Transform the most makeshift router into a High-Efficiency Digital Library with Ugai
If you're looking to set up home NAS storage for private collections, sharing only with family or guests (not strangers on social media), ugai.cgi is the perfect choice. It's also ideal for teachers and trainers, offering an affordable alternative to whiteboards and expensive projectors, turning smartphones into small presentation screens.
Pronounced ooh-guy, this application enables rapid sharing of multimedia collections through any old router. With ugai.cgi, you can establish a portable, Calibre wireless server in under a minute. No advanced IT skills required! Just type 4 simple commands on terminal.
Born from a decade of experience in creating wireless digital libraries for remote Indonesian communities, this budget-friendly innovation costs only about $10 per unit. Perfect for volunteers and educators in resource-strapped areas, ugai.cgi is more than just a digital bookshelf; it also provides bite-sized, Instagram-style micro-learning experiences, making education both accessible and engaging.
This video is intentionally presented without sound, adhering to the principle that 'actions speak louder than words'. Please activate closed captions for detailed descriptions of the actions on screen. Closed captions are available in multiple languages, with Bahasa Indonesia as the default setting.
Discover the unique features of this system compared to other wireless server systems utilizing a router as a mini web server:
-
Instant Installation: Get up and running in less than a minute! With just four simple command lines in the console, even beginners can easily set up
ugai.cgi. -
Effortless Setup: Say goodbye to complicated setups!
ugai.cgioperates directly on the hardware without needing arootfssystem. Perfect for beginners, it simplifies the process and boosts energy efficiency. -
Broad Compatibility: Whether you use EXT4 or FAT32 partitions,
ugai.cgiworks seamlessly with all modern operating systems. Capable of handling up to 1TB (tested) and a maximum of 2TB (MBR partition limit), content modification is a breeze. -
Seamless Calibre Integration: Manage your digital content effortlessly with Calibre integration. The system offers a user-friendly interface through the Calibre Desktop app version 3.4.80.
-
Blazing Fast Performance:
ugai.cgi, optimized for Linux OpenWRT 12.09, runs natively without the need for interpreters like Python, Perl, or PHP. This results in significantly faster performance and lower energy consumption. -
Enhanced Database Support: The 2024 edition of
ugai.cgican handle multiple Calibre databases simultaneously. This improves performance by distributing data across separate databases, perfect for managing large collections within MBR partition limits. -
Educational and Open Source: The
ugai.cgiweb server code andugai.komshoutbox application are freely available under the MIT license. This provides an excellent resource for students to learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and server management—cost-effective, energy-efficient, and quick to deploy.
Download the OpenWRT 12.09 firmware that includes USB/HDD media reader integration in the kernel to simplify installation. Choose the firmware appropriate for your router. Incorrect installation at this stage can permanently damage your router (bricked). Below are the recommended routers based on real-world experience, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use.
-
TP-Link MR3420 V1 FAT32 This is the most economical tool for managing up to 128GB on USB flash drives and up to 250GB on hard drives. It cost total only 18 US dollar with 320GB brand new SATA hardisk. If you using reused SATA hardisk, this cost will be cheaper.
-
TP-Link WR1043nd V1 FAT32 | TP-Link WR1043nd V1 EXT4
This device is suitable for heavy usage with data needs up to 1TB. -
TP-Link MR3020 V1 FAT32 | TP-Link MR3020 V1 EXT4
Ideal for creating a mobile wireless server powered by a power bank or a static wireless server running on solar panels with small battery pack. MR3020 consume around 1-watt-hour. Since ugai.cgi does not operate using the rootfs method, there is a minimal chance of system failure in the event of a sudden power outage or a drop in current. You can be more confident usingugai.cgito run a digital wireless library on a remote island with only solar panels as your power source, compared to other systems that operate overrootfs.
This video show exactly how to flash.
The ugai.cgi system handles size seamlessly. However, performance degrades when a single Calibre database system exceeds 7,000 collections, each with more than 10 keywords. But you can split yout collections into diferent Calibre database system. Assume you have 1TB and hundreds thousands video, music, ebook; then you can split by media type. If your collection, let's say, videos exceeds 7.000, then you can split videos by subject. Therefore, the choice of storage media depends more on the router's ability to supply power.
Generally, only the WR1043nd is stable enough for using a 2.5-inch SATA hard disk, provided its power consumption is below 1,000 mA. The MR3420 can handle up to a 320GB 2.5-inch SATA hard disk. The MR3020 is suitable for USB drives up to 128GB.
Format the storage media with the FAT32 system in a single partition.
Open terminal and type:
git clone https://github.com/undix/ugai.gitWindows PowerShell
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Install the latest PowerShell for new features and improvements! https://aka.ms/PSWindows
PS C:\Users\srisu> cd F:\
PS F:\> git clone https://github.com/undix/ugai.git
Cloning into 'ugai'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 732, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (370/370), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (258/258), done.
remote: Total 732 (delta 139), reused 239 (delta 94), pack-reused 362
Receiving objects: 100% (732/732), 14.13 MiB | 802.00 KiB/s, done.
Resolving deltas: 100% (223/223), done.
Updating files: 100% (196/196), done.
PS F:\>- Click https://github.com/undix/ugai/archive/refs/heads/main.zip
- Extract and rename the directory to
ugai. Ensure the directory structure on the storage media is as follows:
ugai
├── documents
├── install
└── www
Users can modify the configuration file named config.txt using a text editor like Notepad. The default demo settings are as follows:
current_ip_address='192.168.1.1' # OpenWRT default
my_ip_address='192.168.1.1' # your new ip address, default 192.168.1.1
my_time_zone='WIB-9' # change to your actual timezone, default UTC+9
my_server_domain='komugai.lan' # domain and hostname
my_ssid="'Komugai'" # SSID change as you pleased
my_ssid_passwd="none" # SSID password, default none means passwordless
my_partition='/dev/sda1' # your partition, do not change unless necessary
my_mount_point='/mnt/usb' # your mount point, do not change unless necessary
my_format='vfat' # vfat OR ext4
my_max_clients=32 # maximum clients at a time
Change this value if necessary.
- server - server IP address or name, must exactly the same as
config.txtabove - dir - directory where you put all off Calibre database (physical or just link)
- name - default Calibre database as home
You will have error page if ugai.cgi failed to find default Calibre database as home.
{
"server": "http://192.168.1.1",
"dir": "data",
"name": "komugai"
}This file will be rename to .config.json every boot. If you need to change later, change your Windows file manager view with CTRL+H to display all hidden files and directories.
This is navigation system that displayed on web page.
Users who are not familiar with HTML can also modify the navigation system. The editable configuration file is navigation.txt, which uses more-less Markdown rules. Example:
db=komugai, Home
# Features
## tags=ebooks&db=komugai, E-books
## tags=laboratorium&db=komugai, Virtual Lab
# References
## titles=Wikipedia Bahasa Indonesia&db=komugai, Wikipedia Indonesia
## titles=Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia&db=komugai, KBBI
## titles=Indonesian Glossary&db=komugai, Indonesian Glossary
## titles=English-Indonesian dictionary&db=komugai, English-Indonesian
## titles=Indonesian English dictionary&db=komugai, Indonesian English
titles=ShoutBox&db=komugai, ShoutBox
series=About Perpustakaan Nirkabel Project&db=komugai, About
Each time the router boots, it will read and translate this text into HTML format. This structure is easier for lay users to understand than HTML tag-based coding systems. Let's compare with actual HTML after translation below:
<ul class="navbar-nav mx-auto mt-3 mt-lg-0">
<li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link" href="?db=komugai">Home</a></li>
<li class="nav-item dropdown">
<a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">Features</a>
<div class="dropdown-menu">
<a class="dropdown-item" href="?tags=ebooks&db=komugai">E-books</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="?tags=laboratorium&db=komugai">Virtual Lab</a>
</div>
</li>
<li class="nav-item dropdown">
<a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">References</a>
<div class="dropdown-menu">
<a class="dropdown-item" href="?titles=Wikipedia Bahasa Indonesia&db=komugai">Wikipedia Indonesia</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="?titles=Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia&db=komugai">KBBI</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="?titles=Indonesian Glossary&db=komugai">Indonesian Glossary</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="?titles=English-Indonesian dictionary&db=komugai">English-Indonesian</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="?titles=Indonesian English dictionary&db=komugai">Indonesian English</a>
</div>
</li>
<li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link" href="?titles=ShoutBox&db=komugai">ShoutBox</a></li>
<li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link" href="?series=About Perpustakaan Nirkabel Project&db=komugai">About</a></li>
</ul>This blank file set server status. If renamed to .secured, server run in production mode with UUID as parameter, otherwise server run in development mode that display id as integer.
Make sure you have file install.txt inside directory install.
- Turn on the router with the storage media attached and connect using the command:
telnet 192.168.1.1- Continue the setup by typing the
mountcommand and executing the installation script as follows:
mkdir -p /mnt/usb
mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt/usb
cd /mnt/usb/ugai/install
sh setup.sh
Done. Next, check for the SSID named Komugai and type http://192.168.1.1 from your browser.
- TP-Link MR3020: Limit to fewer than 1,000 entries, with a maximum of 3 tags per collection.
- TP-Link MR3420: Limit to fewer than 5,000 entries, with a maximum of 3 tags per collection.
- TP-Link WR1043ND: Limit to fewer than 10,000 entries, with a maximum of 3 tags per collection.
The Calibre database itself virtualy has no total limit while using ugai.cgi.
However, restrictions apply to the total number and logic of items in the navigation menu and the available media storage size.
Imagine you have a collection of 17,000 educational textbooks in PDF format, officially issued by your country's Ministry of Education as standard text book. You intend to store these on an MR3420 server for high school use. Additionally, you have hundreds of educational videos created by local high school teachers.
Organize Your Collection:
- Segment by Reader Level: Since these resources are for a high school, separate any non-high school materials into a different Calibre database.
- Manage Excess Volumes: If the collection of high school-appropriate ebooks (or teacher-created videos) exceeds 5,000 items, further divide them by subject (e.g., Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Sociology, Economics, etc.). Calibre it self has excelent tools to do this job easily. This step will be more easier if you already set tags for each item base on subject. Again, Calibre it self has excelent tools to do this job easily.
Your directory will appear as follows:
ugai
├── install
└── www
└── data
├── elementaryschool
├── highschool_biology
├── highschool_chemistry
├── highschool_economy
├── highschool_history
├── highschool_physics
├── komugai
├── midschool
└── references
Next, rewrite navigation.txt as follows using you text editor (Notepad, GEdit, nano, dll)
db=komugai, home
# Text Books
## db=highschool_biology, biology
## db=highschool_chemistry, chemistry
## db=highschool_economy, economy
## db=highschool_history, history
## db=highschool_physics, physics
# Bonuses
## db=midschool, midschool
## db=elementaryschool, elementaryschool
## db=references, references
Plug your USB/HDD into MR3420 and power-on.
After making changes to data (such as adding, deleting, renaming, etc. from Calibre), create a blank file named index.txt inside the ugai\install directory, and then return your media to the router.
ugai
└── install
└── index.txt
Whenever index.txt is found, the system will generate index files for each database to enhance response times. During this process, the system will be very busy and may not be able to handle any requests. After the index files are generated, the system will reboot, and operations will return to normal.
If you need to upgrade the ugai.cgi file while keeping your customized design, simply download file ugai.cgi and ugai.kom then replace the existing one.
If there are issues with the current version, you can reinstall while preserve your own Calibre data by following these steps:
- Create a blank text file named
reset.txtand save into directory ugai\install.
ugai
└── install
└── reset.txt
- Start the router as usual to reset it. Power off router and put back your USB/SSD/HDD to computer. Wait until reboot and put back your storage into computer.
- If you have existing Calibre data, move the data directory and
navigation.txtfile to a location outside of theugaidirectory.
navigation.txt
data
ugai
└── install
└── www
- Delete or rename the
ugaidirectory. - Download the new source code from GitHub.
- Replace www\data directory with your backup and also replace
navigation.txtinside directoryugai\install. - Follow the installation instructions as previously described to set up a fresh system with your Calibre data and navigation menu intact.
This process will ensure you have a clean installation while preserving your custom and navigation data.
The Calibre Desktop Application, starting from version 4, utilizes sqlite3 features that are not supported by the version used in OpenWRT 12.09. Therefore, to avoid any issues when running the "ugai" webapp, please use Calibre Desktop Application version 3.48. To obtain version 3.48 (2019), you need to remove your current Calibre app first and downgrade to 3.48 from Calibre repositori. If you are already have Calibre newer than 3.48 and reluctant to downgrade, you can choose portable edition (Windows 64-bit only).
If you've never used Calibre before, you can find plenty of tutorials on the internet, including on YouTube. For more tailored assistance, consider joining the Calibre community.
- Make sure your data readable. Change mode to 755 (
chmod -R 777 ugai\www\data) ussually works. - Make sure
ugai.cgiandugai.komexecutable. Change mode to+x(chmod +x ugai\www\ugai.cgiandchmod +x ugai\www\ugai.kom) ussually works. - Make sure your server is not in
extremelly busy status, in example, when still reindex process.
- Ensure that all entries in
config.jsonare absolutely correct.
- Double-check
config.jsonto ensure the "server" value is correctly configured.
- Enable your file manager to show all hidden files and directories by pressing CTRL+H.
- Upon boot, the
ugai.cgienvironment automatically renamesconfig.jsonto.config.json.
- The more active users there are, the more resources are required, which are already limited (512 MB memory). Consider reducing the number of items in your Calibre database.
- Create a new Calibre database within the
datadirectory, thenmove(copy-and-delete) items into this new database based on criteria like subject, format, publisher, authors, pulished date, tags, etc. - Remember to register your new database in
navigation.txtto display it in the navigation panel.
- A collection will not be displayed if it lacks a cover, comments/description, or file attachment.
- If you need just a single page (similar to a blog post), use the Calibre feature to add a blank file (TXT).
- If you don't have cover, use Calibre built-in feature to make cover.
Imagine ugai.cgi, pronounced ooh-guy, as the brain of a person. Just like your brain helps you think and do your schoolwork, ugai.cgi helps organize all the digital books in a special library called Calibre. It makes sure everything in the library works just right, so you can read and learn without any problems. Ugai.cgi is super important because it keeps the library running smoothly. In the real world, the name ugai refers to a hamlet on Siberut Island in the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia, meaning "home."
Now, think of Komugai, pronounced co-mooh-guy, as the body of a person, including the clothes they wear. Imagine you can change your outfits anytime you like. Komugai decides how the online library looks and feels, kind of like how you pick your clothes every day. If you wear different clothes, you're still you, but you might not look like you belong to a specific group, like your school or a sports team, unless you wear their standard outfit. Komugai helps make the library easy to use and nice to look at, just like how your favorite outfit makes you feel good. Under the MIT License, you can change the "clothes" any way you want, as long as you still show the original creator's "brand" on your clothes. In short: ugai is the brain of Komugai 2024. You can keep using "Komugai" for your new "clothes" or pick a totally new name, but one thing is certain: you're still using ugai.cgi and need pay attention about it's upgrade version in the future.
The prefix kom in Komugai stands for communications. The Komugai server is specifically designed to operate in remote areas and can function off-grid without an Internet connection. Equipped with a shoutbox application, Komugai serves as a communication tool for local communities. This feature is extremely valuable, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when classrooms in remote areas of Indonesia have been closed.
The term komugai also means 'creatively using available resources to solve problems.' This term is borrowed from the Mee ethnic group in Papua, Indonesia, and it aligns perfectly with the project's environmentally friendly goals.
Finally, Perpustakaan Nirkabel, or the Wireless Library Project, is about what you do with this setup after it's installed. Starting from 2014, this project sends educational materials to people in remote places where it's hard to get such resources. It's like going out and helping other people learn new things, using your brain (Ugai) and your body (Komugai) to make a difference. If you use the tools and designs from ugai.cgi and Komugai but are helping out with a different group or in your own community, you're doing great work, but you're not officially part of the Perpustakaan Nirkabel Project.
Also, if you download and use this setup for personal reasons (like learning HTML, JavaScript, jQuery, pentesting, office meeting room, even make personal profit) or just in your school, you're not considered part of the 'Perpustakaan Nirkabel' Project, but you're still a user of both ugai.cgi and Komugai digital wireless server system. Some people call this "social impact."
In short: ugai.cgi is the brain that makes everything work, Komugai is like your whole body and the clothes that make you unique, and Perpustakaan Nirkabel Project is how you use these tools to help others.
Managed and share education materials (audio, video, or all ebooks format)
Communications using Shoutbox proved really useful during the COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020-2021. This nifty open communication feature shines in chaotic disaster situations, helps lost hikers in trekking areas, and keeps refugee camps connected. Just pack it into a tiny MR3020 with a powerful antenna, and bam! You're all set for seamless connectivity.
Educators can write and share their own materials here without relaying to Internet connection.
As a library, Perpustakaan Nirkabel 2024 isn’t just about tossing books and videos at you from afar. This e-library can beam multimedia goodies, dictionaries, and even the mighty Wikipedia to the most remote corners of the Earth. It's like sending the entire 12,000-year saga of human achievement to places where the internet is a daylight robbery or just a distant dream.
Wikipedia
Perpustakaan Nirkabel 2024's dictionary capabilities aren't just stuck in the land of Latin characters. Nope, this brainy library is a linguistic chameleon, ready to tackle Asian fonts like Chinese, Korean, Japanese, even Russia. Planning a trip to Indonesia? You'll be chatting like a local in no time, thanks to the handy audio pronunciations attached to every dictionary entry. Just pack this system into a tiny MR3020 router and embark on your Indonesian adventure. Impress Indonesian with their own proverbs and help them to speak with your own language. Terima kasih!
Through simple games like word-guessing and quizzes, this project empowers communities to independently establish digital schools. Teachers and volunteers can use digital technology to teach local customs and traditions. This approach not only utilizes videos but also interactive games to preserve and promote cultural heritage. A hyper-local community-based independent digital school combines digital flexibility with local engagement, tailoring education to local needs and enhancing accessibility. It fosters community involvement, supports local development, and preserves cultural identity, making education more relevant and inclusive.
Revive the spirit of collaborative learning as a community! Gather at the library and explore knowledge through the magical charm of quiz games, where you can delve into learning independently, free from the internet and all its messiness. Let books, videos, Wikipedia, and dictionaries be your guides to a world full of fun and discovery!
More info about ugai.cgi
More info about Perpustakaan Nirkabel
SocMed: https://www.threads.net/@sri.sutyoko
