AD Wiley Books release: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies long

breastle: Linux Smart Home For Dummies Author: Neil Cherry ISBN: 0-7645-9823-6 Format: Paper Pages: 384 Pages Pub.

A Linux smart home is about controlling and monitoring devices and information around your home using a standard personal computer, Linux, and its vast array of open source tools. You don't have to be a master programmer to create one. If you like to tinker with Linux, Linux Smart Homes For Dummies will guide you through cool home automation projects that are as much fun to work on as they are to use.

Home automation used to be limited to turning on lights and appliances, and maybe controlling your thermostat and lawn sprinkler, from your computer. While you still might not be able to create all the Jetsonsā toys, today you can also

* Build a wireless network * Create and set up a weather station * Automate your TV and sound system * Spy on your pets when youāre not home * Set up an answering system that knows what to do with calls * Increase your homeās security

If you know how to use Linux and a few basic development tools - Perl, the BASH shell, development libraries, and the GNU C compiler - Linux Smart Homes For Dummies will help you do all these tricks and more. For example, you can

* Set up a wireless network, create a wireless access point, build a bridge between wired and wireless networks, and route your own network traffic * Build a personal video recorder with MythTV that will record to DVD, or set up a wireless streaming music system * Create a smart phone system that takes messages and forwards them to your fax, modem, or answering machine * Build a weather station that notifies you of severe weather alerts * Control and secure your home automation network, and even check on your house when youāre away

The bonus CD-ROM includes all kinds of cool open source software for your home automation projects. Linux Smart Homes For Dummies even includes lists of cool gadgets to check out and great ways to automate those boring household chores. A smart homeās a happy home!

Chapters Part I - Bringing the Future Home Exploring the Possibilities of Home Automation Filling your Home Automation Toolkit with Linux Software

Part II - Connecting Multiple Computers without the Wires Going Wireless Creating a Wireless Access Point Routing Network Traffic for Free

Part III - Entertaining your Brain with a Little Help from Linux Building a Personal Video recorder with MythTV Streaming Music without the Wires Having Fun with a Webcam Setting up a Smart Phone System

Part IV - Keeping a linux Eye on the Sky Letting Linux watch the Weather for You Setting up Freeze and Flood Alerts Staying Comfortable with Thermostat Controls

Part V - X10-ding your Enviroment with Home Automation Introducing X10 Home Automation Hardware Using X10 without the Wires

Part VI - Controlling and Securing Your Automation Network Controlling Your House with MisterHouse Controlling X10 from MisterHouse Using the Web Interface for Remote Control Keeping Control of your Controls

Part VII - The Part of Tens Ten Cool Chores You Can Automate Ten Gadgets Worth Checking Out

Appendix

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