The Weather Outlook

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Ulric
  • Ulric
  • Advanced Member Topic Starter
12 February 2022 20:06:55

I am slowly migrating all my computers from Windows to Ubuntu. On windows I've been using Cumulus to capture and display data and the newer version, Cumulus MX is available for Linux although it looks complex to install. I see there are other packages like WeeWX which might do what I want.

Anyone else running their station from Linux and  got any recommendations or tips?


Solar is only worth it if your roof has toenail fungus.
johncs2016
13 February 2022 02:58:05

I am slowly migrating all my computers from Windows to Ubuntu. On windows I've been using Cumulus to capture and display data and the newer version, Cumulus MX is available for Linux although it looks complex to install. I see there are other packages like WeeWX which might do what I want.

Anyone else running their station from Linux and  got any recommendations or tips?

Originally Posted by: Ulric 

I can't answer your question about running a weather station from Linux (I shall leave that open for others to answer), but I am pleased that you have made that decision to switch from that proprietary system which is Windows, over to the greater freedom which Linux provides.

The beauty about that as well is that Linux is all about choice at the end of the day which means that regardless of whether or not I agree with any particular choice of distro, that doesn't actually matter one single bit as it is the fact that this migration is being made which is the important factor here.

Personally, I run Arch Linux with the Plasma (KDE) desktop on my system. I switched from Windows to Linux some time ago, and have never looked back especially since I don't agree with the manner in which Microsoft went about their system requirements for Windows 11.

I never used to like the KDE desktop as earlier versions of it were very bloated and unstable to the point where they would frequently crash on me. However, it has come a long way over recent years. It is now much less bloated and more stable to the point where it is now my favourite desktop of choice over XFCE (which is what I used to go with beforehand).

I will add as well though that there is a certain learning curve when it comes to transitioning from Windows to Linux, but it would also be much better if software manufacturers were kinder to Linux users by producing a version of their software which is easy to install under Linux.

With more software developers moving towards cross-platform solutions which will work under any operating system (even Microsoft themselves, have done that with a number of their products as as the Edge browser and Visual Studio Code), that is a situation which is improving all the time so hopefully, a version of the software which you have mentioned will soon become available in a form which is easy to use and install under Linux.

 


The north of Edinburgh, usually always missing out on snow events which occur not just within the rest of Scotland or the UK, but also within the rest of Edinburgh.

fairweather
13 February 2022 13:31:09

I like Linux but am just a dabbler on spare machines.

I love Cumulus and have used it for my weather station for over a decade now, being an early adopter. Haven't upgraded to MX version as it doesn't support some of the excellent "select a graph" features.

I presume you have the website for the relatively new Cumulus Support Group? But I agree, does look like a bit of a learning curve.

Have you considered running it on Windows on a completely separate machine. You can buy a "Mini PC" on Ebay for £65. They run fanless and only use 10W or less of power. Come with 4gig ram and Windows 10 installed! About double the thickness and twice the width of a mobile phone. Completely silent. Mine has been running for 4 years 24/7 and sends to website. Just connect to a monitor whenever I need to look at it. More than powerful enough to run simple things including video and TV although the only other thing I use it for is my nest box cam. You could of course easily install Linux on it and run from that if you crack the Cumulus MX or WeeWX.


S.Essex, 42m ASL
Ulric
  • Ulric
  • Advanced Member Topic Starter
13 February 2022 19:46:22
The plan is to eliminate windows from the network. I think I'll have a crack at Weewx and see what happens :-)


Solar is only worth it if your roof has toenail fungus.
Cumbrian Snowman
13 February 2022 19:57:29
HI

If you are migrating to away from Windows, you must have some decent knowledge about computing in general ?

I managed to switch from Cumulus 1 to Cumulus MX on my windows PC with relative ease, infact I should have done it along time ago. You should have it up and running withing 30mins top

Cumulus and now Cumulus MX is one of the only Weather Software that has the essential 0900-0900hrs meteorological day, a must for most I would have thought and for me as it links in with my Met Office Station I run

I,m not computer savvy so cant really offer much more advice, but the Cumulus Forum is very friendly and helpful

Good luck


fairweather
19 February 2022 01:07:22

HI

If you are migrating to away from Windows, you must have some decent knowledge about computing in general ?

I managed to switch from Cumulus 1 to Cumulus MX on my windows PC with relative ease, infact I should have done it along time ago. You should have it up and running withing 30mins top

Cumulus and now Cumulus MX is one of the only Weather Software that has the essential 0900-0900hrs meteorological day, a must for most I would have thought and for me as it links in with my Met Office Station I run

I,m not computer savvy so cant really offer much more advice, but the Cumulus Forum is very friendly and helpful

Good luck

Originally Posted by: Cumbrian Snowman 

Isn't one of the disadvantages that you lose several of the data analysis features like "select a graph" etc. ? I use them a lot for various stats.


S.Essex, 42m ASL
Ulric
  • Ulric
  • Advanced Member Topic Starter
19 February 2022 08:35:30

Isn't one of the disadvantages that you lose several of the data analysis features like "select a graph" etc. ? I use them a lot for various stats.

Originally Posted by: fairweather 

This is what I understand. I know features are still being added to MX so it may be equivalent in time.

I'm torn because I really would like to keep the last 16 years of records I've accumulated and it is a time consuming task to convert all the files. On the other hand, I want Windows gone. It is turning out to be a much longer project than I'd anticipated.


Solar is only worth it if your roof has toenail fungus.
fairweather
19 February 2022 12:33:08

 

This is what I understand. I know features are still being added to MX so it may be equivalent in time.

I'm torn because I really would like to keep the last 16 years of records I've accumulated and it is a time consuming task to convert all the files. On the other hand, I want Windows gone. It is turning out to be a much longer project than I'd anticipated.

Originally Posted by: Ulric 

Did you not consider the option I suggested of a totally dedicated micro PC that just runs the Cumulus software? If you don't use it for anything else it would make Windows irrelevant and be secure. Siting and a small monitor would probably then be your main issue.

Like this , https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164877876699? {probably overkill)

or this:   https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294815165145?  (silent, SSD, 8gb ram, run 24/7 on just a few watts.)

 


S.Essex, 42m ASL
Ulric
  • Ulric
  • Advanced Member Topic Starter
19 February 2022 15:36:42
I have just managed to set up CumulusMX on my Ubuntu HTPC. It seems to be working fine although I have some setup to do, plus of course, I need to work out how to import my old logs.

Anyway, it is mission accomplished, the windows box which ran cumulus is about to become a Ubuntu PC 🙂


Solar is only worth it if your roof has toenail fungus.
fairweather
20 February 2022 16:28:41

I have just managed to set up CumulusMX on my Ubuntu HTPC. It seems to be working fine although I have some setup to do, plus of course, I need to work out how to import my old logs.

Anyway, it is mission accomplished, the windows box which ran cumulus is about to become a Ubuntu PC :-)

Originally Posted by: Ulric 

Well done! Can't you just transfer the old Cumulus data file en bloc?


S.Essex, 42m ASL

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