Firstly, I’ve used Linux a little for years but only for web browsers or office programs. I’m only a novice at Terminals and such. I’m trying to put Repetier Host 2_2_4 on an old HP Mini 32 bit running Linux Mint 19.3 (Ubuntu Bionic 18.4 based). The little 8 year old notebook is like new and would fit nicely on the MPCNC table. I’m not sure if this Repetier version needs a 64 bit OS or not, the site’s not real clear on that. I installed using old You Tube video instructions and it looked like it installed without errors but program won’t load. Does anyone have a link to a good tutorial?
I have not used 32bit Linux in a long time. I wouldn’t be surprised if something like an AppImage didn’t work, because it wasn’t compiled with the right architecture (it would have been compiled for 64 bit).
This probably isn’t the solution. I only know about this because I do C++ development, so there must be an easier way. There is a command line tool called readelf that shows the “Class” of a binary. readelf -h someprogram can show something like this:
ELF Header:
Magic: 7f 45 4c 46 02 01 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Class: ELF64
Data: 2's complement, little endian
Version: 1 (current)
OS/ABI: UNIX - System V
ABI Version: 0
Type: DYN (Shared object file)
Machine: Advanced Micro Devices X86-64
Version: 0x1
Entry point address: 0x67a0
Start of program headers: 64 (bytes into file)
Start of section headers: 1909640 (bytes into file)
Flags: 0x0
Size of this header: 64 (bytes)
Size of program headers: 56 (bytes)
Number of program headers: 9
Size of section headers: 64 (bytes)
Number of section headers: 39
Section header string table index: 38
This shows the binary I tried is 64 bit only:
Class: ELF64
Machine: Advanced Micro Devices X86-64
I’m not sure what you would point it at with an AppImage though. Are you using the AppImage version?
There are some other alternatives too though. I use Pronterface (and the cli version) in Linux. There is also a desktop version of cncjs. You could try those first.
As a last resort, you could find a raspberry pi and install octoprint or the v1pi image and then use the mint computer as a dedicated machine to connect to the web interface.
Are you completely certain the HP only does 32 bit? 64 bit processors were pretty standard a really long time ago.
I downloaded the AppImage version:
readelf -h Repetier-Host-x86_64-2.2.4.AppImage
ELF Header:
Magic: 7f 45 4c 46 02 01 01 00 41 49 02 00 00 00 00 00
Class: ELF64
Data: 2's complement, little endian
Version: 1 (current)
OS/ABI: UNIX - System V
ABI Version: 65
Type: EXEC (Executable file)
Machine: Advanced Micro Devices X86-64
Version: 0x1
Entry point address: 0x402120
Start of program headers: 64 (bytes into file)
Start of section headers: 95128 (bytes into file)
Flags: 0x0
Size of this header: 64 (bytes)
Size of program headers: 56 (bytes)
Number of program headers: 8
Size of section headers: 64 (bytes)
Number of section headers: 31
Section header string table index: 30
So that is definitely 64 bit architecture.
I also looked at the .tgz version and it just runs “RepetierHost.exe” in mono… Not sure about that. It also looks like it wants to put a permanent link in /rh. Which is a no-no in Linux. Programs don’t get to make paths from /.
Jeff,
On the download site it says the AppImage file is 64 bit, the other Linux download doesn’t specify. I tried that one. It looked like it installed but won’t open. All that stuff in your post is way above my limited knowlege. My daily driver and CAD machine is a Dell I7 Windows laptop that I don’t really want beating around the garage. Maybe I will load it just to try. If I like it I’ll find a newer machine for out there. I’ve been using a sd card and wanted to expand.
Thanks, just thought I’d shoot for an easy fix.
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Jeff,
I thought I was. As I remember when I got this netbook in 2011 I installed driver for a wireless baby cam with a dongle that was only 32 bit. Worked fine and would not work on a newer 64 bit laptop. When Win 7 support ran out I loaded 32 bit Linux distros. You made me curious so I downloaded a 64 bit Linux Mint distro and as I type it’s installing on the little notebook. Is it possible it’s a 32/64 bit machine that had 32 bit Win 7? Doesn’t matter, I’ll play with it. Thanks for making me think and I’ll try your other suggested programs
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I was working at circuit city in high school and we started selling 64 bit processors then. That was around 2000. But all the 64 bit processors still ran 32 bit code just fine. I can’t imagine a computer being sold with an amd or Intel processor in 2011 that was only 32 bit. I bet it just had the 32 bit windows installed.
It should fail pretty quickly if it doesn’t work.
I’m excited for you. Linux is pretty fun. It can be a pain sometimes. But it has a bunch of neat things. Try hard to only install stuff from the software manager in the OS. Almost everything can be done with a program in the repos.
Enjoy!
A fun pain. I’ve installed several distros on my little wimpy net book the last couple days. Settled on Ubuntu Mate mostly because the installer offers a “Minimal” option. Mostly utilities and Firefox. I don’t need an office suite, music or video. The Mate desktop uses a bit more RAM than some others but it’s ok. I must have splurged 11 years ago because the Mini has the max 2gb. Loading Pronterface was a breeze, there’s a software package in one of those suppository/repository linux things that installed version 2.0 in a couple of clicks. Repetier is another story. Did some command line stuff like loading latest Mono and then Repetier. I’ve got it to the point that it says Starting Repetier in the taskbar but then shuts down. Oooh, run the Windows version under Wine? that’s tomorrows project. All fun until I get discouraged and buy a new 5 year old refurbished 12" notebook on Amazon. Then new fun.
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Have you tried the standalone desktop version of cncjs? That might be better and easier than Repetier.
The cncjs looks interesting. I like that it is geared toward milling instead of printing. I’ll give it a try, thanks