[A_Camera]

i agree with making sure it’s off the internet, and I used to go into msconfig and disable anything unnecessarily running in the background .

None of that worry me at all with a laptop. The only thing which causes UCCNC <---> UC300ETH communication issues is when my automatic backup starts. The software I am using (Acronis True Image) locks everything for a brief moment and if that moment comes at an inappropriate time then UCCNC throws an error. Otherwise no problem at all with Internet. Occasionally I am even doing screen capture video, capturing UCCNC screens, and that software is demanding, yet no problems at all.

But sure, if you still consider parallel port then you should make sure as much as possible is disabled... It's a real PITA, and that alone motivating the small costs connected to abandoning that dinosaur.

I suspect linux would be a better option instead of windows , but I’m not familiar with it

OK, but... unless there is a political agenda behind it, why would anyone go to LinuxCNC today just to be able to run a CNC software an old and weak PC with a totally outdated interface? It might work, but unless you are a Linux fan and anti-Microsoft, I see no reason...

[PCW_MESA]

None of that worry me at all with a laptop. The only thing which causes UCCNC <---> UC300ETH communication issues is when my automatic backup starts. The software I am using (Acronis True Image) locks everything for a brief moment and if that moment comes at an inappropriate time then UCCNC throws an error. Otherwise no problem at all with Internet. Occasionally I am even doing screen capture video, capturing UCCNC screens, and that software is demanding, yet no problems at all.

But sure, if you still consider parallel port then you should make sure as much as possible is disabled... It's a real PITA, and that alone motivating the small costs connected to abandoning that dinosaur.



OK, but... unless there is a political agenda behind it, why would anyone go to LinuxCNC today just to be able to run a CNC software an old and weak PC with a totally outdated interface? It might work, but unless you are a Linux fan and anti-Microsoft, I see no reason...

That's pure nonsense, LinuxCNC will run on most modern PCs (plus some ARM boards) and has a number of different GUIs available.
It also allows deep customization at the real time level, something that's lacking in most of the Windows based
solutions since all of the real time connections are hardwired in the external motion controller.

[A_Camera]

That's pure nonsense, LinuxCNC will run on most modern PCs (plus some ARM boards) and has a number of different GUIs available.
It also allows deep customization at the real time level, something that's lacking in most of the Windows based
solutions since all of the real time connections are hardwired in the external motion controller.

...and none of that is denied in my post. I guess you missed my point, but never mind.

[PCW_MESA]

...and none of that is denied in my post. I guess you missed my point, but never mind.

So whats the "old and weak PC" nonsense about?

[A_Camera]

So whats the "old and weak PC" nonsense about?

Did you read the OP? Did you understand the post I replied to? Perhaps you didn't.

[PCW_MESA]

Did you read the OP? Did you understand the post I replied to? Perhaps you didn't.

So what does "old and weak PC? have to do with LinuxCNC or even parallel ports?

[A_Camera]

So what does "old and weak PC? have to do with LinuxCNC or even parallel ports?

Now, look, I don't know who you are or what your problem is, but let me help you understand the subject of this thread and my comments by saying:

READ THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THIS THREAD.

When you read AND understood that sentence:

READ POST #10.

That's where you stepped in. Was that clear? If not then sorry, don't bother me again, get some help from someone else, I can't help you.

As a last note, I have over 40 years of experience with Unix and Linux, started on PDP-11 (Google it) and now on HP G10 (Google it) and also on laptops, desktops and whatever you can think of, so you are barking at the wrong door. Not within the CNC field though...

[samco]

None of that worry me at all with a laptop. The only thing which causes UCCNC <---> UC300ETH communication issues is when my automatic backup starts. The software I am using (Acronis True Image) locks everything for a brief moment and if that moment comes at an inappropriate time then UCCNC throws an error. Otherwise no problem at all with Internet. Occasionally I am even doing screen capture video, capturing UCCNC screens, and that software is demanding, yet no problems at all.

But sure, if you still consider parallel port then you should make sure as much as possible is disabled... It's a real PITA, and that alone motivating the small costs connected to abandoning that dinosaur.

OK, but... unless there is a political agenda behind it, why would anyone go to LinuxCNC today just to be able to run a CNC software an old and weak PC with a totally outdated interface? It might work, but unless you are a Linux fan and anti-Microsoft, I see no reason...

If you have a realtime os - none of this is a problem. You don't have to 'strip down' the system to make it work reliably. I like not having to worry at all if I can/can't run a certain program on my system. It all work. This is my current system I use for testing my setups. (communicating realtime over ethernet to a mesa 7i92 (2 printer ports on steroids and expandable)



Shot of the Ethernet board hooked up.



That is also running the current latest debian linux. (Debian 9 Stretch)

Ok - so if you want to test your laptop to see if it will run decently for an ethernet board (like mesa 7i92) my first test would be to download the latest userspace realtime image here (you need 'userspace realtime' for ethernet devices..) and burn it to a dvd. (or usb drive) You can test the your system off the image without installing.

Index of /testing-stretch-rtpreempt

If that doesn't seem to work well with your laptop - you could try the older debian wheezy - but that will be a little harder.

sam

[A_Camera]

If you have a realtime os - none of this is a problem.

Stop this hijacking nonsense. The OP was clear about Linux, wasn't he? Did you also misunderstood the subject and missed the point?

[samco]

How is this hijacking? And yes - it is a better option (less expensive, stable, opensource, flexable)

I should see if he stocks the ram and upgrade to 8gig . Probably have to replace the ram modules instead of adding , seeing as it’s a laptop .
i agree with making sure it’s off the internet, and I used to go into msconfig and disable anything unnecessarily running in the background .

I suspect linux would be a better option instead of windows , but I’m not familiar with it

Stop this hijacking nonsense. The OP was clear about Linux, wasn't he? Did you also misunderstood the subject and missed the point?

[A_Camera]

How is this hijacking? And yes - it is a better option (less expensive, stable, opensource, flexable)

What's better is relative...

It's definitely cheaper (if that is the only reason you would buy a Windows machine for). As for stability... I haven't had stability issues since XP. Both Mach3 and UCCNC are stable on my computers ever since my first W7 Pro 64 bit installation. The BSD was gone after XP. Open source? Sure, but that doesn't really matter for the average user, does it? I mean, unless you want to make your own versions or want to fix bugs on your own... Flaxable? I think you mean flexible, but flexible in which way compared to the other alternatives? Yes, you can compile your own but again, that's not what an average CNC user want to do. Otherwise it seems to me that Mach3 is as flexible as necessary, and while UCCNC does not have all the features Mach3 has, I think it is better (for me) and is definitely flexible enough.

So, yes, Linux is better if you want to run it in an old PC with parallel port, but the advantages will not be that obvious if you have ambitions of using Ethernet motion controllers and have a half decent PC.

[A_Camera]

If you have a realtime os - none of this is a problem. You don't have to 'strip down' the system to make it work reliably.

I don't strip down my system to make it work at all... Where did you get that from?