wiki.volkszaehler.org

As of 2014-05-14/2014-05-24 this script is in Alpha-state.

Please send your feedback to Wolfgang wf (at) bitplan.com. This Script was successfully used on a raspberry-pi With this Script an Installation on a raspberry-pi with wheezy 3.10.27+ connected to an EHZ counter using the USB-Lesekopf was done.

• Linux version 3.12.28+ (dc4@dc4-XPS13-9333) (gcc version 4.8.3 20140303 (prerelease) (crosstool-NG linaro
  1. 1.13.1+bzr2650 - Linaro GCC 2014.03) ) #709 PREEMPT Mon Sep 8 15:28:00 BST 2014

1) script executed/started in /home/pi

2) script for some reason picked wrong path while installing vzlogger/libsml, i.e. under apache2/sites-avialable:

 ...
 make[1]: Entering directory '/etc/apache2/sites-available/libsml/sml' 
 ...
 make[1]: Leaving directory '/etc/apache2/sites-available/libsml/sml'
 make[1]: Entering directory '/etc/apache2/sites-available/libsml/examples'
 cc -I../sml/include/ -g -Wall -c sml_server.c -o sml_server.o
 cc -I../sml/include/ -g -Wall sml_server.o -luuid ../sml/lib/libsml.a -o sml_server
 make[1]: Leaving directory '/etc/apache2/sites-available/libsml/examples'
 make[1]: Entering directory '/etc/apache2/sites-available/libsml/test'
 make[2]: Entering directory '/etc/apache2/sites-available/libsml/sml'
 make[2]: Nothing to be done for 'libsml'.
 make[2]: Leaving directory '/etc/apache2/sites-available/libsml/sml'
 ...

3) later on error while installation prompt while installing vzlogger/libsml:

 ...
 make[1]: Leaving directory '/etc/apache2/sites-available/libsml/test'
 cp: cannot stat `libsml/sml/lib/libsml.*': No such file or directory
 cp: cannot stat `libsml/sml/include/*': No such file or directory
 cp: cannot stat `libsml/sml.pc': No such file or directory
 ...
 ==> GNUTLS_LIBRARIES='/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libgnutls.a;/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libgcrypt.a;/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libgpg-error.a;/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libtasn1.a;/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libz.a;-lp11-kit;-lsasl2;/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libgcrypt.a'-- Found GNUTLS: /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libgnutls.a;/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libgcrypt.a;/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libgpg-error.a;/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libtasn1.a;/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libz.a;-lp11-kit;-lsasl2;/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libgcrypt.a
 
 ***** Configuration parameters *****
           prefix: /usr/local
           json: -L/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libjson.a;-lrt -I/usr/include
           sml:  -LSML_LIBRARY-NOTFOUND;-lrt -ISML_INCLUDE_DIR-NOTFOUND
           microhttpd: -L/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libmicrohttpd.a;-lrt -I/usr/include
           
CMake Error at CMakeLists.txt:118 (message):
libsml ist required.

Install libsml or call cmake -DSML_HOME=path_to_sml_install

4) Solved by editing CMakeCache.txt and replace /etc/apache2/sites-available/libsml with /opt/src/libsml

5) then moved mv /etc/apache2/sites-available/libsml /opt/src/libsml

6) and then followed instructions on http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/software/controller/vzlogger/installation_cpp-version

 a) carried out chapter "building libsml" manually
 b) carried out chapter "building vzlogger" manually
 and then it worked

* 2014-05-14 initial version * 2014-05-24 uses dialog for interactive input - now also has a menu entry for middleware installation

In the alpha state the full necessary logic for installing vzlogger has not been implemented yet. There is still one step that is manual where you need to modify the script. Most of the functions are now selectable via a menu. With your feedback i hope to be able to improve on this script. I am looking forward to your responses!

The following functions are available (and are explained with a help menu in the script):

1. installs packages
2. downloads install.sh
3. runs install.sh

1. a2enmods rewrite module if necessary
2. modfies apache2 configuration
3. restarts apache2

Automated installation from sources as described in installation_cpp-version The necessary packages for compilation will be installed as necessary.

Installs from debian packages (for raspberry) as described at http://www.goller-online.de/index.php/raspberry-pi/vzlogger/91-vzlogger-mit-apt-get-installieren As of 2014-05-14 this will install a Version 0.3.3 (i think) which is not the most current one (0.3.5)

Set's up the udev rules for the device as outlined in emh_pv-anlage

Runs a test as outlined in emh_pv-anlage and displays whether test is o.k. or not

Supplies a query for the uuids - to run it you might want to check the user and password in the script

Create a vzlogger.conf as outlined in emh_pv-anlage using the settings from the sqlquery You might want to modify the lines between

cat << EOF | vzlogger_configure
02645710-da9e-11e3-b298-118f244e89f4 15.7.0	15.7.0-Wirkleistung
bdb79b20-da9d-11e3-ae1c-4ba69b063fb6  2.8.0	2.8.0-PV-Einspeisung
e5f9c890-da9d-11e3-a023-4bbff9188d3a  1.8.0	1.8.0-EVU-Bezug
EOF

according to the results of the sql-query Each line has three entries

• uuid e.g. 02645710-da9e-11e3-b298-118f244e89f4
• obis i.d. e.g. 1.8.0
• comment e.g. 1.8.0-EVU-Bezug (no spaces here or the comment will be truncated)

(Re)starts vzlogger

• Check platform and act accordingly
• add logic parts for selection of installation choices
• rename this page - the script not only installs vzlogger

 nano vzlinstall.sh

past and modify code

 chmod +x vzlinstall.sh
 sudo ./vzlinstall.sh

#!/bin/bash
# install script for vzlogger
# WF 2014-05-12
# $Header: /home/wf/volkszaehler/RCS/vzinstall.sh,v 1.16 2014/05/24 13:37:27 wf Exp $
#set -x
 
backtitle="Vzlogger installation"
INPUT=/tmp/vz_install_menu.sh.$$
OUTPUT=/tmp/vz_install_output.sh.$$
# trap and delete temp files
trap "rm $INPUT; rm $OUTPUT; exit" SIGHUP SIGINT SIGTERM
#
# Purpose - display output using msgbox 
#  $1 -> set msgbox height
#  $2 -> set msgbox width
#  $3 -> set msgbox title
#
function display_output(){
	local h=${1-10}			# box height default 10
	local w=${2-41} 		# box width default 41
	local t=${3-Output} 	# box title 
	dialog --backtitle "$backtitle" --title "${t}" --clear --msgbox "$(<$OUTPUT)" ${h} ${w}
}
 
#
# wait for user input
#
function userwait() {
  echo "press enter to continue ..."
  read x
}
 
#
# show the help
#
show_help() {
  local l_help=$(<"${INPUT}")
  local l_helptext="see http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/vzlogger-installation for more details"
  case $l_help in
    "HELP readme") l_helptext="This script tries to help install your
Volkszaehler middleware and vzlogger
As of 2014-05-24 the script is available via:
http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/vzlogger-installation
The Script is in alpha state - please send feedback to wf(@)bitplan.com.
This script was successfully used on a raspberry pi using 
Udo's USB Lesekopf.
 
You might want to 
1) read this readme
2) install the middleware via mw_install
3) configure apache webserver
4) install vzlogger from source via src_install
5) setup your udev rules via udev_rules
6) test the Lesekopf via test_usb 
then configure your channels using the frontend. 
http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/howto/emh_pv-anlage 
shows a good way to assign your channels.
7) query the database for the channel configuration
8) create configuration - here you need to modify this script see function
vzlogger_create_conf()
9) (re)start vzlogger
 
please note as of 2014-05-24 this is alpha software so if something
doesn't work as expected look at the script and give feedback to
wf(@)bitplan.com or via the wiki at
http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/vzlogger-installation
registration for the wiki is simple and you'll be able to access the wiki
immmediately!
";;
 
    "HELP mw_install") l_helptext="Installs the Middleware as outlined at
     http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/software/middleware/installation
 
     1) installs necessary packages
     2) retrieves install script from git
     3) runs bash install which will
      a) install the middleware via PHP Composer
      b) let you configure the middleware";;
 
    "HELP src_install") l_helptext="Installs vzlogger from source as outlined at
 
 http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/
   software/controller/vzlogger/installation_cpp-version
 
   1) installs necessary packages
   2) builds libsml
   3) builds vzlogger";;
 
    "HELP pkg_install") l_helptext="Installs vzlogger from a debian package as outlined at 
http://www.goller-online.de/
  index.php/raspberry-pi/vzlogger/91-vzlogger-mit-apt-get-installieren
 
   1) modifies /etc/apt/sources.list 
   2) gets the key 
   3) apt-get update
   4) apt-get intall vzlogger
   the version installed seems to be outdated as of 2014-05-12";;
 
     "HELP udev_rules") l_helptext="sets up udev rules as outlined at
http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/howto/emh_pv-anlage
for USB0 ...
     ";; 
 
     "HELP test_usb") l_helptext="tests USB output as outlined at
http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/howto/emh_pv-anlage
for USB0 ...
     ";; 
 
     "HELP query_sql") l_helptext=`sql_query`
        l_helptext="runs a mysql query to retrieve the channel information
the sql query used is:
 
 $l_helptext
 
the result are needed for configuring vzlogger"; ;;
 
    *) l_helptext="there is no special help here for $l_help $l_helpttext";;
  esac
  tmphelp=/tmp/vzinstall_help.$$
  echo "$l_helptext" > $tmphelp 
  #display_output 6 60 "$l_helptext"
  dialog --title "$l_help" --textbox $tmphelp 18 76 
  rm $tmphelp
}
 
#
#
# error
#
error() {
  local l_msg="$1"
  local l_hint="$2"
  echo "error: $l_msg" 1>&2
  echo "       you might want to $l_hint" 1>&2
  exit 1
}
 
#
# check and optionally install a package
#
install_package() {
  local l_package="$1"
  PKG_OK=$(dpkg-query -W --showformat='${Status}\n' $l_package|grep "install ok installed")
  echo Checking for $l_package: $PKG_OK
  if [ "" == "$PKG_OK" ]; then
    echo "$l_package not installed yet. Installing $l_package"
    sudo apt-get --force-yes --yes install $l_package 
  fi
}
 
#
# install middleware as outlined in http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/software/middleware/installation
#
middleware_install() {
  for package in git-core libapache2-mod-php5 php5-cli php5-mysql php-apc mysql-server mysql-client 
  do
    install_package $package
  done
  sudo wget --no-check-certificate https://raw.github.com/volkszaehler/volkszaehler.org/master/misc/tools/install.sh
  sudo bash ./install.sh
}
 
#
# build libsml 
#
build_libsml() {
  if [ -f /usr/lib/libsml.o ]
  then
    echo "libsml already installed at /usr/lib/libsml.o"
    return
  else
    if [ ! -d libsml ]
    then
      echo "getting and installing libsml sources"
      git clone https://github.com/dailab/libsml.git
      cd libsml
      make 
    else
      echo "libsml already installed from sources"
    fi
    cp libsml/sml/lib/libsml.* /usr/lib/. 
    cp -R libsml/sml/include/* /usr/include/. 
    cp libsml/sml.pc /usr/lib/pkgconfig/.
  fi
}
 
#
# build vzlogger
#
build_vzlogger() {
  if [ ! -d vzlogger ]
  then
    echo "getting and installing vzlogger sources"
    git clone https://github.com/volkszaehler/vzlogger.git
    cd vzlogger
    cmake .
    make
    make install
  else
    echo "vzlogger already installed from sources"
  fi
}
 
#
# install vzlogger from source
# see http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/software/controller/vzlogger/installation_cpp-version
#
vzlogger_install_source() {
  for package in build-essential cmake pkg-config libcurl4-openssl-dev libjson0-dev libmicrohttpd-dev libgnutls-dev libsasl2-dev uuid-dev uuid-runtime
  do
    install_package $package
  done
  build_libsml
  build_vzlogger
}
 
#
#  install vzlogger from debian package
#
vzlogger_install() {
  vzl=`which vzlogger`
  if [ $? -eq 0 ]
  then
    echo "vzlogger is already installed at $vzl"
    return 
  fi
  package="deb http://packages.volkszaehler.org/vz/ wheezy main"
  srclist=/etc/apt/sources.list
 
  # check that source.list exists
  if [ ! -f $srclist ]
  then
    error "$srclist is missing" "install apt"
  fi
 
  # check that package.volkszaehler.org ist in source.list
  grep "$package" $srclist > /dev/null
  # if not we need to add it
  if [ $? -ne 0 ]
  then
    echo "adding $package to $scrlist ..."
    sudo echo "$package" >> $scrlist
    echo "importing key for apt"
    sudo wget -O- http://packages.volkszaehler.org/vz/justinotherguy.asc | apt-key add -
    echo "running apt-get update"
    sudo apt-get update
    echo "installing vzlogger"
    sudo apt-get install vzlogger
  else
    error "vzlogger not available but $srclist already modified" "check apt-get update/install"
  fi
}
 
#
# add udev rules to the given udev rules file
#  param 1: the rules file
#  param 2: the serial number
#  param 3: the usb number
#
addrules() {
  local l_rules="$1"
  local l_serial="$2"
  local l_usb="$3"
  local l_symlink="usb-ir-lesekopf$l_usb"
  echo "adding rule for $l_serial/USB$l_usb to $l_rules"
  echo 'SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ENV{ID_SERIAL_SHORT}=="'$l_serial'", SYMLINK+="'$l_symlink'"' >> "$l_rules"
  udevadm trigger
  ls -la /dev/$l_symlink
  if [ ! -h /dev/$l_symlink ]
  then
    error "symbolic link $l_symlink was not created" "check udevadm trigger worked"
  fi
}
 
 
#
# configure udevrules for vzlogger
#
vzlogger_udevrules() {
  rules=/etc/udev/rules.d/99-usb-ir-lesekopf.rules
  lsusb | grep CP210x
  if [ $? -ne 0  ]
  then
    error "no CP210x USB device found" "check Lesekopf/USB connected"
  else
    # check IR Lesekopf
    for usb in 0 1
    do
      query="udevadm info --query=all --name=/dev/ttyUSB$usb"
      $query 2>&1 | grep -i serial_short > /dev/null 
      if [ $? -eq 0 ] 
      then
        serial=`$query | grep -i serial_short | cut -f2 -d=`
        echo "device with serial $serial at USB$usb"
        if [ ! -f $rules ]
        then 
          addrules $rules $serial $usb
        else
          grep $serial $rules > /dev/null
          if [ $? -ne 0 ]
          then
            addrules $rules $serial $usb
          else
            echo "$serial/USB$usb already installed in udev rules"
          fi
        fi
      fi
    done
  fi
}
 
#
# stty settings for the given usb device
#
stty_usb() {
  local l_usb="$1" 
  stty -F /dev/ttyUSB$l_usb 1:0:8bd:0:3:1c:7f:15:4:5:1:0:11:13:1a:0:12:f:17:16:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0
}
 
#
# test the given usb device
#
test_usb() {
  local l_usb="$1" 
  local l_expected="1b 1b 1b 1b"
  stty_usb $l_usb
  timeout 2 cat /dev/ttyUSB$l_usb | od -tx1 | grep "$l_expected"
  if [ $? -eq 0 ]
  then
    echo "USB$l_usb sends expected data $l_expected"
  else
    error "USB$l_usb sends unexpected data" "check stty settings"
  fi
  userwait
}
 
#
# vzlogger test
#
vzlogger_test() {
cat << EOF
/**
 * vzlogger configuration
 * 
 * use proper encoded JSON with javascript comments
 *
 * take a look at the wiki for detailed information:
 * http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/software/controller/vzlogger#configuration
 */
 
{
"retry" : 30,                   /* how long to sleep between failed requests, in seconds */
"daemon": false,                 /* run periodically */
"foreground" : true,            /* dont run in background (prevents forking) */
 
"verbosity" : 15,               /* between 0 and 15 */
"log" : "/var/log/vzlogger.log",/* path to logfile, optional */
 
"local" : {
        "enabled" : false,      /* should we start the local HTTPd for serving live readings? */
        "port" : 8080,            /* the TCP port for the local HTTPd */
        "index" : true,         /* should we provide a index listing of available channels? */
        "timeout" : 30,         /* timeout for long polling comet requests, 0 disables comet, in seconds */
        "buffer" : 600          /* how long to buffer readings for the local interface, in seconds */
},
 
"meters" : [{
        "enabled" : true,       /* disabled meters will be ignored */
        "protocol" : "sml",     /* use 'vzlogger -h' for list of available protocols */
        "device" : "/dev/usb-ir-lesekopf0",
        }
]}
EOF
}
 
#
# test the device
#
vzlogger_test() {
  local l_usb="$1"
  test_usb $l_usb
  tst_conf=/etc/vzlogger.test
  if [ ! -f $tst_conf ]
  then
    # only usb0 
    echo "creating $tst_conf (only USB$l_usb!)"
    vzlogger_test > $tst_conf 
  else
    echo "$tst_conf already exists"
  fi
  timeout 5 vzlogger -c $tst_conf 
}
 
#
# output a vzlogger configuration
#
vzlogger_config() {
  local l_mode="$1"
  local l_uuid="$2"
  local l_id="$3"
  local l_comment="$4"
  local l_delim="$5"
case $l_mode in
  header)
cat << EOF
/**
* vzlogger configuration
*
* use proper encoded JSON with javascript comments
*
* take a look at the wiki for detailed information:
* http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/software/controller/vzlogger#configuration
*/
{
  "retry" : 30, /* how long to sleep between failed requests, in seconds */
  "daemon": true, /* run as server */
  //"foreground" : true, /* dont run in background (prevents forking) */
  "verbosity" : 5, /* between 0 and 15 */
  "log" : "/var/log/vzlogger.log", /* path to logfile, optional */
 
  "local" : {
    "enabled" : true, /* should we start the local HTTPd for serving live readings? */
    "port" : 8080, /* the TCP port for the local HTTPd */
    "index" : true, /* should we provide a index listing of available channels if no UUID was requested? */
    "timeout" : 30, /* timeout for long polling comet requests, 0 disables comet, in seconds */
    "buffer" : 600 /* how long to buffer readings for the local interface, in seconds */
  },
 
  "meters" : [{
    "enabled" : true, /* disabled meters will be ignored */
    "protocol" : "sml", /* see 'vzlogger -h' for list of available prot$ */
    "device" : "/dev/usb-ir-lesekopf0",
    "channels": [
EOF
;;
  channel)
cat << EOF
     $l_delim{
        "uuid" : "$l_uuid",
        "middleware" : "http://localhost/middleware.php",
        "identifier" : "1-0:$l_id", /* $l_comment */
      }
EOF
;;
    footer)
cat << EOF
     ]
    }
]}
EOF
    ;;
  esac
}
 
#
# configure vzlogger
#
vzlogger_configure() {
  vz_conf=/etc/vzlogger.conf 
  if [ ! -f $vz_conf ]
  then
    # only usb0 
    echo "creating $vz_conf (only USB$l_usb!)"
    vzlogger_config header > $vz_conf
    local l_delim=""
    while read l_uuid l_id l_comment
    do
      vzlogger_config channel $l_uuid $l_id $l_comment $l_delim >> $vz_conf 
      l_delim=", "
    done
    vzlogger_config footer >> $vz_conf
  else
    echo "$vz_conf already exists"
  fi
}
 
#
# get the sqlquery
#
sql_query() {
cat << EOF
  select e.uuid,p.value 
    from 
      entities e 
    join 
      properties p 
    on 
      e.id=p.entity_id 
    where 
      pkey='title';
EOF
}
 
#
# run the sql query
#
run_sqlquery() {
  tmpsql=/tmp/vzinstall_sql$$
  sql_query | mysql -u vz --password='demo' volkszaehler > $tmpsql
  dialog --title "sql query result" --textbox $tmpsql 18 76 
  rm $tmpsql
}
 
# 
# configure vzlogger
#
vzlogger_create_conf() {
  # uncomment if you are reconfiguring / experimenting
  # rm /etc/vzlogger.conf
 
  # configure vzlogger
  #
  # use your result of the database query and modify the here
  # document between << EOF and EOF so that
  # there are three columns per channel:
  #
  # 1. uuid - from database
  # 2. obis id  - by convention also part of the name of the channel
  # 3. name of channel - only used as a comment
  #
  # the third column is just a comment - you might want to remove
  # blanks to make sure it fully appears in the configuration file 
cat << EOF | vzlogger_configure
73083260-dfdb-11e3-9a77-e3b0419b9496 1.8.0	Haus-1.8.0-EVU-Bezug
7fb770d0-dfdb-11e3-97ce-a35538f32d73 2.8.0	Haus-2.8.0-PV-Einspeisung
ea629860-dfdb-11e3-bce5-4bf2ba21bc48 15.7.0	Haus-15.7.0-Wirkleistung
EOF
  userwait
}
 
#
# restart vzlogger
#
vzlogger_restart() {
  pid=`pgrep -l vzlogger`
  if [ $? -eq 0 ]
  then
    echo "killing  vzlogger $pid"
    pkill vzlogger 
  fi
  vzlogger
  userwait
}
 
#
# configure volkszaehler for apache2
#
vzl_apache2() {
  if [ ! -f /etc/apache2/mods-enabled/rewrite.load ]
  then
    echo "enabling apache2 rewrite module"
    sudo a2enmod rewrite
  fi
  ts=`date +%F_%T`
  a2confdir="/etc/apache2/sites-available"
  a2conf="$a2confdir/default"
  if [ ! -f $a2conf ]
  then
    error "couldn't find apache configuration file $a2conf"
  fi
  grep volkszaehler $a2conf > /dev/null
  if  [ $? -eq 0 ]
  then
    echo "Apache configuration $a2conf already contains volkszaehler"
  else
    echo "putting $a2conf under RCS configuration management"
    echo "you can get back original versions any time with co -r1.1 $a2conf"
    install_package rcs
    cd $a2confdir
    if [ ! -d RCS ]
    then
      mkdir RCS
      echo "Apache default configuration file" | ci -l $a2conf
    else
      ci -l -m"forced backup revision at $ts" $a2conf
    fi
    tmpconf=/tmp/vzinstall_apache$$
    cat $a2conf | awk -v a2conf=$a2conf -v ts=$ts  '
/DocumentRoot \/var\/www/ { 
      print "   # modified by vzinstall.sh at " ts
      print "   # you can retrieve the original using co -l -r1.1 " a2conf
      print "	Documentroot /var/www/volkszaehler.org/htdocs/" 
      next
    }
/.Directory.*\/var\/www/ { 
     print $0
     inwww=(1==1)
     next
   }
/AllowOverride/ && inwww { 
      print "		# modified by vzinstall.sh at " ts
      print "		AllowOverride FileInfo Limit Options Indexes" 
      inwww=(1==0)
      next
    }
    { print }' > $tmpconf 
    mv $tmpconf $a2conf
  fi
  service apache2 restart
  userwait
}
 
# install the dialog package if it is not there yet
install_package dialog
#
# selection loop 
#
while true
do
 
### display main menu ###
  dialog --clear --help-button --backtitle "$backtitle" \
  --title "Main Menu" \
  --menu "Select task or get specific help for task" 18 65 11 \
readme      "1 - Read me before your start" \
mw_install  "2 - Install Middleware from git" \
apache_cfg  "3 - Configure Apache web server" \
src_install "4 - Install Vzlogger from source (recommended)" \
pkg_install "    Install Vzlogger from package (outdated?)" \
udev_rules  "5 - Setup udev rules" \
test_usb    "6 - Test vzlogger via usb (USB0)" \
query_sql   "7 - Query Database for configured channels" \
conf_create "8 - Create a vzlogger configuration file" \
vzl_restart "9 - (Re)Start vzlogger" \
Exit        "    Exit to the shell" 2>"${INPUT}"
 
  retval=$?
  case $retval in
    0) menuitem=$(<"${INPUT}")
       case $menuitem in
         readme) echo "HELP readme" > ${INPUT}; show_help;;
         # middleware install
         mw_install) middleware_install;;
         # configure apache webserver
         apache_cfg) vzl_apache2;;
         # vzlogger install from package 
  	 pkg_install) vzlogger_install;;
         # vzlogger install from source
	 src_install) vzlogger_install_source;; 
         # configure vzlogger udev rules
         udev_rules) vzlogger_udevrules;;
         # test the usb devices directly and with vzlogger 
         test_usb) vzlogger_test 0;;
         # run the sql query
         query_sql)  run_sqlquery;;
         # create vzlogger configuration
         conf_create) 
           dialog --title "Create vzlogger configuration" \
             --backtitle "$backtitle" \
--yesno "did you modify $0 according to your database query results? press ESC if you don't have a clue and see readme" 7 60
           case $? in
             0) vzlogger_create_conf;;
             1) nano $0;;
            esac;;
         # restart vzlogger
         vzl_restart) vzlogger_restart;;
         # exit menu loop
	 Exit) echo "Bye"; break;;
         *) display_output 6 60 "menu item: $menuitem not linked to a function"
       esac   ;;
    1) echo "cancelled"; break; ;;
    2) show_help ;;
  255) echo "esc"; break; ;;
    *) echo "return value $retvalue" break; ;;
  esac
 
done
 
# if temp files found, delete em
[ -f $INPUT ] && rm $INPUT
[ -f $OUTPUT ] && rm $OUTPUT