CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

October 3, 2016October 3, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

How to check HTTP Header and Connection Stats from the Command Line

A few days ago, I discussed with somebody whether a file was cached by Cloudflare or not, and this involved getting the HTTP header, and checking for CF-RAY field to see if data is going through one of Cloudflare data centers. This can be done with curl:

curl -svo /dev/null http://www.cnx-software.com
* Rebuilt URL to: http://www.cnx-software.com/
*   Trying 104.28.19.95...
* Connected to www.cnx-software.com (104.28.19.95) port 80 (#0)
> GET / HTTP/1.1
> Host: www.cnx-software.com
> User-Agent: curl/7.47.0
> Accept: */*
> 
< HTTP/1.1 200 OK
< Date: Mon, 03 Oct 2016 09:57:17 GMT
< Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
< Transfer-Encoding: chunked
< Connection: keep-alive
< Set-Cookie: __cfduid=d90ff49c11865e8fda1331c2977559f521475488637; expires=Tue, 03-Oct-17 09:57:17 GMT; path=/; domain=.cnx-software.com; HttpOnly
< X-Powered-By: PHP/5.5.9-1ubuntu4.19
< Expires: Wed, 11 Jan 1984 05:00:00 GMT
< Cache-Control: no-cache, must-revalidate, max-age=0
< Pragma: no-cache
< X-UA-Compatible: IE=edge
< Link: <http://www.cnx-software.com/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/"
< Server: cloudflare-nginx
< CF-RAY: 2ebf876da273114d-SIN
< 
{ [2307 bytes data]
* Connection #0 to host www.cnx-software.com left intact

curl -svo /dev/null http://www.cnx-software.com

* Rebuilt URL to: http://www.cnx-software.com/

* Trying 104.28.19.95...

* Connected to www.cnx-software.com (104.28.19.95) port 80 (#0)

> GET / HTTP/1.1

> Host: www.cnx-software.com

> User-Agent: curl/7.47.0

> Accept: */*

< HTTP/1.1 200 OK

< Date: Mon, 03 Oct 2016 09:57:17 GMT

< Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8

< Transfer-Encoding: chunked

< Connection: keep-alive

< Set-Cookie: __cfduid=d90ff49c11865e8fda1331c2977559f521475488637; expires=Tue, 03-Oct-17 09:57:17 GMT; path=/; domain=.cnx-software.com; HttpOnly

< X-Powered-By: PHP/5.5.9-1ubuntu4.19

< Expires: Wed, 11 Jan 1984 05:00:00 GMT

< Cache-Control: no-cache, must-revalidate, max-age=0

< Pragma: no-cache

< X-UA-Compatible: IE=edge

< Link: <http://www.cnx-software.com/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/"

< Server: cloudflare-nginx

< CF-RAY: 2ebf876da273114d-SIN

{ [2307 bytes data]

* Connection #0 to host www.cnx-software.com left intact

In the command above, -s stands for silent so that curl does not show the progress meter, -v stands for verbose to show the header, and -o /dev/null is used to discard the packet load. You can also use -I option (fetch the HTTP-header only) with curl, which – if all you need is the HTTP header – provides a cleaner output:

curl -I http://www.cnx-software.com
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Date: Mon, 03 Oct 2016 10:06:51 GMT
Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
Connection: keep-alive
Set-Cookie: __cfduid=d4dda8a9ec8370cf0950d26e5faf37cc21475489211; expires=Tue, 03-Oct-17 10:06:51 GMT; path=/; domain=.cnx-software.com; HttpOnly
X-Powered-By: PHP/5.5.9-1ubuntu4.19
Expires: Wed, 11 Jan 1984 05:00:00 GMT
Cache-Control: no-cache, must-revalidate, max-age=0
Pragma: no-cache
Set-Cookie: bb2_screener_=1475489211+1.1.174.2+1.1.174.2; path=/
X-UA-Compatible: IE=edge
Link: &lt;http://www.cnx-software.com/wp-json/&gt;; rel="https://api.w.org/"
Server: cloudflare-nginx
CF-RAY: 2ebf9574c129081d-SIN

curl -I http://www.cnx-software.com

HTTP/1.1 200 OK

Date: Mon, 03 Oct 2016 10:06:51 GMT

Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8

Connection: keep-alive

Set-Cookie: __cfduid=d4dda8a9ec8370cf0950d26e5faf37cc21475489211; expires=Tue, 03-Oct-17 10:06:51 GMT; path=/; domain=.cnx-software.com; HttpOnly

X-Powered-By: PHP/5.5.9-1ubuntu4.19

Expires: Wed, 11 Jan 1984 05:00:00 GMT

Cache-Control: no-cache, must-revalidate, max-age=0

Pragma: no-cache

Set-Cookie: bb2_screener_=1475489211+1.1.174.2+1.1.174.2; path=/

X-UA-Compatible: IE=edge

Link: <http://www.cnx-software.com/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/"

Server: cloudflare-nginx

CF-RAY: 2ebf9574c129081d-SIN

I also came across httpstat Python script recently via n0where, doing much of the same thing, except it also adds transfer statistics. It can be installed by downloading httpstat.py, or better using pip:

sudo pip install httpstat

1	sudo pip install httpstat

Let’s try it with this very […]

October 3, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Gumstix Nodana 96BCE 96Boards Compatible Baseboard Takes Intel Joule Module

96Boards is an initiative from Linaro, an engineering organization focusing on ARM development, to define some hardware and software specifications for development boards. But since 96Boards specifications are open, Gumstix decided to create the first x86 board compliant with 96Boards CE hardware specifications with Nodana 96BCE baseboard powered by Intel Joule Module. For obvious reasons, this will never be an officially supported 96Boards.org platform. Nodana 96BCE board specifications: SoM – Intel Joule Module based on Intel Atom T5700 or T5500 processor with up to 16GB storage, 4GB RAM. External Storage – 1x micro SD card Video Output – 1x HDMI port USB – 2x USB 3.0 ports, 1x USB 3.0 type C port Expansion Headers 96Boards Low Speed connector with I2C, SPI and UART 96Board High Speed connector with MIPI DSI and USB 2.0 Power Supply – 8 to 18 V (if it follows 96Boards CE specs) Dimensions – 85 […]

October 3, 2016November 17, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments

Rikomagic MK22 Octa-core Android TV Box Review – Part 1: Unboxing and Teardown

Rikomagic became a much better known company when they launched MK802 TV stick in 2012, and over the years they’ve kept introducing new products, and I’ve just received a review sample of their latest Rikomagic MK22 octa-core Android TV box powered by Amlogic S912 processor. I’ve posted photos of the device and its accessories, and check out the hardware design in the first part of the review, before testing Android 6.0 firmware in the second part in a few weeks. Rikomagic MK22 Unboxing I received MK22 in its black and white retail package. The back of the package details the main features, and the hardware specifications. Instead of printing a user’s manual that anybody will hardly read, the company instead printed a QR Core to MK22 user’s manual download link. The TV box ships with a 5V/2.5A power supply, an HDMI cable, and an IR remote control that looks the […]

October 3, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Silicon Labs Introduces $29 Thunderboard React Bluetooth 4.2 LE IoT Board and $69 Derby Car Kit

Earlier this summer, Silicon labs launched ThunderBoard React, a Bluetooth 4.2 LE compliant board with sensors and expansion headers for IoT applications based on the company’s BGM111 Bluetooth Smart Module, and to make it much more fun to work with the company has released a Derby Car kit controlled by the board. ThunderBoard React specifications: Bluetooth Module – BGM111 Bluetooth 4.2 compliant module with integrated Tx and Rx antenna, and Cortex M4 MCU @ 38.4 MHz with 32 kB RAM and 256 kB Flash Extra Storage – Footprint for 8Mb external flash storage Sensors – Si7021 relative humidity and temperature, Si1133 UV index and ambient light sensor, Invensense MPU-6500 6-axis gyro/accelerometer, Si7201 hall effect position sensor Expansion – 12 breakout pina to connect to BGM111 GPIOs Debugging – 10-pin mini Simplicity debug connector Misc – 2x momentary buttons, 2x LEDs, power selection switch Power Supply – CR2032 coin cell battery […]

October 2, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments

Review of Allo Vana Player Linux HiFi Audio System with Max2Play, SqueezeBox and Kodi

Last month I showcased what I called “Allo Sparky Audio Kit” with a DAC board (Piano), an amplifier board (Volt), and usually hard to find reclocker and capacitance multiplier boards (Kali & CM), all connected to Allo Sparky ARM Linux development board powered by Actions Semi S500 quad core Cortex A9 processor, and running Ubuntu 12.04. In the first post, I just described the boards, and showed how to assemble the kit, but now that I have received the user’s manual, it turns out the kit is actually called “Vana Player” and the provided Ubuntu firmware image runs Max2Play Browser based system that’s also available for Raspberry Pi and ODROID boards. Before starting the kit, you’ll need to connect speakers to Piano DAC board and/or Kali board, as well as a 19.5V power source such as a laptop power supply to connect to the CM board. I connected some USB […]

October 2, 2016October 2, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Arduino & Arduino Get Back Together Again

I don’t normally write about business news, unless they have a clear impact on the technical side of things. So for example, I did not write about NXP buying Freescale, Qualcomm likely buying NXP, Microchip buying Atmel, nor Softbank buying ARM. But the split between Arduino LLC (US – Arduino.cc) and Arduino SRL (Italia – Arduino.org) has had some clear impacts with both companies designing different boards, providing Arduino IDEs that may not be compatible with the competitor product, and in the case of Arduino LLC, they had to use the Genuino brand outside of the US. All those points may have brought confusion to some users. The goos news is that Arduino LLC and Arduino SRL will now merge together and become Arduino Holdings after signing a settlement agreement. This has announced at New York Maker Faire, and both Arduino.org and Arduino.cc blogs: At the end of 2016, the […]

October 1, 2016October 8, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 28 Comments

Review of R-Box Pro OTT TV Box with 3GB RAM – Part 1: Unboxing and Teardown

R-Box Pro is just another Amlogic S912 TV box, except it comes with up to 3GB RAM, against 2GB for most other models on the market. Kingnovel sent me a sample with 3GB RAM to check it out, and today I’ll start by taking photos of the devices, and perform a teardown mostly to find out how the 3GB memory design is implemented. R-Box Pro Unboxing The retail package is minimal black box with “OTT TV Box Amlogic S912” and “R-Box Pro” markings and Kodi logo. A sticker on the side will also indicate whether you have received to 2GB or 3GB RAM version. The device ships with an IR remote control with learning function, a 5V/2.5A power supply, an HDMI cable, and a user’s manual in English. The day I received the sample the top cover looked to have many scratches, but after removing the plastic film on the […]

September 30, 2016September 30, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 15 Comments

Xiaomi Mi Pad Tablet with Tegra K1 Processor, 64GB Flash Sells for $120 (Promo)

Xiaomi Mi Pad 7.9″ tablet powered by Nvidia Tegra K1 processor was launched in 2014 with either 16 or 64 GB flash, and on July on that year you could buy the version with 64GB storage would sell for $370 and up from sites like Aliexpress. A little over two years, the price has dramatically dropped, and there’s now a promotion for Xiaomi Mi Pad with 64GB storage for $119.99 on GearBest with MiPad64G or MP64GBCSMO coupon. Let’s refresh our memory with the specifications of the tablet: SoC – Nvidia Tegra K1 quad core Cortex A15 processor @ 2.2 GHz with Nvidia 192-core Kepler GPU System Memory – 2GB LPDDR3 Storage – 64GB eMMC, extensible to 128GB via microSD card Display – 7.9” IPS display, 2048×1536 resolution; 326 PPI Camera – 8MP rear camera, 5MP front-facing camera Connectivity – 802.11ac 2×2 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Audio – 3.5mm audio jack, speaker […]