Differences

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--- venus-os:large [2024-02-18 17:52] – [6.4 First use & configuring] mvader
+++ venus-os:large [2024-07-14 16:53] (current) – [8.1 Disk space issues / data partition full] mvader
@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
 ===== 5. Node-RED =====
-{{ :venus-os:node-red-contrib-victron-nodes.png?nolink |}}
+{{:venus-os:node-palette.png?direct&nolink |}}
 ==== 5.1 Introduction ====
@@ Line 129: / Line 129: @@
 A good tutorial on how to work with Node-RED is here: https://nodered.org/docs/tutorials/first-flow. On https://github.com/victronenergy/node-red-contrib-victron/wiki/Example-Flows you can find example flows that use the Victron Energy nodes. Searching for [[https://flows.nodered.org/search?term=victron|Victron]] on [[https://flows.nodered.org/search?term=victron|https://flows.nodered.org/]] will give all community flows that have been tagged "victron".
-There is also a 3 part introductory webinar on Node-RED and Venus available at the Victron Tech YouTube channel:
+==== 5.2 Three part introductory webinar ====
+This is a 3 part introductory webinar on Node-RED and Venus available at the Victron Tech YouTube channel:
 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_iaciqn_Fg| 1. Getting started]]
@@ Line 142: / Line 144: @@
 The Node-RED editor can be accessed from your LAN at https://venus.local:1881/. For some systems, you'll have to replace ''venus.local'' by the ip-address. You can also access the Node-RED editor from VRM, where it is available via the //Venus OS Large// menu.
-__Standard nodes + Victron nodes__
+==== 5.3 Node specifications ====
 Node-RED comes with a core set of useful nodes, and within the Venus OS large install there is a set of Victron nodes added to that: the Victron Pallet. All of the different nodes are described [[https://github.com/victronenergy/node-red-contrib-victron/wiki/Available-nodes|here]].
@@ Line 181: / Line 184: @@
 ==== 5.4 Controlling relays ====
+For a relay to be controllable via Node-RED, it needs to be switched to manual control first. In most cases this needs to be done by using [[https://www.victronenergy.com/panel-systems-remote-monitoring/victronconnect|VictronConnect]].
+;#;
+{{:venus-os:victron-connect-relay-manual.png?400|}}
+;#;
 === GX Device relays ===
@@ Line 197: / Line 206: @@
 === SolarCharger MPPT Relay ===
-Currently it is not possible to control the relay in a MPPT Solar Charger, even though there is a Victron node offering such functionality. The reason it doesn't work, is that VictronConnect does not have the required "Manual control" option in the list of selectable Relay modes for the MPPTs. This will be fixed at some point.
+In order to switch the relay via Node-RED, first use VictronConnect to switch the operation mode to //manual control//.
 Note that only the larger model solar chargers feature a relay.
@@ Line 205: / Line 214: @@
 === RS series (inverter, multi) relays ===
-Currently not controllable. Will be controllable in the future.
+First set the relay to //manual control// using VictronConnect. Once that has been done, the relay can be controlled using Node-RED.
 === Charger relays ===
@@ Line 340: / Line 349: @@
 And restart Node-RED.
+=== Q11: Is there a way to have the context survive reboots? ===
+By default the context is stored in memory of the GX device only. If the GX device gets rebooted, the
+content of the memory gets reset and you loose the context information.
+In order to keep the context data, it is needed to [[https://nodered.org/docs/api/context/store/localfilesystem|store the context to disk]]. This can be achieved by creating (or adding to) a user configuration file ''/data/home/nodered/.node-red/settings-user.js'', containing:
+  module.exports = {
+    contextStorage: {
+      default: {
+        module: "localfilesystem",
+        config: {
+          flushInterval: 300 // Save context data every 5 minutes
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+With the above settings, context files will get created periodically in ''/data/home/nodered/.nodered/context/''. In order not to wear out the flash too much, don't write too often.
 ===== 6. Signal K =====
@@ Line 391: / Line 420: @@
   * [[https://demo.signalk.org/documentation/|The official Signal K documentation]]
   * [[https://community.victronenergy.com/search.html?c=&includeChildren=&f=&type=question+OR+idea+OR+kbentry+OR+answer+OR+topic+OR+user&redirect=search%2Fsearch&sort=relevance&q=signal+k|Signal K topics on the Victron Community forum]]
-  * [[http://slack-invite.signalk.org/|Signal K Slack]] - a real time chat group including a special Victron channel.
+  * [[https://discord.gg/uuZrwz4dCS |Signal K Discord]] - a real time chat group including a special Victron channel.
 Do not contact normal Victron support for any help on SignalK. Its based on community support, not official support.
@@ Line 587: / Line 616: @@
 Note that Venus OS itself does **not** show a notification or warning when the data disk is full. And know that the other disks are read-only unless remounted to read/write as per [[https://www.victronenergy.com/live/ccgx:root_access|these root access instructions]].
-The easy solution is to do full GX factory reset, as per the instructions in the GX user manuals. This includes downloading a file called venus-data.tgz.
+Depending on what the issue is, there are a few things you can do:
+  - Do full GX factory reset, as per the instructions in the GX user manuals. This includes downloading a file called venus-data.tgz; see GX manual for details. Disadvantage is that you'll need to reconfigure the GX.
+  - Remove all Signal K Server log files. In case you're using SignalK, then we recommend to try that option first. See next chapter on how to do that (requires a USB stick or SD Card), and once done make sure to double check you're Signal K log setup; Most importantly, make sure that the ''Keep only most recent data log files'' option is enabled. That feature is enabled by default, and can be found in the Signal K -> Server -> Settings section.
+  - A more detailed approach is logging into the SSH console, and checking for disk space:
+**Tips and tricks to login a diagnose disk space**
-A more detailed approach is logging in on SSH, and checking for disk space. Here are a few useful commands.
+Require root access: https://www.victronenergy.com/live/ccgx:root_access.
 The ''df'' command shows disk space including percentage in user for all mounted storages. Note the 100% full of below data partition. That is a problem. It should show maybe 10, 20 or 30%, but never 100% in use.
@@ Line 641: / Line 676: @@
   * [[https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/software/venus-factory-default/venus-data-00-backup-data-partition.tgz|venus-data-00-backup-data-partition.tgz]] - copies all that is on the ''/data'' partition onto the usb stick
-  * [[https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/software/venus-factory-default/venus-data-20-signalk-reset.tgz|venus-data-20-signalk-reset.tgz]] - wipes everything from ''/data/conf/signalk/''
+  * [[https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/software/venus-factory-default/venus-data-20-signalk-reset.tgz|venus-data-20-signalk-reset.tgz]] - removes all files and directories from ''/data/conf/signalk/'', which lets you start over again with SignalK.
   * [[https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/software/venus-factory-default/venus-data-30-signalk-delete-data-logs.tgz|venus-data-30-signalk-delete-data-logs.tgz]] - removes all SignalK loging
-  * [[https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/software/venus-factory-default/venus-data-20-node-red-reset.tgz|venus-data-20-node-red-reset.tgz]] - wipes all in ''/data/home/nodered/''
+  * [[https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/software/venus-factory-default/venus-data-20-node-red-reset.tgz|venus-data-20-node-red-reset.tgz]] - removes the files from ''/data/home/nodered/'', which lets you start with Node-RED from scratch.
 See [[https://www.victronenergy.com/live/ccgx:root_access#hooks_to_install_run_own_code_at_boot|here]] for more information on how this process works.