iv Contents at a Glance About the Author xii About the Technical Reviewers xiii Acknowledgments xiv Introduction xv ■Chapter 1: Appliance Control 1 ■Chapter 2: Appliance Hacking 49 ■Chapter 3: Media Systems 85 ■Chapter 4: Home Is Home 117 ■Chapter 5: Communication 149 ■Chapter 6: Data Sources 185 ■Chapter 7: Control Hubs 215 Index 269 v Contents About the Author xii About the Technical Reviewers xiii Acknowledgments xiv Introduction xv ■Chapter 1: Appliance Control 1 X10 1 About X10 2 General Design 4 Device Modules 6 Stand-Alone Controllers 15 Gateways and Other Exotic Devices 20 Computer Control 23 C-Bus 28 About C-Bus 28 Differences Between X10 and C-Bus 28 Devices 29 Controllers 30 Gateways 31 ■ CONTENTS vi Networked Devices 31 Ethernet Devices 31 Networking Primer 31 CCTV Cameras 38 Stand-Alone BitTorrent Clients 41 Infrared Remote Control 41 All-in-One Remotes 42 IR Relays 42 IR Control 46 Conclusion 48 ■Chapter 2: Appliance Hacking 49 Software Hacks 49 Linksys NSLU2 49 Developing on the Slug 51 Hacking Game Consoles 52 Hardware Hacks 58 Linksys NSLU2 58 LEGO Mindstorms 60 Arduino as an I/O Device 61 Joysticks for Input 79 Other Input Controllers 80 Hacking Laptops 80 Your Own X10 Devices 81 Conclusion 83 ■ CONTENTS vii ■Chapter 3: Media Systems 85 The Data Chain 85 Extracting the Data 86 Storage 91 Stand-Alone NAS Systems 91 NAS with Media Playback 94 Configuring a Linux Box 95 Media Extenders 98 Stand-Alone Hardware 99 Just Linux 105 Distribution 107 Local Processing vs. Remote Processing 107 AV Distribution 107 Wiring Looms 109 Wireless AV Distribution 110 Matrix Switchers 110 Control 112 Local Control 112 Remote-Control Methods 112 Conclusion 115 ■Chapter 4: Home Is Home 117 Node0 117 Function and Purpose 117 Determining the Best Room 118 Primary Options 121 Building the Rack 122 ■ CONTENTS viii Servers 123 Purposes of Servers 123 Types of Server 125 Power Consumption 128 Server Coordination 131 UPS 132 Backups 136 Hiding Your Home 140 Adding to Your Home 141 General Considerations 142 Wired Network 143 Wireless Points 145 Audio Cabling 146 Other Access Points? 147 Conclusion 148 ■Chapter 5: Communication 149 Why Comms? 149 IP Telephony 150 Skype 150 Asterisk 151 E-mail 151 Preparing E-mail in Linux 151 Sending E-mail 152 Autoprocessing E-mails 153 Security Issues 156 . Extracting the Data 86 Storage 91 Stand-Alone NAS Systems 91 NAS with Media Playback 94 Configuring a Linux Box 95 Media Extenders 98 Stand-Alone Hardware 99 Just Linux 105 Distribution 107 Local. Comms? 149 IP Telephony 150 Skype 150 Asterisk 151 E-mail 151 Preparing E-mail in Linux 151 Sending E-mail 152 Autoprocessing E-mails 153 Security Issues 156 . Design 4 Device Modules 6 Stand-Alone Controllers 15 Gateways and Other Exotic Devices 20 Computer Control 23 C-Bus 28 About C-Bus 28 Differences Between X10 and C-Bus 28 Devices 29 Controllers