Link Search Menu Expand Document
Libertas Things Documentation

Hub Troubleshooting

If there is a problem with the hub, an error icon will be displayed on the hub screen when the hub is powered up.

SD Card Error

The Hub is equipped with a high endurance SD card for dual data backup. If the SD card is absent or damaged, the “SD-card Error” icon will show up.

SD card error

General Error

If hub encounters error not related to SD card missing or failure, a general error logo will be displayed.

General error

Hub Version Number

A Hub firmware version number will be displayed below the logo, for example, “20200116020542”.

Hub Recovery

Libertas Hub offers comprehensive recovery options for different scenarios.

Master Password

Master Password is the password user provided when the Hub was set up initially. The master password shall be written down and kept at a safe place.

If the master password is lost, the hub will refuse to recover for security reasons.

Read “Master Password” as a reminder.

Admin Key Recovery

If the admin lost his/her phone, the account can be recovered on a new phone.

It has to be performed within the local network.

  1. Perform “Search Local Network for Hubs”
  2. Select the hub
  3. Input the passcode on screen and then the Master Password

Hub Replacement

If the Hub hardware failed, the user can get a new Hub, then use the SD card from old Hub to fully recover the data.

First, insert the old SD card into new Hub, then power on the Hub.

When the “error logo” is displayed, Perform “Search Local Network for Hubs”, find the Hub, click and connect, then follow instruction. Master Password is required.

SD Card Failure

In case of an SD card failure, the user needs to replace the card with a blank new card, formatted on Windows. Or try to recover and restore the old card as much as possible (card has f2fs file system, so it has to be done on a Linux machine).

Note replacing a new SD card will lose the following data, System Logs, Hub App Data, System Messages. Read Dual Backup with SD Card for more details.

Perform “Search Local Network for Hubs”, find the Hub, click and connect, then follow instruction. Master Password is required.

SD Card Firmware Upgrade/Recovery

Firmware can be upgraded with an SD card.

Get A blank Micro SD Card

Do NOT reuse the SD Card of Hub!!! Format the SD Card on Windows, using FAT.

Download Latest Recovery Zip File

It should contain three files

  • rk-libre-hub.manifest
  • rk-libre-hub-4.4.194.10.boot.tgz
  • rk-libre-hub-20200416223922.rootfs.tgz

Copy Content of Zip File to Root of Blank SD

Follow Instructions Below

  1. Unplug power and Ethernet Cable from Hub
  2. Pop out factory SD card from Hub. You need the “recovery” SD card to push it out.
    HUB_SD
  3. Insert the “recovery” SD card into the Hub. You will need to use the other SD to push it all the way in (see step 2). You will feel the “click”, which means the SD card position is secured.
  4. Plug in power cord only. Wait for about 2-3 minutes. Until the screen below show up. Note, the “!” icon on the lower right means you need to put original SD back!
    HUB_RECOVERY
  5. Unplug power. Swap the original SD card in (again use another card to pop/push, follow step 2).
  6. Plug in power again. Wait for 1.5 minutes. Screen below will show up.
    HUB_RECOVERY
    Now if you plug in ethernet cable, IP will show up.
    HUB_IP

Factory Reset / Wipe the Hub Clean

In case of recovery failure, a factory reset maybe the final resort.

Follow the instructions below:

  1. Power off the hub
  2. Eject the backup SD card
  3. Power on the Hub, until the “Error Logo with a Version Number” appears on Hub screen
  4. Perform “Search Local Network for Hubs”, find the Hub, click and connect, then follow instruction.

A factory reset can also be performed during normal operation.

  1. Start Hub Admin
  2. Choose the first entry “My Home & Hub”
  3. Choose “Manage Hub”
  4. Choose “Clear and Reset Hub”

Note the reset and clear is irreversible!

Dual Backup with SD Card

Important data on Libertas Hub are stored in two locations, the EMMC flash storage onboard (4GB total) and a high endurance SD card on the external SD slot.

Note the Hub software is designed so that the data on EMMC will have minimum writes (thus minimum wearing) throughout the lifetime.

Certain types of data are only written on the external SD card:

  • System Logs
  • Hub App Data
  • System Messages

That information will be lost if the external SD card is damaged. However, the System Message will most likely be back up on each smartphone. The real danger is the Hub App Data, which we will roll out a network-based backup feature later.