N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

*** UPDATE ***

Here are the instructions:
http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...8&postcount=24

*** UPDATE ***


I have been playing with my Nokia N900 for a while now and because I have a bad habit of losing things, I decided to make a small script that outputs device GPS coordinates directly to a computer connected to internet. That way I could always check from the Internet where my device is. Granted, GPS is not very accurate, but I would know where my N900 is by checking from a webpage. In worst case, if it is stolen, I would know where it is and I would have a better chance of retrieving it.

I decided to add more functions to my script and soon it also sended device IP-numbers and last 10 calls and messages to the webpage. Well, it didn't stop to that. So now I have somekind of web interface for my N900. Heavily protected and not always on. I can just change one file on my webserver and N900 reads it after a while and starts webserver on the device. So basicly I can do almost everything the device is capable of.

The interface runs on Lighttpd + PHP. At this time, all the scripts and everything are pretty much done only just for me, but I'm planning to make them generic so anyone else interested could use this.

When the webserver is running on the N900 and I point my browser to it, it asks for a username and password. Then I get following view that shows my shared files. I just copy files to a certain folder on my N900 and then I can download them to other devices via this shared web folder.


http://www.jmv.fi/gallery/main.php?g...serialNumber=8

I can also check my device info (uptime, network connections, battery level):

http://www.jmv.fi/gallery/main.php?g...serialNumber=6

10 Last calls taken directly from the database after user opens the page. In case someone stoles your mobile phone and calls to someone with it, you won't get those numbers from the operator. You will get a list of called numbers, but it is in format (e.g.) 040 123 4###, last three numbers hidden. Only by court order can you get these numbers. This way I get the numbers nicely from the device itself. Oh, and it is legal this way also:

http://www.jmv.fi/gallery/main.php?g...serialNumber=6


10 last messages. In case I left my phone home, it gets stolen or lost, I can check messages via this page.



http://www.jmv.fi/gallery/main.php?g...serialNumber=6


Then comes the best part. Here you can see many buttons and text areas. I can give any custom commands via this interface to my N900 via "Custom Command:" - box. Start and stop services, copy or delete files, basically anything that can be done with N900. To make things easier and faster, I have added some commands to this page. I can notify user, send SMS messages (and it shows how many characters I have entered), give SQL queries to message/call - database, make the device to call some number (usefull if the device is indeed stolen), open a web page to N900 browser, open some application, lock or unlock phone, start x11vnc service so I can remotely control my N900 from PC, check processes, check disk usage, end call, take photos with front or back (main) camera, list contacts and check GPS coordinates. These are just a start, I'll add more all the time.


http://www.jmv.fi/gallery/main.php?g...serialNumber=3


If anyone is interested, I'll make this more generic and public someday. There is still lot to improve and make things nicer, but it is a start nevertheless.


JMV
www.jmv.fi
"Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together...."

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

definitely interested!

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Yes Yes, very interested

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Is there a working DynDNS client for N900, or how would you know the IP of the stolen phone when it'll be connected to internet again?

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Just a word: inadyn

You can install it from the original debian repos.

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

would it be the ARMEL version on this site ? http://packages.debian.org/sid/inadyn

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Yes, and you can report your IP to DynDNS via script also.

Personaly, I don't like the thought of having a constant pointer to my N900, because it increases the risk of hacking it. My method is to upload IP address via SSH to a computer on the internet. I have a script that does just that and makes a webpage with a http link to my N900 with correct IP and google maps links where my N900 is... :)

So I can just go to that webpage, click a link and login to that web interface and do what ever I want. :cool:

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Wow!!

I would say you know how to start anywere!

Very, very interested too.

Thanks for your efforts.

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Definitely like to see an app for this. :D

Awesome, I like the remote control aspect of this. ;)

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

WoW, i am really interesting to see this app come to n900 asap .. that help a lot ..

request feature:
*always online lock : so phone will connect to internet all time if phone on or try pick up wifi.
-if phone got stolen and theif turn off and switch sim or take sim out turn on and try to make sure phone wont go online.. by doing so phone will try to broadcast it self location in anyway possible .. this lock will be unlock with master code if user do not have code phone will try to find away to go online.

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Hmm, yes, I can tinker with phone options so that the phone will try to connect to internet when possible.

I tried to make scripts as hidden as possible, so that in case it is stolen, it will send it's location silently so that the thief will not notice it.

I thought that an option to gather as much info as possible would also be nice. N900 could scan for WLAN networks, bluetooth devices, take photos, record sound for 30 secs... Maybe that would also help recovering the phone.

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

I think your amazing efforts should be joined to those guys who are performing same things through sms or ssh. I haven't the urls at hand right now but they are in the forums.
This might result in a greatly useful app :)

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

sounds like a great project! how is the whole thing performance-wise? i take it you have some kind of script running in the background that just checks if mentioned file is present on your remote webserver and if it is, it starts the webserver on the n900?

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Only script that is running on regular basis is script that outputs device ip and gps coordinates to my web server. That script is running in crontab and it is run every 15 minutes.

Same script gets the parameter file from my web server (via wget) and checks the file for a line for launching the web server. Other parameters can also be added to this file, e.g. a parameter for launching a somekind of scan sweep with all of N900 'senses' in case user cannot connect to it and launch them from web interface. :)

Web server is pretty dormant most of the time when there is no usage and I haven't seen (with my usage) anything difference whether the lighttpd web server is running on the background all the time, or not. I prefer to keep it running all the time.

I plan to add options for somekind of scan with all possibilities of N900. Also, with the ability to give custom commands directly from web interface, user can e.g. also use the abilities of phone-control script by MohammadAG (thanks for that btw, nice little tool :) ).

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

yes, verrry interested!

Paai

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Please, put the sources somewhere where we can have a look at it!

I installed lighttp+php on my nokia, and it works! Although I had to fiddle with dynamic links in /usr/bin and /usr/sbin because php-cgi5 was wrongly interchanged with php5.cgi.

What I need, and what I hope to find out from your scripts, is where the data of telephone numbers and similar stuff are hiding. I do know linux and I can program in php, but where the stuff is hidden on the N900 escapes me.

Paai

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

There is very much interest in this, please continue this effort.

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

im definetely interested too i always worry that my phone will be stolen one day and my lock wont be enough

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

I'll post some scripts as soon as I can (may take a few days). I'll clean them up a bit first.

I'm currently renovating my home, so I'm a bit busy next few weeks, but I'll do what I can.

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

sounds good, please keep us posted

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Jeez this would be great to have, I would love to see the theifs face when he see me in the front door !!!

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

would gitorious be an option for you? I bet that someone can make a package from your scripts etc and add cron tasks via postinst script etc so that it would be simple one click install if you just ask.

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

hi,
no news about, I hope mr jvesiluoma has well ended his job and can takes time for all us. :-)
many thanks.

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Hello,

I promised to release instructions earlier, but there was some variables on the way. Well, here it finaly is. Sorry about the delay.

These are the steps needed to make everything work, most of the examples are run from command line, because I like to do things from there. Of course you can install these apps from application manager also. Scripts are pretty 'raw' because at first this was just my leisure project, but scripts work, thats the main thing right? =) There may be some errors, but just let me know about them and I'll try to fix them. Basicly this is just a compilation of different programs that are used via simple scripts.

When I first made this, there was not php5 package in repositories, so I found another way to do this (see section 3 Install PHP, url). I tried to install php5 from repositories and made this work, but didn't find pdo and pdo_sqlite modules for it. I had it working already, so didn't bother to research it very much, maybe someone knows how to install php5 package from repositories with pdo and pdo_sqlite modules? Anyway, the php-cgi and php.ini file that you need is inside the .zip file (see bottom of the post).

Feel free to make your own scripts and add them to your own interface. Hope you release your .php and/or .py scripts here too.



Okay, here is somekind of tutorial how to make this work (hopefully!).

1. Install rootsh
- from application manager

2. Install and configure lighttpd
- apt-get install lighttpd
- mkdir /var/log/lighttpd
- mkdir /var/www/passwd
- mkdir /var/www/htdocs
- when you install lighttpd, it automatically makes /wwwPHP folder, I prefer to move it away from there, it's up to you how you configure your server.
- edit following lines of /etc/lighttpd.conf - file:
o server.document-root = "/var/www/htdocs/" # Change and create to whatever you want, remember to change doc_root in php.ini to match this.
o server.errorlog = "/var/log/lighttpd/error.log" # for error logs
o accesslog.filename = "/var/log/lighttpd/access.log" # for access logs
o server.tag = "N900 WWW-interface server" # name of your web server
o server.port = 80 # You can also change this if you like, I prefer to keep my www-interface port to something else than 80, just remember to point your browser to a port you assign.
o #auth.backend = "plain" #comment this line
o #auth.backend.plain.userfile = "/etc/lighttpd.user" #comment this line
o Add folowing lines before "auth.require = ("
auth.backend = "htpasswd"
auth.backend.htpasswd.userfile = "/var/www/passwd/.htpasswd"
auth.require = ( "/" =>
(
"method" => "basic",
"realm" => "Quick share folder",
"require" => "valid-user"
)
)

- Now we have to make a password file above a line with "auth.backend.htpasswd.userfile = "/var/www/passwd/.htpasswd"" says where we store password.
* You can easily make a .htpasswd file here: http://www.htaccesstools.com/htpasswd-generator/
* Copy paste resulting text to a .htpasswd file and save it to /var/www/passwd/.htpasswd
o Copy .php and .html files (from .zip - file below) to a /var/www/htdocs/ - directory.
o Make shared folder to memory card, issue:
* mkdir /media/mmc1/www-share
* now make a symlink to that folder from your htdocs folder. As root, issue "ln -s /media/mmc1/www-share /var/www/htdocs/share".




3. Install PHP
- Copy files included in the .zip file to following locations:
* php-cgi ==> /usr/bin/php-cgi
* php.ini ==> /etc/php.ini
- php-cgi executable is from a .deb file from here: http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...4&postcount=19 , thanks jolouis
- php-cgi included in the .zip file includes necessary modules to read from sqlite database (calls and messages). php packages in repositories don't have these modules (as far as I know).


4. Install 'phone-control' for locking, taking photos etc.
- apt-get install phone-control
- Thanks to Mohammad ( http://maemo.org/packages/view/phone-control/ )



4. Install python-location for GPS to work via web interface.
- apt-get install python-location
- Link: http://wiki.maemo.org/PyMaemo/Using_Location_API

5. Install x11vnc to enable remote control of N900.
- apt-get install x11vnc

6. Install gstreamer-tools for taking photos with front / back camera.
- apt-get install gstreamer-tools


7. Start lighttpd
- as root, issue "lighttpd -f /etc/lighttpd.conf


To-Do:
* Clean and make contacs display nicer
* Add functionality, stop / start services etc (althought this is allready possible by issuing a custom command..)
* Improve GPS script
* Improve everything =)


And here is the .zip file that includes all the necessary files: http://www.vesiluoma.com/n900-www-interface-1.0.zip

To test it, point your N900 browser to 127.0.0.1 (if you changed your port to anything other than 80, point it to 127.0.0.1:## where ## is the port you assigned). You can also install a widget that shows your N900 ip-number on your devices desktop and check the interface from a desktop computer. And of course if you don't like to install any widgets, open terminal and issue 'ifconfig' and get your IP-address from there...or you can point your N900 browser to http://www.whatismyip.org/ and get your IP-address from there. Whatever suits you best. =)

Here is the blog post (same as this) http://www.vesiluoma.com/development...rol-interface/

Have fun! :)

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

And here is a modified get-location.py script, if you update get-location.py file with this, you get a google maps links to your (device) location. A little bit easier and faster to get your devices location.

It takes a while to get the location, so be patient after you click the GPS button from the interface...

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Okay i have some problems with it.

1. Once i installed ligthttpd, it created a folder /wwwPHP and i guess in your case, you have /var/www/ already. However, i just used the wwwPHP folder and continued with installation.

2. Lighttpd doesnt start at all (when i try to access it via browser, nothing comes up but i can ping my phone). I also tried to access it local via MicroB but it says same as Mozilla on my normal computer "cant establish a connection to the server at 127.0.0.1 (or 192.168.0.172)

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

ok second issue solved.. had to start the server first (thought its going to start automatically) with the command "lighttpd -f /etc/lighttpd.conf"

next problem: always when i click on a menu, it wants to download the php file :confused:

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

okay got that php to work with this help: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=62575

now everything works so far, the server, the php and i can access it. now, the major problem. the script doesnt work. i get "Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_STRING in /wwwPHP/htdocs/messages.php on line 1" and so on. some functions like lock and ps-x work but not the calls, messages, front-cam (gives 404), contact and almost everything else on the commands page

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Yeah, sorry. Forgot to mention that on that small guide.. Have to add that. I'll update it after this post.


I tried to install PHP via that guide also, but the problem is that that version does not have necessary modules for database access to work. So that explains why the calls.php and messages.php pages wont work. To fix it, use the php-cgi that is in the .zip file and make sure your lighttp.conf points to that php-cgi and you use the php.ini included in the .zip - file also.

Hmm, front-cam button tires to output the photo to /media/mmc1/www-share/ - directory. You can change this to be whatever you want in comm_imgfront.php, but I found a 'bug' in my guide. :) First make a directory (for example 'mkdir /media/mmc1/www-share') and than make a symlink to that directory from your htdocs folder, in your case 'ln -s /media/mmc1/www-share /wwwPHP/htdocs/share'. That should fix the front cam.

Hope this helps, just ask if you have more problems and I'll try to help.

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

nice, thanks for the good support. will try it out in some minutes

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

ok i tried it out but as soon as i want to use your php-cgi, it always wants to download the php files and does not show them.

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

ok i got it now. i just installed lighttpd from where you got the php-cgi (would be easier maybe if you put that as number one step in your tutorial)
http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...4&postcount=19

then i changed the root directory to wwwPHP/htdocs and changed the auth thing as you described it. I can now see the last calls (but no messages even if i have a lot). I can see Device Info but i have 404 @ front cam. share folder works.White page @ GPS, Photo says "MicroB cant find the server at share" and contacts is also blank page.

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

any click,show "500 - Internal Server Error" why,need ur help~
error.log
----->
2010-11-08 20:54:07: (mod_cgi.c.737) stat for cgi-handler /usr/sbin/php-cgi failed: No such file or directory
2010-11-08 20:54:08: (mod_cgi.c.737) stat for cgi-handler /usr/sbin/php-cgi failed: No such file or directory
2010-11-08 20:54:09: (mod_cgi.c.737) stat for cgi-handler /usr/sbin/php-cgi failed: No such file or directory
2010-11-08 20:54:09: (mod_cgi.c.737) stat for cgi-handler /usr/sbin/php-cgi failed: No such file or directory
2010-11-08 20:54:14: (mod_cgi.c.737) stat for cgi-handler /usr/sbin/php-cgi failed: No such file or directory
2010-11-08 20:54:21: (mod_cgi.c.737) stat for cgi-handler /usr/sbin/php-cgi failed: No such file or directory
2010-11-08 20:54:25: (mod_cgi.c.737) stat for cgi-handler /usr/sbin/php-cgi failed: No such file or directory
2010-11-08 20:54:27: (mod_cgi.c.737) stat for cgi-handler /usr/sbin/php-cgi failed: No such file or directory
2010-11-08 20:54:31: (mod_cgi.c.737) stat for cgi-handler /usr/sbin/php-cgi failed: No such file or directory
2010-11-08 20:57:47: (mod_cgi.c.737) stat for cgi-handler /usr/sbin/php-cgi failed: No such file or directory

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Hi and sorry about taking so long to answer.

(Actually I answered to this few hours after your post but seems like that message is lost to...maybe closed browser too soon, douh..)

Hmm, I installed lighttpd from repositories, not from the source where php-cgi is from. I don't know if that version has some bugs or not.

My lighttpd version that I use:

If you make a folowing test.php page to your web server root (in your case wwwPHP/htdocs/ ) and point your browser to it, what does it say? Does it say same 500 .. error?

Also, can you check that your /etc/lighttpd.conf file points to a right php-cgi file?

And check that your php-cgi file exists?

Hope we get this working for you =)

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

How did you get PDO and stuff to work because i think thats what Punks Problem is and mine

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Very nice! It seems to me this setup can do (almost) everything just on one interface, like a supercharged emacs.

I don't know PHP at all... so just some wild ideas. :D

I wonder if these things are possible:

- switch to desktop, launcher and windows view when needed. Can the webserver also function as a launcher? I mean with (links to) categories and programs, etc..
- simply replace desktop and automatically start up upon boot: time/clock (ntp), system info (like conky), rss, shortcuts, etc.
- function as file managers like Konqueror?
- open or create new pages and use wiki?
- be finger-friendly (with buttons, etc)
- control the farthest satellite from earth?

It would also be a perfect way to integrate other web-based programs, like tbGTD.
If I go for this I will start learning PHP

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

I also had error 500.
Turns out that lighttpd.conf by default expect php-cgi to be in /usr/sbin. I also added the execute flag after the copy.
After correction and restart all works well.
Have Fun

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

hi
i have a little problem. when i go to 127.0.0.0 or if adress from pc it show only this

Whats wrong?

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Edit the lighttpd.conf and set the right base dir to:

/var/www/htdocs expect of /var/www/html. The whole application is a bit - let's call it "crazy". I would love when Nokia would not give up the Mobile Webserver Application.

If some coders are over here i would love if we'd get in Touch to redesign the Interface with more features and better look like.

Somebody?

Here's the current look:
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6066/lookalike.png
Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Re: N900 + lighttpd + PHP + web interface to control N900
 

Hi All,
thanks for your helps, I tried to set up as described in the post, I'm able to see the server from my MicroB browser but I don't know how to see it from my pc; can someone explain me (I tried to open it with the ip address number but nothing), thanks.