Hello all,
Some good news tonight, we're releasing VictronConnect for Linux on x86 and x64 systems.
Details below, enjoy!
Best regards, Matthijs
Not officially supported
To start straight off with the limitations: unfortunately we do not officially support it. Its provided here as is, and we tested it to work on a few systems. But we can't help neither experienced nor inexperienced users with making it work on their Linux systems. And also I can't promise to be able to maintain our usual fast response to fixing bugs in case there are linux-specific bugs or limitations.
If there are issues, I'd expect them on the Bluetooth Connection side, and maybe some rendering issues; as well as other areas where its platform specific. Its built from the same source code as the Apple, Android and Windows versions of VictronConnect: so most of it will work just the same as there.
Where to download?
Here:
https://www.victronenergy.com/support-and-downloads/software#victronconnect-app
We tested it on these distributions:
- Ubuntu LTS (16.04, 18,04)
- Mint Cinnamon (3)
- Debian (10.2)
- OpenSuse Leap (15.1)
- and read through comments and answers below to learn about experiences on other distros
Installation instructions:
- After downloading the AppImage file, the execute bit must be set (chmod +x *.AppImage). On first program execution the application will be integrated into the menu/launcher.
- On some systems a session restart is needed (sign off/sign on) to reload the menu/launcher.
- The shortcut is installed into $HOME/.local/share/applications/VictronConnect.desktop. In case the AppImage file is moved from the directory where it was executed the first time the shortcut must be deleted or manually edited to update is with the new location.
- To connect to bluetooth devices the bluetooth controller must be activated.
- Using GUI settings panel provided by the distribution, or
- using command line by executing "systemctl start bluetooth" - Mutimedia uses Gstreamer multimedia framework (minimum 0.10.24, or 1.x), and also the GStreamer following plugins: 'good', 'ugly', 'bad', ffmpeg (0.10), and libav (1.x)
- To work with USB devices (VE.Direct USB cable, MK3-USB cable) the user running VictronConnect must be a member of the dialup user group.
Bluetooth usage instructions
Open VictronConnect press scan and connect to one of the found devices. If after a 20 seconds you don't see a pairing dialog close VictronConnect and open a terminal.
In the terminal and run the bluetoothctl command line tool, type "default-agent" without the quotes and press enter. Leave the terminal visible on one side of the screen and open VictronConnect, press scan and connect to one of the found devices, after a few seconds the bluetoothctl tool will ask for the pin code type it in and press enter.