Help:Victron Cerbo GX blank remote console after update 3.10, cannot do anything

[CaptainRivet]

HI all,
updated today my cerbo GX to 3.10 and suddenly after the update the remote console shows a blank white screen with the "buttons on the right side" means i cannot do anything as i am completly blind. done several updates, never a issue till now. should have left it on 2.9 but thought before i connect all devices and Nmea (finally got all the cables needed) to it i get it to newest version and then set it all up. big mistake...

all data appears on the VRM portal about the installation.
as the remote console is blank i cannot do anything, no update, no settings of any kind.
look up on the forums of victron but cannot find anything whats the issue or how to fix this. its connected properly with the correct ip. for 1/100s after it connected you see something, then white screen.

tried reboot several times, didn't work. then the reset procedure with the usb stick, doesn't work again the blank remote console screen appears again.

there is no reset button or a way i can just insert a USB stick or sd card with a new install to wipe over everything. on every tablet or computer i had in last 25 years, in worst case you could just wipe everything and install fresh, doesn't seem to be possible on a cerbo.


can anyone help

whats the issue and how i can fix this or how i can just wipe over everything and install new??

[SailingHarmonie]

Well, it’s not the update itself, that is stable and works fine.


I assume when you say “remote console” you really mean the attached touchscreen?

Can you connect with the remote console over Bluetooth, WiFi, or through vrm? If so you can just boot up in the old version. The Cerbo always keeps the last two versions of the OS that it booted to.

[CaptainRivet]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

Well, it’s not the update itself, that is stable and works fine.


I assume when you say “remote console” you really mean the attached touchscreen?

Can you connect with the remote console over Bluetooth, WiFi, or through vrm? If so you can just boot up in the old version. The Cerbo always keeps the last two versions of the OS that it booted to.

I have no touchscreen connected.
I can connect via all 3 and its the correct ip adress but i get a blank screen with controls on the right. So i am completely blind

To update or revert back to previous release you need the remote console to go into menus but how if i am blind

i administer by tablet and have the VRM Portal,

On raspi i would just wipe the sd card with cerbo install and put an new system on, with the 5x more expensive cerbo not possible.
You can only download a reset software but that doesn't install it from scratch and wipes all or gives you an option to reinstall.
Only i could figure that already happened in version 2.61 and 2.62 but how you then install a new update again i cannot find anywhere. I updated from 2.9 to 3.1. Large image.

[SailingHarmonie]

You mentioned you looked at the Victron forums, did you post the question there? I did not see anything there similar to your description of the problem.

It's your best bet if you did not buy the hardware from a technically savvy distributor.

You can always log in directly to the linux prompt as well, that is the route you will likely have to go if the GUI has somehow been corrupted. Victron's community forum is the best place to get the details on how to do that.

[smac999]

it's crazy to have a cerbo on a boat without the screen... next step is probably to buy one. then you might be able to fix it.

Guess I won't update mine..

[SailingHarmonie]

Originally Posted by smac999

it's crazy to have a cerbo on a boat without the screen... next step is probably to buy one. then you might be able to fix it.

Guess I won't update mine..

Except V3.1 has some really great features added, like the new "sustain" mode that actually allows you to use all the solar power you have even while connected to shore power.

I have had Victron equipment for a long time, and I really feel that they have added a huge amount of extra value in adding new features and capabilities through all the free updates. My Cerbo does more now than I ever imagined when I bought it.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

Except V3.1 has some really great features added, like the new "sustain" mode that actually allows you to use all the solar power you have even while connected to shore power.

I've been sorta accomplishing that for a while. I keep the float voltage on the MPPTs set 0.05 volts higher than on the Multiplus, so when the sun is up, all DC loads get run from solar power even with the boat plugged in. Shore power takes over as the sun sets, keeping the batteries full (the solar priority feature gives a bit more flexibility here). Either way AC loads get run from shore power when plugged in.

[smac999]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

Except V3.1 has some really great features added, like the new "sustain" mode that actually allows you to use all the solar power you have even while connected to shore power.

I have had Victron equipment for a long time, and I really feel that they have added a huge amount of extra value in adding new features and capabilities through all the free updates. My Cerbo does more now than I ever imagined when I bought it.

the sustain mode is only for DC loads. and will not use any solar for AC loads. it's not that usefull at all. if the MPPT voltage is set slightly higher then the shore charger, which I do, the dc loads are already coming from the solar.

[CaptainRivet]

Originally Posted by smac999

it's crazy to have a cerbo on a boat without the screen... next step is probably to buy one. then you might be able to fix it.

Guess I won't update mine..

Nope a screen doesn't solve it as the remote control menu is displayed there as well means blank screen with controls on the right.
Yes will post it on Victron forum, just though some cracks here already know as it happened in an older version too...hadn't Victron logins to hand.
Not my plan to get a screen for cerbo specific.
An AXIOM 7+ is in delivery, that has the Victron app which displays nearly all and can be pluged right into cerbo via LAn. My orca core will soon display it too and data get onto nmea n2k for instruments can show it.

If then i get a big touch screen make myself a big dashboard with grafana (no idea how to do that but i fond ways to learn it) abd cerbo will be part of it.
Kinda the everlander style like he did it...for me the real mac giver out there :-)

[bill good]

search Setuphelper/readme at main. This problem is noted. See your PM as well for alternate for touch screen.
Regards

[CaptainRivet]

Originally Posted by bill good

search Setuphelper/readme at main. This problem is noted. See your PM as well for alternate for touch screen.
Regards

thank you bill, i got it back working. You directed me to the right source how to do it but there is a little tweaking necessary so it works correct.



If you have a remote consule with a white screen or unrepsonive GUI or no superuser access anymore do the following process exactly as i describe, the painful devil is in the details here:
Use Firefox or chrome browser to access the gitup page, not safari or the win standard browser (as it has implication of the download of the packages)
A) go to: https://github.com/kwindrem/SetupHelper
it is stated:
The archive for this is named venus-data.UninstallPackages.tar.gz. 1) Copy venus-data.UninstallPackages.tar.gz to a USB memory stick or SD card 2) Rename the copy to venus-data.tar.gz

B) This is partly wrong:
go here to download:
https://github.com/kwindrem/SetupHel...llPackages.tgz

as you see the package is called venus-data.UninstallPackages.tgz and not with the ending .tar.gz
go down to the grey field completely to right with the arrow pointing down and click on it. That downloads the file to your PC. Use Firefox or chrome browser to access the gitup page and download the files.

c)format a USB stick to FAT32
D)copy/move the file via drag and drop to the USB stick, don't(!!!) click on it so the zipfile unpacks (also happens if you use safari or edge during download, that why you need firefox or chrome)
E) rename the file to venus-data.tgz and NOT(!!!) venus-data.tar.gz
F)now you need the latest Firmware for the cerbo:
https://www.victronenergy.com/media/...e-updates.html
Download the latest swu file:

• Cerbo GX - venus-swu-einstein.swu => click on this link and the file is downloaded to your PC. its not the latest version as you will figure later but it works, thats important.
  

G)drag and drop the file from PC to USB stick, don't click on it so it unpacks!!!

H)now unplug the power of your cerbo and insert the usb stick, wait 30 sek and plug the power back in.
I) the cerbo now uninstalls all packages. wait till green and yellow flashes and you can get access to the remote panel via VRM or the connect app. its still show white screen or unresponsive screen now. ONLY !!! unplug the power of the cerbo (=power cycle it, as you have no access to reboot it manually) if you can connect to the white or unresponive screen AND green and yellow flashes at the same time. doing it to early will BRICK it, so be extra careful here!!! remove the USB stick and plug into your PC and control if the file venus-data.tgz was renamed to venus-data.UninstallPackages.tgz
This ensures the uninstall process of the packages happend correctly. now put it back in the cerbo that is still unplugged from power.

J) now wait 30 sek and put power back in. Now the new firmware will be installed, it took 10min on mine with the 3.01 release. The tricky thing here is it gets stuck in a loop. so after installing the update and restart it automatically installs the firmware a 2nd time. let this happen and watch the cerbo closly now. As soon as both red leds go dark pull the USB Stick out. be very quick. if not quick enough and the LED start glowing before you have it out let it install the firmware a 3rd time, nothing happens. But if you pull it during LED=install started you have to do all from A) on again...guess how i know
K)now the cerbo boots normally and you should get a working remote control.
reboot it manually again (without the USB, its already out)

L) now go to setting, change normal to large (or keep it if you want normal) , go to online update and click on check update. It will then show you the new 3.11 version. update and reboot.
Now you have the latest version fully working.
I will go to hell for all the swearing and my rum kitty has one bottle of rum less as painkiller till i figured all that little but very important details out of this painfull process.

So i hope the details above spare you some nerves and a hangover the next day



i had previously the large 2.9 with wingdrem's Gui mods installed. I guess and others think the same to update to 3.11 you have to

1) use the manual update process via USB and not online
2) or before online uninstall the gui mods before updating to 3.11, then update and then install GUI mods again. otherwise you get the white screen.
Or did someone install 3.11 with large and Gui mods from 2.9 to 3.11 online without these issues?

[Recy]

Just updated from 2.9 to 3.11 without issues.

[CaptainRivet]

Originally Posted by Recy

Just updated from 2.9 to 3.11 without issues.

Did you have
A) the large image with the Gui mods and superuser access
B) just large image
C) just normal image

[Recy]

I am not sure what you mean I have this image.

[CaptainRivet]

Originally Posted by Recy

I am not sure what you mean I have this image.

Thats the normal one.
If you go to settings, then update you can see a drop box with normal and large.

With the large you can use NodeRed and SignalK.
With large you can then install the GUi mods from windrem