Topic: Official FutureBit Apollo BTC Software/Image and Support thread - page 48. (Read 48695 times)

The problem with the upstream ubuntu updates is that they mess with the custom bootloader we need to load to control the internal hashboard.  In hindsight I should have just controlled the internal hashboard through USB as well and it would have saved a lot of headaches for me and everyone else.

Since the external hashboards are through USB these kernel updates dont mess with the functionality there.  Good news is we finally isolated the probablmatic updates and will freeze those updates in the next image release.  This *should* finally fix the updates bricking the full node. 

We are still building out the app ecosystem, once this is done the apps will come fast. Also a reminder to everyone there is nothing stopping you from installing the LND apps today and pairing your node to LND. The UI will do the same thing and just install the publicly available apps in a one step process for beginners.

I loaded up MCU2 and it worked   As you noted the picture in the readme file seems to be the definitive way to go, and batch # / serial # is not. All is good now, thanks for your help.  Now I just have to go through the trials of loading on other apps that I had on my unit before... 

Any updates for the LN support guys? Been a long time coming

You can only post images once you are a Jr Member.

Identify the image version by looking at the pictures here, just to be certain you used the correct version:
https://mega.nz/folder/ZlxnwYZb#ZN77cDAcXa6dN_2QKSdT_Q

I don't know what went wrong with your flashing of the SD card.

Interesting that the 2 standard units were still mining after the Ubuntu update, I wonder how that works.

Have you put the nvme drive back in?

I would try to save the blockchain data in a new folder inside the Bitcoin folder on the nvme drive and try to boot with the nvme in the Apollo.

If that does not work, try etching the SD card again and double check that you have used the correct version. I found the instructions quite confusing and I used the images of the Orange Pi rather than the numbers to identify the correct image version for my Apollo.

Hello,
I have been enjoying using the apollo, have a full unit (batch 3) + 2 standard units and hope to get more  I have run into an issue though and need help.  Here is the story:

-  Last night, I made the unfortunate mistake of updating to Ubuntu version 22 when prompted to do so  .  After doing so, The unit started up just fine on reboot, however the background was changed from the Apollo background to an Ubuntu desktop background, and my miner for the full unit was no longer showing up in the dashboard as a miner (the 2 standard units were still showing up and mining just fine and mining on boot).  I hopped onto this forum and it appears a remedy is to flash a new image onto the unit (seemed like it was necessary anyway to make the update to Apollo Web version 0.3.4).  I successfully removed the SSD from the apollo unit and installed the correct image using etcher (verified my serial # 3rd character was 8, so used MCU 1 image) onto the micro SD.  I did so very carefully and don't believe I did anything that could possibly harm the hardware. I then put the micro SD back into my apollo unit.  The initial boot took some time (10 mins or so), and then I was able to log in, and the launching page had me choose a new password (I followed instructions to not use special characters).  Everything seems to work, except problem is:

- The fan is running on what sounds like max without any adjustments and even after 15 to 20 mins it is still running at same high rate.
- My miner seems to be completely offline still. The raw stats show nothing happening (just two brackets with no info or code inside whereas before there was various code regarding the miner) and the dashboard shows no power, hash or any feedback coming from the miner (miner hashrate, watts and hardware errors show 0, and the Miner uptime section shows 'inactive').  The light on the front of the unit, which blinks red when working, is completely off.  I confirmed my pool info is correct, and I am ethernet connected on the internet.  Dashboard shows 'online' in green .  Any ideas on how to fix?  I looked through the forum pretty thoroughly for any similar issues but was not able to find, so let me know where to look if it's a known issue.  Otherwise, any ideas ?

P.S.  I have images, but I can't figure out how to upload / include them.  If that would help, please assist a newbie in how to do this.

edited:  Here are imgur links to screenshots:
https://imgur.com/PVspQVy
https://imgur.com/VFxHKt9

Thank you.

A 120mm extra fan did not make much difference to the miner fan noise, so I redesigned the frame for a 140mm fan.

However, that was before I started mucking around with the custom fan speed settings, maybe the 120mm fan is feasible too if I adjust the fan curve.

This prints without supports in 4 separate parts and needs a few drops of glue to hold it together.

I still need to make a few tweaks to the bottom part and the legs.

Is there a way to see the miner temperature / fan settings curve?

I am trying to tweak the settings so that the temperature stays at 60c when I am running an auxiliary 140mm fan on top of the Apollo.

What are the 2 temperatures shown in the miner dashboard?

I fully understand that this isn't supported but am I correct in assuming that this is the "key" to getting the units to run asicboost? 

If so could you provide the exact file name and location?

I agree that additional housing or cooling for the ASICs is not needed.

I just want to add a larger, slower fan to make the same amount of cooling more quiet for use in rooms where the heat comes in handy in Winter, but the noise needs to be minimal.

The extra 'housing' is just scaffolding for holding extra fans in place.

Good to hear it is working for you!

I guess the 6 miner with 1600W PSU setup optimises for the ability to use a single unmodified power outlet per group of miners.

I have something similar in mind particularly in Winter when the heat production will be welcome.

Would it be possible to use 12V DC power supplies made for LED lights, instead of PC power supplies that have a lot of additional voltages and connectors that cost extra?

For example the 12V 100A version of this: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/112843990043?epid=5032793767&hash=item1a4606a41b:g:wKUAAOSwXT9hrMhP&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4Mo4uKT9X6wSHWDPhaS1Mabn2sVqnyFAvTJPkQ1Tt%2FKhuL30%2BQNBb9Zlp5209JKqaQF0OYWS5Jd5BuC6PLb9VCH8Zqy97Ba4wYIlxHcoyLPK9OHTMbT%2FUuzULKe6kj6dDd3vxai6xasejmQLvl%2FrwVfkV33nVcYL%2BdjvKDWdUkBBs%2BkQGbbdMy5MOvflaTNBmndERlrO9Q2Ds4PiC7t35g%2Fr%2%2FEdPE2JZCQmXzjzJq%2BjX8z%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8b8pJGDYQ&var=414936317439

or this: https://www.jaycar.com.au/mean-well-320w-12v-26-7a-power-supply/p/MP3294

Yes. I run 4 full node versions each has 5 additional standards attached to it via a non powered USB hub.

Much thanks for this.

Pushing 87 Power and 60 on the Frequency seems to be a sweet spot to keep temps under 70 for me!

That's about 70-71W per TH....  

Hello all,
Does anyone know if i can run more than the three miners per node.

I would like to buy additional miners and connect via a USB hub, if possible.

Thanks,

Additional housing for the entire device is not needed. I simply removed metal case and put Apollo on the shelf inside a PC. Only improved case for Orange Pi is useful, to improve airflow. If someone is not using full node but only a brick, then there is no problem with Apollo cooling.

Pic:
https://i.imgur.com/nguQRAC.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/OaiGabx.jpeg

Now I'm working on the top part of the printable fan-adapter housing for the Apollo BTC.

Nowhere near finished.

An important lesson learned while it is getting warmer in my mad-scientist's lab is that the entire metal housing of the Apollo gets warm and serves as a heat sink.

So I'm trying to come up with a slimline design that will cover very little of the metal so that it can continue to radiate heat.

I hope I can connect the top part of the Polli housing to the bottom part (with some short self-tapping screws) so that none of the original screws need to be touched to encase the Apollo.

You are of course absolutely correct!

This insight dawned on me earlier today while staring at the dazzling variety of USB-C card readers, hubs and what-not's.
I had forgotten that the OS gets put on the SD card while it is outside of the Orange Pi, and once the SD card with OS is back in the Pi, it does not need another PC to further build the installation.