[Solved] Pi Zero W or Pi 4  

RE: Pi Zero W or Pi 4

Please read the bold sentences here: https://octoprint.org/download/

RE: Pi Zero W or Pi 4

@3delight

When the MK3 was young a Pi0 was plenty for basic use.  Octoprint has grown a lot recently.  Aiui a Pi0 is still just about capable of handling it's core function but there are now a sackful of add-ons, cameras and additional features that are too much for it.

So disable the interface and plug a later Pi into the USB port.

Cheerio,

RE: Pi Zero W or Pi 4

Posted by: @usmcsni

My printer should be here tomorrow and I wanna hook it up to Octoprint I have two other printers connected to Pi 3b should I run a Pi 4 on this one or a Pi Zero W connected to the main board 

Nothing wrong with a 3B+, which I use for my Minis and Mk3S

RE: Pi Zero W or Pi 4

@fuchsr

that's what I'm running on my other 2 printers I was just wondering if the Pi Zero would be a better option with a Prusa due to the official support 

RE: Pi Zero W or Pi 4

Posted by: @usmcsni

@fuchsr

that's what I'm running on my other 2 printers I was just wondering if the Pi Zero would be a better option with a Prusa due to the official support 

I don't understand your expectation of "official support"?  Do you expect tech support help with setting it up?  I wouldn't put too much value on that to be honest.

The other Pi's are using USB just like the Pi-z using USB.  The only difference is that the Pi-z is using the internal USB pins rather than the external USB connector.

RE: Pi Zero W or Pi 4

I wouldn't read too much into the fact that there's a page https://help.prusa3d.com/en/article/prusaprint-rpi-zero-and-octoprint_2180 that explains how to hook up the Pi Zero. There's also a page https://help.prusa3d.com/en/article/octoprint-building-an-image-for-raspberry-pi-zero-w_2182, that explains how to hook up ANY Pi. I don't think if you have to call support they'd say, "Sorry, no Zero? Can't help". More likely they'll say, "Sorry. Pi? Can't help" 😉

RE: Pi Zero W or Pi 4

Posted by: @heneryh

I don't understand your expectation of "official support"?  Do you expect tech support help with setting it up?  I wouldn't put too much value on that to be honest.

The other Pi's are using USB just like the Pi-z using USB.  The only difference is that the Pi-z is using the internal USB pins rather than the external USB connector.

The Zero is also sharing the USB bus with WiFi and running a single core CPU which is prone to bogging down at the worst possible moment during a print job. USB speeds aren't the problem. The RPi Zero's limited processing power is the problem. I love Linux too, but it can't make a single core CPU work miracles. I'm not going to risk the novelty of a RPi Zero costing me 24+ hours and an expensive spool of filament on a long print when the developer is telling me not to do it. Toss a failed print done with a $40mspool of filament and you could've set up a proper, supported OctoPrint install.

RE: Pi Zero W or Pi 4

I was just wondering if the pi zero had any benefit 

RE: Pi Zero W or Pi 4

More detailed notes on USB on the RPi here. Important parts for this discussion are:

Overview for devices prior to Pi 4

[...] In all models prior to the Pi 4, the USB ports connect to a combo hub/Ethernet chip, which is itself a USB device connected to the single upstream USB port on BCM2835. [...] On the Model A and Zero range, the single USB 2.0 port is directly wired to the SoC. [...] The USB host port inside the Pi is an On-The-Go (OTG) host as the application processor powering the Pi, BCM2835, was originally intended to be used in the mobile market: i.e. as the single USB port on a phone for connection to a PC, or to a single device. In essence, the OTG hardware is simpler than the equivalent hardware on a PC. [...] The OTG hardware on Raspberry Pi has a simpler level of support for certain devices, which may present a higher software processing overhead. 

That last bit about higher software processing overhead really matters when you're limited to a single-core CPU and throw wifi into the mix. Even without video, you're pushing it. I love Linux and I love using RPis for all sorts of odd little jobs. The Zero is very cool. I get it. It is simply not the right tool for this job. This isn't meant to piss in anybody's Cheerios. The developer of OctoPrint should know and has stated so unambiguously and without conditions. 

Overview for the Pi 4

For the Pi 4, a fully-featured host controller drives the downstream USB ports. Downstream USB is provided by a Via Labs VL805 chip - that supports two USB 2.0 ports and two USB 3.0 ports. 

A 3B would be the minimum I'd use. The multiple cores can at least handle the IO better. As 4Bs get cheaper, there's little reason not to use one, especially now that they've defeated the heat demons.

RE: Pi Zero W or Pi 4

Posted by: @bobstro

.. especially now that they've defeated the heat demons.

Will "apt update/upgrade" pick up the 'fixes' that you are referring to?  I haven't really done much research on this topic.

RE: Pi Zero W or Pi 4

Posted by: @heneryh

Will "apt update/upgrade" pick up the 'fixes' that you are referring to?  I haven't really done much research on this topic.

I believe a dist-upgrade will upgrade the kernel and RPi firmware to the latest. I know the updated kernel will eventually make its way onto your RPi if you update regularly. Good question though, I'll have to double-check on that.

RE: Pi Zero W or Pi 4

Update: Discussion here includes:

To install future updates, run the following at the command line (there isn't a GUI tool for this):

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

The first bit checks for updates, then full-upgrade actually does the update.