[OLPC-AU] Mass imaging

Sridhar Dhanapalan sridhar at laptop.org.au
Thu Jan 13 02:03:23 EST 2011


Thanks for your input, Tabitha.

Our problem is one of scale - 770 XOs to reimage at once.

I think we're going to have to use lots of power boards and individual
adapters (not XOPs). Just like the old days :)


On 13 January 2011 17:56, Tabitha Roder <tabitha at tabitha.net.nz> wrote:
> Hello Australia
>
> Is there a reason they can't be plugged in for the whole nand-blast process?
>
> You could setup three areas:
> 1. a staging area for charging, say table big enough for 20 at a time, get
> that started then go get coffee
> 2. a build area same size as staging area (working out how long your image
> takes may help you plan - you may find that you charge 40 laptops as can
> build 2 lots of 20 in the time it takes to get sufficient battery charge)
> 3. a complete area (test one of each batch of ten loads correctly using this
> area)
>
> Have less people - the more people there are, the easier it is to get messed
> up on where each laptop is up to. If you have more people then make it clear
> what they are each responsible for so you don't go "umm... is this one
> done?" about 769 times.
> If you have space, then setup the three tables again on the other side of
> the room so you can have two teams (or three areas, etc).
>
> If you can, I would consider whether it is possible to give the batteries a
> full charge before shipping. What effect does the battery state of charge
> have on the first out of the box experience at the schools? Should they be
> fully charged before dispatch or clearly marked for school staff to charge
> before distribution to children?
>
> We tried charging on 6 plug multiboxes in Samoa (using the same adaptor you
> guys used with your XO-1.0s) and some of the adaptors got to 65 degrees
> Celsius on the outside.
>
> Oh, and for firmware updates they have to be plugged in, don't they?
>
> my two cents
> Tabitha
>
>
>
> On 13 January 2011 19:30, James Cameron <quozl at laptop.org> wrote:
>>
>> On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 05:19:43PM +1100, Sridhar Dhanapalan wrote:
>> > The challenge that we have is that there are 770 XOs in our warehouse
>> > that require the same treatment. Since they've been sitting on the
>> > shelves, they probably won't have sufficient battery power left for
>> > NANDblasting.
>>
>> If the battery is not in the laptop, then the remaining capacity will
>> depend on the storage temperature in the warehouse and the number of
>> months.
>>
>> Pull ten units, check the battery capacity.  That will give you an idea
>> of the size of the problem.  The percentage state of charge is *not*
>> updated by the battery itself if it is stored outside the laptop.
>>
>> > What would be the best approach to deal with so many?
>> >
>> > I was thinking of this:
>> >   1. have an army of people :)
>> >   2. upgrade the firmware one-by-one
>> >   3. start the NANDblaster sender
>> >   4. once an XO starts to receive, place it in e-book mode and place
>> > it in the XOP charging rack
>>
>> e-book mode isn't a good idea, since the heat release area on the back
>> cover is obscured.
>>
>> I think you had better rack them for half an hour each, powered off,
>> then bring them into the sequence for firmware upgrade and NANDblaster
>> receive.  Half an hour's charging should provide enough run time for a
>> NANDblasting.
>>
>> The next trouble you will face is telling the difference between a
>> successful NANDblasting and a laptop that has run out of battery power.
>>
>> --
>> James Cameron
>> http://quozl.linux.org.au/
>> _______________________________________________
>> OLPC-AU mailing list
>> OLPC-AU at lists.laptop.org
>> http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-au
>
>


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