ckochandClaude Fable 5
1ea0816c4f
Autostart reads CONSOLE_KID_USER from /etc/bc250-console.conf (default: kid), so renaming the account is a pure on-box operation — documented in OPERATIONS.md. Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
100 lines
4.4 KiB
Markdown
100 lines
4.4 KiB
Markdown
# BC-250 Console — Parent's Operations Manual
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A copy of this file lives on the console at
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`/usr/share/doc/bc250-console/OPERATIONS.md`.
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Accounts: **kid** (plays games, no admin) and **parent** (admin, sudo).
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Both ship with password `bc250console` — **change both immediately**:
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log in (or SSH) as each user and run `passwd`. Parent can also reset the
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kid's password any time: `sudo passwd kid`.
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## Connecting remotely
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| | Command / client | Works when |
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| SSH (terminal) | `ssh parent@<console-address>` | Always (console is never asleep) |
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| RDP (see the screen) | Any RDP client → `<console-address>:3389` | Only while the kid's session is logged in |
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`<console-address>`: the LAN IP, or (recommended) the Tailscale name/IP so it
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works from anywhere. Never port-forward 22/3389 on the router.
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## One-time setup after installing
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1. On the console, log in as **kid**, open a terminal, run `bc250-remote-setup`
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(sets up RDP credentials + firewall; SSH is already on).
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2. `sudo tailscale up` — log in with your Tailscale account (daemon already runs).
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3. In Steam (opens automatically in Big Picture): log into the kid's Steam
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account, enable **Family View** (Settings → Family) and set the PIN.
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4. Change both passwords (see above).
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## Installing a game remotely
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RDP into the kid's session → unlock Family View with your PIN → Steam →
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Store → install. Downloads continue after you disconnect.
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## Updates
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- **Automatic**: the console updates the OS image, flatpaks, and Steam on its
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own (`uupd` timer, runs in the background). Nothing to do.
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- **Force an update now** (SSH): `sudo bootc upgrade && flatpak update -y`
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- **What version am I on?**: `sudo bootc status` (shows image + digest)
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- **Publishing a new OS image** (on the build PC): see
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`BUILD-CONSOLE.md` → "Publish an update". The console picks it up
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automatically within a day, or immediately with `sudo bootc upgrade`.
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- **Roll back a bad update**: hold Space at boot and pick the previous entry,
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or over SSH: `sudo bootc rollback && sudo systemctl reboot`.
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## Health checks (SSH)
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```bash
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sensors # temps — watch under load
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systemctl status cyan-skillfish-governor-smu # GPU governor: should be active
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cat /sys/class/drm/card*/device/pp_dpm_sclk # GPU clock scaling
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df -h / # disk space
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```
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## Renaming the kid's account (optional)
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With the kid fully logged out (`sudo loginctl terminate-user kid`):
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```bash
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sudo usermod -l NEWNAME kid
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sudo groupmod -n NEWNAME kid
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sudo usermod -d /home/NEWNAME -m NEWNAME
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sudo chfn -f "Display Name" NEWNAME
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sudo passwd NEWNAME
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echo 'CONSOLE_KID_USER=NEWNAME' | sudo tee /etc/bc250-console.conf
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```
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Steam data and apps live in the home directory and move with it. The last
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line tells the Big Picture autostart which account is the console account.
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## Tuning the GPU (optional, after thermal testing)
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The GPU governor's curve lives at
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`/etc/cyan-skillfish-governor-smu/config.toml`. Stock range is
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**1000–1850 MHz**, thermal throttle at 85 °C — a good default. If temps stay
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comfortably low during long sessions you can raise `max` under
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`[frequency-range]` (safe-points up to 2000 MHz are pre-defined; higher ones
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are in the file, commented out). Running hot or loud? Lower `max` to ~1500.
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After editing: `sudo systemctl restart cyan-skillfish-governor-smu`.
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There is also `cyan-skillfish-performance-mode` for temporarily pinning
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high clocks. Change one thing at a time and re-check `sensors`.
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## Misc
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- Reboot: `sudo systemctl reboot` — Shutdown: `sudo systemctl poweroff`
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- The console never sleeps or locks by design (it must stay reachable).
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- Kid's session opens Steam Big Picture automatically; Esc exits to desktop.
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- RDP refuses to connect → the kid's session probably isn't logged in, or
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`bc250-remote-setup` hasn't been run yet.
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- Steam misbehaves after an update → try ProtonUp-Qt (installed) to switch
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the game to Proton-GE.
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- Minecraft: open Prism Launcher, add an account (Microsoft sign-in — a paid
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Minecraft: Java Edition license on that account), then create an instance
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for the version/modpack you want. Prism downloads its own Java.
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- GeForce NOW (beta) installs itself on first boot with internet. The BC-250
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has no hardware video decode, so the stream decodes on the CPU: keep it at
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1080p (higher settings will stutter and run hot). If it's missing, check
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`systemctl status bc250-gfn-install` — it retries on the next boot.
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