication when a device grows or a pool is extended. Additionally, the update includes various maintenance tasks and code cleaning.

For those interested in trying out Stratis 3.6, the daemon release can be downloaded from the official Stratis-Storage GitHub page.

Overall, the latest release of Stratis continues to enhance Linux storage management. While still gaining traction, Stratis provides becoming a viable option for those in need of modern storage management in their Linux environments.

For more details on Stratis 3.6, please visit the Stratis-Storage GitHub page.

Source: Phoronix.

Grafana Releases Version 10.2.0 of Open-Source Monitoring Platform

Grafana has released version 10.2.0 on October 24, 2023. This new release brings a wide range of features and enhancements to the open-source platform for monitoring and observability.

Some of the key features and enhancements in version 10.2.0 include:

  • The Canvas feature has been promoted to beta status, allowing users to create rich, interactive dashboards with custom visualizations.
  • Improvements to the BarChart component, including enhanced data links in tooltips for better user experience.
  • Updated PluginExtensions to ensure the default timeZone is passed in the context.
  • PublicDashboards feature has been enabled by default for general availability, and the public preview text has been removed.
  • The Grafana UI has added a new Avatar component for user profile images.
  • Alerting now includes support for msteams contact point in external Alertmanagers.
  • The Insights landing page for Alerting has been enabled by default.
  • Various transformations have been improved, including de-emphasizing non-applicable transformations, using short units in graphs, and adding context and timezone support in Format time and Convert field type transformations.
  • Playlist now includes create and update timestamps in the database.
  • Live now allows users to set the engine password.
  • Auth has enabled the None role for version 10.2.
  • Playlist has added support for adding folder, dashboard, and data source permissions to service accounts.
  • SparklineCell now displays absolute values.
  • Various bug fixes and improvements have been made throughout the platform.

In addition to these features and enhancements, there have been bug fixes and improvements to the platform, including fixes for issues related to snapshots, Loki, alerting, transformations, and more.

Please note that there are some breaking changes and deprecations in this release. It is important to review the release notes and update any relevant configurations or code to ensure compatibility with version 10.2.0.

For more details on the new features, enhancements, bug fixes, and breaking changes in Grafana version 10.2.0, you can refer to the release notes.

Synapse: New Version v1.95.0 of Matrix Homeserver Released

Matrix Synapse, an open-source Matrix homeserver developed by the Matrix.org Foundation, has recently released version v1.95.0. For those unfamiliar with Matrix, it is an open standard for communication on the internet that supports federation, encryption, and VoIP. The Matrix.org website provides more information about the project’s goals, and the formal specification delves into the technical aspects.

With this new release, Synapse introduces several notable features and improvements. Some of the key highlights include:

  • The ability to build Debian packages specifically for Ubuntu 23.10 Mantic Minotaur, enabling seamless integration and compatibility with the latest version of the popular Linux distribution.
  • Improved performance and stability, ensuring a reliable and efficient experience for users.
  • Bug fixes and security enhancements, addressing any potential vulnerabilities and further strengthening the server’s overall security.
  • Enhanced documentation, providing users with comprehensive guides and resources to make the most out of Synapse’s capabilities.

To learn more about Synapse v1.95.0 and download the latest release, visit the official Matrix Synapse GitHub page at https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/releases/tag/v1.95.0. Whether you are a seasoned user or new to Matrix, this release is worth exploring for its performance improvements, bug fixes, and new features.

CanMV-K230 AI Development Board with Kendryte K230 Dual-Core 64-bit RISC-V Processor

CanMV-K230 is a credit card-sized development board for AI and computer vision applications based on the Kendryte K230 dual-core C908 64-bit RISC-V processor with built-in KPU (Knowledge Process Unit) and various interfaces such as MIPI CSI inputs and Ethernet.

The CanMV-K230 development board features the following specifications:

  • SoC – Kendryte K230
    • CPU
      • 64-bit RISC-V processor @ 1.6GHz with RISC-V Vector Extension 1.0, FPU
      • 64-bit RISC-V processor @ 800MHz with support for RV64GCB instruction set
    • AI accelerator
      • KPU with support for INT8 and INT16
      • Compatible with TVM, TensorFlow, Pytorch, ONNX
      • Typical network performance: Resnet 50 ≥ 85fps @ INT8; Mobilenet_v2 ≥ 670fps @ INT8; YoloV5S ≥ 38fps @INT8;
    • “DPU” using 3D structured light depth calculation up to 1280x800 @ 30fps
    • VPU – Video encoding/decoding for H.264/H.265/JPEG/MJPEG up to 4Kp40/4Kp20
  • System Memory: 512MB LPDDR3
  • Storage – QSPI flash, microSD card slot
  • Display – HDMI port, MIPI DSI connector up to 1080p60
  • Audio – 3.5mm audio jack
  • Camera – Up to 5MP camera, up to 3-ch MIPI CSI inputs
  • Networking
    • 10/100Mbps Ethernet RJ45 port
    • WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 4.0 via AP6212 wireless module
  • USB – 1x USB 2.0 OTG Type-C port port
  • Expansion – 40-pin GPIO header with up to 29x GPIOs, 5x PWM, 4x I2C, 2x UART
  • Misc – Buttons, RGB LED
  • Power Supply – 5V via USB-C port
  • Dimension – 85 x 56 mm

The Kendryte K230 processor offers higher efficiency compared to the K510 and K210 SoCs, with Mobilenet V1, Resnet 50, and YoloV5S achieving up to 341 FPS/TOPS. While the documentation for the CanMV-K230 development board is mostly available in Chinese at this time, there are over 30 AI demos available for users to experiment with. Overall, the CanMV-K230 development board provides a compact solution for AI and computer vision applications, with the Kendryte K230 processor delivering improved performance and efficiency.

Source: CNX Software – Embedded Systems News.

CasaOS Introducing the ZimaOS Open Beta Program

CasaOS has introduced a new commercial product called ZimaOS, designed to cater to the needs of professional application scenarios. ZimaOS combines the robustness of CasaOS with new features and capabilities tailored to professional demands, such as enhanced networking, ease of use, and lightweight AI. They plan to release ZimaOS through the Zima family of hardware for personal cloud solutions.

They are opening ZimaOS for testing, inviting users to download it from Github and provide feedback to shape the final product. They emphasize that ZimaOS is currently in an unstable version and should be used with caution.

The CasaOS team reassures the community that their commitment to CasaOS remains strong and that CasaOS will continue to be a community-driven software. They invite the community to participate in the testing project to help shape the future of their personal cloud solution.

AOOSTAR R1 Mini PC: A DIY NAS with N100 Processor & Dual 3.5" Drive Bays

The AOOSTAR R1 is a small and affordable computer with a 6-watt N100 quad-core processor. It stands out from other mini PCs with its support for up to two 3.5 inch hard drives and two 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports, making it an ideal choice for building a network-attached-storage (NAS) device or media server. The AOOSTAR R1 is available for purchase from the AOOSTAR website for $319, and it will soon be available on Amazon as well.

The base model of the AOOSTAR R1 comes with 16GB of DDR4-3200 memory and a 512GB PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD. However, users have the option to add their own memory and storage as well. The system has two M.2 2280 slots for solid state storage and two SODIMM slots for memory. The top cover of the computer can be removed to access the two 3.5 inch drive bays, allowing for easy installation of high-capacity hard drives or SSDs.

In terms of other features, the AOOSTAR R1 includes dual fans for cooling, support for up to three 4K displays through HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB Type-C ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and two USB 3.x ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and a microSD card reader. The system also features dual 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports with I226-V controllers and supports WiFi 6.

The AOOSTAR R1 is powered by an Alder Lake-N processor, which offers improved performance compared to previous-generation Celeron and Pentium chips based on Atom architecture. However, considering the price difference between the AOOSTAR R1 with an N100 processor and the AOOSTAR R7 with a Ryzen 7 5700U processor, some users may find the AMD Ryzen model to offer better value for their money.

While the design of the AOOSTAR R1 is not entirely new, as similar systems have been released in the past, this model stands out for its use of an Alder Lake-N processor. Overall, the AOOSTAR R1 offers a compact and energy-efficient solution for those looking to build a DIY NAS or media server.

Source: Liliputing.