Multiple computer use for portable and base station operation

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KM4QZE
Multiple computer use for portable and base station operation

I'm thinking about trying cqrlog....but am concerned about how to operate portable as well as at a base station. Portable and Base operations will be on different computers.

The portable computers are Raspberry Pi's and the base computer is a desktop.

How do you conveniently do this? Has anyone ever written a description with the details of how this is done.

Ken
KB4XT
old
KM4QZE

oh1kh
Multiple computer use for portable and base station operation

There are several ways to do it.

I have public IP address (dynamic) from my ISP and one old laptop as server. This server run mysql database.
Then I have a shack computer that runs also mysql database and cqrlog.

The shack computer has main cqrlog database (unchecked "save log data local machine"). It saves it there anyway, but using mysql port 3306.

Server mysql and shack mysql do have 2 way repilcation with databases. So changes can happen to other database and it will replicate it to another.
Even afterwards if another computer is shut down. That is usually shack computer. Serever is running 24/7.

So I can connect to my server via internet in 3 ways. Https, shh and openvpn.
At servers end http service is running cqrweblog https://www.dl8bh.de/cqrweblog/
By using that I can log qsos from any computer that is connected to internet. Even with my smart phone! Qsos go to servers mysql database and are replicated to shack computer when I return and turn it on.

I can also run cqrlog on some other computer that is connected to internet. In that case I open either ssh tunnel to my servers mysql service with command:
ssh -L 3306:localhost:33060 mydyndnsname.server.com
and adjust cqrlog to open database from localhost port 33060 that points to my server via ssh tunnel.
After that I can log qsos and when I return and turn on shack computer its mysql server will replicate with my servers mysql server and get my remote qsos.

Third way is to use openvpn tunnel between internet computer and server at home. In that case no changes are needed in cqrlog settings it will run with same settings as at home because openvpn tunnel extends local LAN via the internet. And again this remote internet computer logs to server database adn when I get home and turn on shack computer its mysql server will replicate with my servers mysql server and get my remote qsos.

I have used all ways.
ssh tunnel is faster than openvpn over slow mobile networks.
Web browser logging via cqrlweblog works well even over 2G mobile networks.

Following knowledge is needed and can be googled very easy:

- using dynamic dns with ISP connection
- setting up apache web server
- setting up cqrweblog
- mysql database replication between 2 mysql servers (in both directions)
- ssh tunneling
- openvpn setup and usage

In your case easy start is to set base desktop run cqrlog databases from mysql servers port 3306 using "real" mysql connection instead of "saving log data to local machine" that uses separate mysql pipe to access same database.
You need to export your logs, then import them again when using port 3306 mysql server.
See this, it tells how to start without "saving log data to local machine": https://www.cqrlog.com/comment/6776#comment-6776

When it runs ok, you will probably have also running apache webserver in your desktop coputer. If not install it from package.
When it is installed downlaod and install cqrweblog.
When it runs OK via local LAN you need public internet address (dynamic is ok).

Using dynamic dns (several services available) you give name to your dynamic ipaddress.

When that is ok and you can resolve your IP address based the name you have you have to open your router's NAT so that cqrweblog request from internet goes to your desktop.

I recommend NOT to use normal http or https ports (80 or 433), use port number over 10000 (that you can remember) and username/password autenthication at cqrweblog http page.

Afteer all work you can youe your rasperry pi, or your smatphone to log qsos. Desktop must be running while you are away.

These are very brief instructions, but you can resolve all step by step with the help of google.
That is the way I once did it by myself.

--
Saku
OH1KH

HB9GKC
Multiple computer use for portable and base station operation

I would also really like to use the same database on different computers (shack and laptop/P) but this sounds far too complicate for my knowledge. I was hopefully believing that it was possible to store a file on a server like DROPBOX or G-DRIVE and have it accessible from anywhere but it looks like we will have no chance for that.
It is nice to be a CQRlog user though.

Thanks Peter

Regards
HB9GKC

oh1kh
Multiple computer use for portable and base station operation

Hi!

Simplest way is to check "save log data local machine" as usual. Then make copy of ~/.config/cqrlog to USB stick and always before start of using cqrlog drop the folder to current computer.

cp -a /run/media/myusbstick/config/cqrlog ~/.config/

And after usage copy it back to stick reversing the paths of previous command.

Good sides:
- you always have current full backup in USB stick
Bad sides:
- you have to remember always to copy contents before start to PC and after usage to USB stick to keep logs up to date
- you can not use several computers at same time
- you can not access your logs remotely with only web browser from any internet connected device.
- all computers you are using must have cqrlog installed.

How ever this may be enough if we think about IOTA, WWFF, SOTA or some other activities where logging is needed every now and then from portable location.

--
Saku
OH1KH

ei2idb (not verified)
Hi Ken and others,

Hi Ken and others,
IMHO the really simplest way to do this is export adif file from portable cqrlog and next import it to the base station computer.
I am doing in this way because I am using other logger for the contests. After contest just doing export and import adif file from contest logger to cqrlog and that's it. Fast and simple method for a linux beginners without any geek's tricks.

oh1kh
Hi Ken and others,

HI Slav!

True!
But by copying whole folder you transfer also other data as just qso. If you change settings, make notes etc. they move along folder copy.

Just moving qsos full ADIF export/import is surely the simplest way.

--
Saku
OH1KH

ei2idb (not verified)
Hi Ken and others,

Hi Saku,
In this case I would like advise use a crontab schedule for recurrent backup.
BTW I'm not sure yet what exactly doing Database connection -> Utils -> Export -> Configration but it looks as another possibility to keep database config backup in any local directory synchronised to Dropbox or other cloud.

oh1kh
Database connection -Utils - Export - Configration

Hi Slav!

That will export preferences for selected log.
Using imported preferences you can create a new log with similar settings as you had when exporting them.

How ever there is a bug: it requires a certain order to make imported preferences affect to new log.
https://www.cqrlog.com/comment/6716#comment-6716

--
Saku
OH1KH