New install from scratch on a Raspberry Pi 3

Getting Started
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1

Hello, I want to monitor an Eastron SDM220 modbus energy meter with a raspberry pi and a USB to RS-485 converter.
I’m trying to make the software work, but I’m not able.
The steps I’ve made so far are:

  1. Download a pre-built emonSD-Image http://files.openenergymonitor.org/emonSD-07Nov16.zip
  2. Use Etcher to write the image to a 8GB SD card.
  3. sudo emonSDexpand to expand the data partition
  4. sudo apt-get update && apt-get upgrade to update the software
  5. Disable some services:
    sudo systemctl disable openhab.service
    sudo systemctl disable nodered.service
    sudo systemctl disable emonPiLCD.service

But I’m not able to connect to the webpage: http://192.168.1.100
Apache2 doesn’t start:

pi@emonpi(rw):data$ sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 status
    ● apache2.service - LSB: Apache2 web server
       Loaded: loaded (/etc/init.d/apache2)
      Drop-In: /lib/systemd/system/apache2.service.d
               └─forking.conf
       Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since mié 2017-08-09 15:58:58 UTC; 11min ago
      Process: 798 ExecStart=/etc/init.d/apache2 start (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
    ago 09 15:58:58 emonpi apache2[798]: Output of config test was:
    ago 09 15:58:58 emonpi apache2[798]: AH00558: apache2: Could not reliably determine the server's fully qualified   domain name, using 127.0.1.1. Set the 'ServerName' directive globall...s this message
    ago 09 15:58:58 emonpi apache2[798]: (2)No such file or directory: AH02291: Cannot access directory '/var/log/apache2/' for main error log
    ago 09 15:58:58 emonpi apache2[798]: (2)No such file or directory: AH02291: Cannot access directory '/var/log/apache2/' for error log of vhost defined at /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/...default.conf:1
    ago 09 15:58:58 emonpi apache2[798]: AH00014: Configuration check failed
    ago 09 15:58:58 emonpi apache2[798]: Action 'configtest' failed.
    ago 09 15:58:58 emonpi apache2[798]: The Apache error log may have more information.
    ago 09 15:58:58 emonpi systemd[1]: apache2.service: control process exited, code=exited status=1
    ago 09 15:58:58 emonpi systemd[1]: Failed to start LSB: Apache2 web server.
    ago 09 15:58:58 emonpi systemd[1]: Unit apache2.service entered failed state.
    Warning: Unit file changed on disk, 'systemctl daemon-reload' recommended.
    Hint: Some lines were ellipsized, use -l to show in full.

 

The emon service doesn’t work:

pi@emonpi(rw):~$ sudo service emonhub status
● emonhub.service - (null)
   Loaded: loaded (/etc/init.d/emonhub)
   Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since mié 2017-08-09 15:58:58 UTC; 3min 36s ago
   Process: 966 ExecStart=/etc/init.d/emonhub start (code=exited, status=203/EXEC)
     ago 09 15:58:58 emonpi systemd[1]: emonhub.service: control process exited, code=exited status=203
     ago 09 15:58:58 emonpi systemd[1]: Failed to start (null).
     ago 09 15:58:58 emonpi systemd[1]: Unit emonhub.service entered failed state.

Please, could you point me to the right installation steps?

Regards,
Joaquin

2

Hi @Joaquin_Lopez,

This is strange, the pre-built SD card image is working for us. I’ve not tested using Etcher, we use linux dd.

Could you try and flash to a fresh SD card and test after step 2. Please ensure the unit is connect to the internet and leave it for about 5-10min since some auto updating takes place on first boot . I think something might have got corrupted if SD expand was started during this first update progress.

3

Thanks for the answer Glyn,
Please, could you point me to the Step2? Where is the correct guide?

I was following these steps:
https://github.com/openenergymonitor/emonpi/wiki/emonSD-pre-built-SD-card-Download-&-Change-Log

Regards,

4

Sorry, I meant your step 2.

Bootup and test just after flashing the SD, and leave for 5-10min with an internet connection on first boot to auto update before expanding the SD. Also recomend testing before running apt-get upgrade just in case this is causing an issue.

5

Perfect Glyn, now it worked correctly, but with the order of the steps inverted, that is…

1. Download a pre-built emonSD-Image http://files.openenergymonitor.org/emonSD-07Nov16.zip
2. Use dd to write the image to a 16GB SD card.
3. sudo apt-get update && apt-get upgrade to update the software
4. sudo emonSDexpand to expand the data partition
5. Disable some services:
sudo systemctl disable openhab.service
sudo systemctl disable nodered.service
sudo systemctl disable emonPiLCD.service

The 1st time I connect to the web interface I have to create a user, isn’t it?
This user will act as the admin user for the web interface?

If I want to read the parameters sent by an Eastron SDM220 modbus connected via an USB-485 converter, what should I do?

Regards,

6

Yes, correct. By default the pre-built SD card only allows a single Emoncms user (admin). You can change that by editing /var/www/emoncms/settings.php

Sorry, I have no experience of this meter. Maybe search the forums? I found this thread:

7

That was my thread about the Eastron, unfortunately the RS485 USB board is still in the parts box as the pi Zero I had earmarked for it went to another project. If you do get it working @Joaquin_Lopez do let me know!