Hardware API addition: get_serial_number()

[njh]

Hello,

I am interesting in getting a unique identifier for a Tingbot device, so that it can be used as a connection identifier when an app is installed on multiple devices.

A couple of options I have considered:

• Use the Raspberry Pi serial number from /proc/cpuinfo (which includes the Ethernet MAC address) - http://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/questions/2086/how-do-i-get-the-serial-number
• Use the MAC address of the first network interface (with a MAC address)

I am leaning towards the second option, because it should work with the simulator too.

What do you think? Would you accept a Pull Request?

Thanks,

nick.

[joerick]

Hey @njh! The MAC address option has a small problem that users might try it alongside get_ip_address() and not realise that they refer to different interfaces.

So the serial number is my preferred option. Happy to accept PR for that. Would your use case be okay with the Simulator returning a serial number '0000000000000000', or would that cause problems?

[njh]

Thanks Joe!

Yes, lets start with that.

Alternatives might be to either generate (and persist) a random number in the simulator. Or include part of the first network interface MAC address in the simulator. I'm not sure if it is worth contacting Raspberry Pi and asking if there is a structure to the serial number - and if some space could be reserved for 'fake pis'?

[joerick]

A generated/persisted number would be a handy workaround!

I wouldn't expect these numbers to be used for anything except direct comparisons, so we could design our own identifier scheme for the simulator tbsimulator-0123456789abcdef or something.

[furbrain]

You could use a uuid for this - see the python uuid module for more details

On 14 Nov 2016 09:54, "Joe Rickerby" notifications@github.com wrote:

A generated/persisted number would be a handy workaround!

I wouldn't expect these numbers to be used for anything except direct
comparisons, so we could design our own identifier scheme for the simulator
tbsimulator-0123456789abcdef or something.

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[WhistleMaster]

That's what I'm using in a one of my app:

import uuid
str(uuid.uuid4())