Changing filename association and virtually mounting a virtual machine "GMRS LIVE"

[WSCJ652]

So first off not trying to crank anyone up just make life easier if no one else hasn't already. So secondly I love my raspberry pi but in lue of buying another as mine is tied to my Kraken sdr. I'd like to see if anyone else has tried a filename association swap to iso. Then creating a virtual machine, installing iso mount and running it as a virtually mounted machine. I'd prefer to do this with not just gmrs live but next install is allstar. Which I know can be done with a virtual Linux machine. But I'm open to see how that plays with the community. Mind you this is in a Mobile comms command center. I want to run all on my van ham cpu. There's already a 7950x3d crosshair hero x670e cpu, and a second which is my ham comms machine. I use the first cpu for sdrangel my nodes are going on the second machine. There's also a pi connected to a kraken sdr being used for witch hunting lol. 

 

X

[WRKC935]

OK, you need to understand that GMRSLIVE, and other GMRS linking setup's are all repurposed ASL with some changes in the back end.

If you have a strong understanding of the underlying operations of ASL you know that there are node files, which are a sort of DNS for linking nodes together. 

Obviously you can't use the node list from the HAM version of ASL, it has to be separate.  Once you grasp that, then you realize that you need a method of getting that node file.  ASL of course uses a script to go download it from the ASL servers.  Well, we are back to you can't get that file and use it.  You need the one from GMRSLIVE servers. or whatever system you are attaching to.

Then there is the configuration of allowed nodes.  With the mygmrs.com system the nodes for serves double duty.  That is the list of attachable nodes, and the individual nodes verify a node is listed before it will allow a connection.  Again, we don't want ham nodes and GMRS nodes interconnecting.  SO there's that.

Then we get into a registration server.  Your node typically is going to report to a server to upload connection status.  The whole is it on line, what nodes it's connected to, that stuff.  And again, all this stuff is DIFFERENT for GMRSLIVE and other linking systems. 

So how do you get it working on something other than a pi?

First thing to understand here is you are typically going to have some sort of a script that will download and install the specific software packages that the software as a whole will use for the functions mentioned above.  And there's the rub.  The scripts will call for the Raspberry Pi "ARM" versions of the different packages as the script runs.  If you are building the node on a Pi, then no problems, unless the package versions being called have been sunset or whatever they call it,  and are simply not available for download any more.  But if they are out there, they just download and all is right with the world.  BUT, if you are on an X64 platform, and you are calling for ARM software, its' not going to work. 

So what options do you have?

First is knowing Linux fairly well.  Which funny enough, I DON'T. 

Then you need to understand scripts.  Again, not my strong suite.

You will need to figure out getting the scripts modified to load the correct dependencies, that are both available and are for the correct CPU platform.

You will also need to ensure that the script either loads the software packages and dependencies BEFORE it starts running the configuration commands. 

Lastly, you will need to ensure that the commands for the scripts are correct for the packages and dependencies.  Refer back to the I DON'T KNOW part before asking anything specific.  Cuz I doubt I personally will be able to help you.

How did I figure all this out?  I was just smart enough to know I didn't know crap, and enlisted the assistance of a 6 figure salaried Linux SysAdmin that DID know.  He went through the scripts for the mygmrs.com system and produced scripts that would call the correct versions of software and the dependencies for the platform I was running. 

Now you can have a discussion with the folks at GMRSLIVE and see if they have a proper script for running a node on an X64 or whatever platform you are attempting to use.  And that's gonna be your best bet.  Short of that, you will need to reverse engineer their script and modify it to work the way YOU need it to.

 

 

[WRKC935]

Now you also mentioned ASL specifically.  I am going to assume that you are talking about ASL for ham. 

The ASL for ham will run on an X64 or AMD platform without any issues.  You just need the correct version of it to load it on the Linux OS you choose to use. 

That procedure is fairly well documented and isn't really difficult since it's need done many times. 

Google is your friend here.