Running an FPGA on Raspberry Pi, possible?

[Sheep]

I've come to the conclusion that next month (for my birthday) i'm going to order a butterfly labs single. I am a tad bit confused on how it works though.

First of all, it needs to be plugged into an existing computer correct? So not only would you have to deduct the cost of power from the single itself, but the computer that is running as well.  Knowing this, would it be worth setting up a super low power rig to hook the single up to? This got me thinking about using the Raspberry Pi as a host for a single. After a little searching I did find a similar post https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=55532.0;all, but I couldn't figure out if it was just ideas being thrown around hopelessly, or if mining on the Rpi is a possibility.

So far what I noted is that you would need

1.An FPGA (butterfly labs single)
2.A raspberry pi model B
3.A powered hub (to power the single)
4.A debian ARM based operating system that can mine bitcoins

The only problem I can see is obviously with the operating system. Would the current linux miners work in an ARM environment? Or would new software have to be developed?

In the end, with the proper equipment, would running 1 butterfly labs single on a Rpi ever work?

[matthewh3]

Yes it would you have to compile the mining software from source.  I'm in the process of ordering a different FPGA board to the BFL-Single.  Once I have the board and a RaspberryPi I will do a 'How-To' thread on the forum.

[alatus]

Matthew: What do You mean by different FPGA board FOR the BFL Singles?
I don't really get it...

[matthewh3]

Matthew: What do You mean by different FPGA board FOR the BFL Singles?
I don't really get it...

I meant a different FPGA board then the BFL-Single (an alternative product made by somebody else).  The company selling them hasn't gone public yet and I can release no details but the company will be going public about the product within two weeks.

[Sheep]

I'm not big on the whole "code" side of things, but I guess i'll have to if I want to do this project . I commend you for taking initiative, Matthew. I'll be keeping an eye our for your posts.

I will also be keeping an eye out for this new FPGA you speak about. Thank you!

[matthewh3]

I'm not big on the whole "code" side of things, but I guess i'll have to if I want to do this project . I commend you for taking initiative, Matthew. I'll be keeping an eye our for your posts.

I will also be keeping an eye out for this new FPGA you speak about. Thank you!

Yeah once I've got these new FPGA boards which have the same hash rate of the BFL-Single but at half the wattage tho will be more expensive I will do a how-to on setting the boards up with Ubuntu and the RaspberryPi as well.  Also this new company will ship from both the USA and the EU to help get around import tax and give next day delivery.  Tho I probably saying to much and you should wait for them to go public within two weeks.

[DILLIGAF]

I'm not big on the whole "code" side of things, but I guess i'll have to if I want to do this project . I commend you for taking initiative, Matthew. I'll be keeping an eye our for your posts.

I will also be keeping an eye out for this new FPGA you speak about. Thank you!

Yeah once I've got these new FPGA boards which have the same hash rate of the BFL-Single but at half the wattage tho will be more expensive I will do a how-to on setting the boards up with Ubuntu and the RaspberryPi as well.  Also this new company will ship from both the USA and the EU to help get around import tax and give next day delivery.  Tho I probably saying to much and you should wait for them to go public within two weeks.

Will they have actual product in stock ready to ship on launch?

[shad]

i was running the X6500 on an ARM device with MPBM
i managed it on openwrt without any compile work, the only problem i see is getting an raspberry

RS Components always writes me that at the moment the only sell to companys
so if you have an wlan-router with an usb port flash it with openwrt, you don't need a fast cpu, most work is done bei the fpga

[blackup]

i only skimmed the OP, but could there be some way of magically running this off a jailbroken IOS device? something like ITouch>ITouch USB> USB Hub>BFL.
i know someone would have to make custom drivers or something of the sort.
OOOOHHH Brainstorm! DD-wrt/Openwrt Router?

sorry if that doenst have anything to do with Rasberry PI/Fpga's, my line of thought was getting a BFL single up and running using the least amount of power possible

[Sheep]

It's still a good idea, but I planned on getting a Rpi anyway. So I just thought it would be cool to incorporate both of my projects into one.

[Sheep]

i only skimmed the OP, but could there be some way of magically running this off a jailbroken IOS device? something like ITouch>ITouch USB> USB Hub>BFL.
i know someone would have to make custom drivers or something of the sort.
OOOOHHH Brainstorm! DD-wrt/Openwrt Router?

sorry if that doenst have anything to do with Rasberry PI/Fpga's, my line of thought was getting a BFL single up and running using the least amount of power possible

I doubt even a jailbroken Itouch would ever have mining software made for it.

[matthewh3]

i only skimmed the OP, but could there be some way of magically running this off a jailbroken IOS device? something like ITouch>ITouch USB> USB Hub>BFL.
i know someone would have to make custom drivers or something of the sort.
OOOOHHH Brainstorm! DD-wrt/Openwrt Router?

sorry if that doenst have anything to do with Rasberry PI/Fpga's, my line of thought was getting a BFL single up and running using the least amount of power possible

I doubt even a jailbroken Itouch would ever have mining software made for it.

The RaspberryPi is only 5v and at ~700mA(I think) only.  So a touch over 3W and less than 4W it's still uses a lot less power than a 200W PC.

[shad]

the raspberry Pi is hard to get, i am trying since rls, but rs-components doesn't have that much
i think my wlan router need around 4-5watt, i am currently not mining on it because there was no webinterface for MPBM
but there is a new beta version with WebUI frontend

MPBM is the way to go for headless devices
you only have to install python and ncurses, no compiling

but i think if you want to go on ARM devices the BFL is the wrong choice

[Sheep]

the raspberry Pi is hard to get, i am trying since rls, but rs-components doesn't have that much
i think my wlan router need around 4-5watt, i am currently not mining on it because there was no webinterface for MPBM
but there is a new beta version with WebUI frontend

MPBM is the way to go for headless devices
you only have to install python and ncurses, no compiling

but i think if you want to go on ARM devices the BFL is the wrong choice

What is MPBM, and why shouldn't I use an ARM device?

[pieppiep]

Google for "MPBM bitcoin" gave me Modular Python Bitcoin Miner.

I have no idea why python won't run on an ARM device.
Maybe it uses some libraries that aren't available on ARM?

[Sheep]

Alright, that's pretty cool, but why do that instead of making a little Rpi rig? Besides that I'd be tough to get a Rpi.

I'm not getting my FPGA probably until months from now. Getting a Rpi should be a lot easier by that time.

[sexystick]

subscribing.
I've got a Raspberry Pi on the way and am very interested in introducing it to a FPGA!!

[shad]

the raspberry Pi is hard to get, i am trying since rls, but rs-components doesn't have that much
i think my wlan router need around 4-5watt, i am currently not mining on it because there was no webinterface for MPBM
but there is a new beta version with WebUI frontend

MPBM is the way to go for headless devices
you only have to install python and ncurses, no compiling

but i think if you want to go on ARM devices the BFL is the wrong choice

What is MPBM, and why shouldn't I use an ARM device?

i didn't mean you shouldn't use a ARM device, i think it's smart to use an ARM device
but i don't think BFL is(will) support ARM devices
you have that ARM support with MPBM which supports X6500 icarus and ztex

[wogaut]

the raspberry Pi is hard to get, i am trying since rls, but rs-components doesn't have that much
i think my wlan router need around 4-5watt, i am currently not mining on it because there was no webinterface for MPBM
but there is a new beta version with WebUI frontend

MPBM is the way to go for headless devices
you only have to install python and ncurses, no compiling

but i think if you want to go on ARM devices the BFL is the wrong choice

What is MPBM, and why shouldn't I use an ARM device?

i didn't mean you shouldn't use a ARM device, i think it's smart to use an ARM device
but i don't think BFL is(will) support ARM devices
you have that ARM support with MPBM which supports X6500 icarus and ztex

Isn't there ARM support for cgminer?

[wogaut]

Has anyone done that yet who can share their experience?