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Kevin Windrem avatar image
Kevin Windrem asked

GuiMods, SetupHelper with older firmware

Regrettably, supporting firmware versions back to v2.7x had become a huge task with more than a few cases recently where the package didn't work properly with these older firmware versions. Nearly 70% of the systems are running the most recent firmware, with 15% only a couple of releases back. A little under 20% are running firmware prior to v3.00. In order to provide better support for the majority of systems in the field, I have removed support for Venus OS firmware prior to v3.10 from SetupHelper, GuiMods, TailscaleGX and ShutdownMonitor. I will continue to fully support the last three major releases of these packages (currently v3.1x, v3.2x, v3.3x and v3.4x) with feature additions and bug fixes.

For those that are running firmware prior to v3.10, I am providing a backward compatible version of SetupHelper, GuiMods, TailscaleGX and ShutdownMonitor. In order to install and run these packages, it is necessary to change the branch/tag to "preV3.10support" (no quotes). These firmware versions will not receive feature additions but if a serious bug is found, I will do my best to fix these.

RpiDisplaySetup, RpiGpioSetup, and VeCanSetup also include the preV3.10support branch however the version available via the branch/tag "latest" should continue to work at least for now.


gui mods
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Alexandra avatar image
Alexandra answered ·

@Kevin Windrem

I am still using alot of the CCGXs on v2.95 mostly because I found they get grumpy on newer firmware their physical resources can't handle them. Some are doing the v3.0 ok.

Customers would have to upgrade the GX to move forward. Some are loath to do so as it is working as is.

I would totally understand no longer supporting older versions though it is alot of work.

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Matthias Lange - DE avatar image
Matthias Lange - DE answered ·

I asked the VRM developers if they have an overview.

But if I where you I would just drop the support for versions older than 1 year or so.

I guess most people that are using your GUI Mods are enthusiasts and are more likely to use the lastest FW versions.

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Kevin Windrem avatar image
Kevin Windrem answered ·

Here is a proposal:

Create a branch that will support all current versions including those back to v2.71. Those running older firmware have something to fall back on. This branch would not be updated with new features or bug fixes however. (A branch allows for bug fixes in the future if something nasty is found.)

Eliminate all versions older than a year old. Looking at things, that means v3.10 would be the oldest version supported for new features and bug fixes. @mr-manuel suggested supporting the last three releases (major releases I assume). V3.1x, v3.2x, v3.3x, v3.4x is actually 4 major releases. This would drop the number of supported firmware versions from 32 to 12.

I checked my packages and only GuiMods has version-dependent modifications.

I invite everyone to comment on this as soon as possible. I think the release of v3.40 firmware would be a good point to implement the change.

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phoenix avatar image phoenix commented ·

I imagine you started this to share something you'd developed, and enjoyed doing it. Now it's becoming a burden. You're not alone in this.

I'd go with @Matthias Lange - DE 1 year.

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mr-manuel avatar image mr-manuel commented ·

Yes I did mean major versions ;)

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mvader (Victron Energy) avatar image
mvader (Victron Energy) answered ·

Hey Kevin and all, here some hard stats (VRM):

  • v3.3x 66,8%
  • v3.2x -
  • v3.1x 5,2%
  • v3.0x 9,2%
  • v2.9x 14,4%
  • v2.8x -
  • v2.7x 4,4%


And I don’t know why v2.9x has many users, and v2.8x not and v3.2x not either. Perhaps there were bugs, or something else happened - but no idea without looking into it.


And same here: keep it simple for yourself and make it work with recent versions only.

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Keith Arnold avatar image
Keith Arnold answered ·

img-9919.pngimg-9920.pngHave a site with older ccgx. (Unable to do remote firmware update for the Quattro). It had older firmware, don’t recall version. Possibly 2.xx… which was working. But upgraded firmware 3.31 ever since the vrm has “no data” for most of vrm system widgets (total solar, ac consumption's, soc, few others).

Might get it right if i reinstall an older version?

It also shows different on vrm dashboard to what ccgx shows. Screenshots


img-9920.png (130.1 KiB)
img-9919.png (179.4 KiB)
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Kevin Windrem avatar image Kevin Windrem commented ·

I recommend you post this as a separate question since it is not about running old firmware versions. You'll get better attention as a separate question.

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