Official FutureBit Apollo BTC Software/Image and Support thread

[crypto_curious]

Hey folks- longtime reader, rarely calling.

I’ve been running 6 apollos (one full node, 5 standard) with 6 more on the way (same as previous, 1 node, 5 standard).

Since I’ve been running them, I have had minimal to no problems. Are there any updates I should be pushing to increase mining?

My biggest problem, which I think is because of my ISP, is when my internet “burps” or loses connection for a minute or two, I have to manually restart the miners. They are hard wired via Ethernet to a router. No big deal… when I’m home. Is there a way to somehow access my Futurebit site when I’m not on my home network? A friend mentioned port forwarding?

I’ll preface that I have a solid understanding of network technology, but nowhere near advanced. Fortunately I learn quickly.

Im sorry if this has already been discussed, I wasn’t what to search for when trying to find answer.

If anyone could point me in the right direction or any material that can help I’d be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and happy mining!

Chickywinger


P.s. @jstefanop the usb hot wiring is working great! Thanks again

If you haven't updated since you received them now would be a good time to update your main unit to the latest image. There have been updates that have resolved the issues with needing to restart after an internet outage.

I'm having this exact problem and I've updated to the latest software. Everytime the Futurebit loses connection, it's gone forever until I restart it. In my case this means a hard restart because I don't have a monitor or keyboard connected to it. Is there something I can do to fix this? Maybe create a script that starts on startup and constantly checks for connection and if none is found it restarts the unit after 30 minutes of no connection or something like that?

That was original issue in batch #1, one of the reasons why I switched to headless Armbian back then, to make my own mining scripts. How is this still not fixed after so long time?
Now I am mining with another PC via USB cable, with miner process precisely controlled (even emergency backup power is taken into account), if this is still not fixed I am reluctant to let go my second unit to mine on its own with Futurebit OS.

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[mine48]

I have searched but can't find how to interact on the command line or in GUI with the bitcoin node.  I have tried bitcoin-cli with no luck.  I'd like an easy way to find my TOR address, etc. to interact with my other nodes.  Anyone else want the functionality?  Any suggestions on how to use the node more than just with Sparrow? Thanks!

[satosato42]

I'm having this exact problem and I've updated to the latest software. Everytime the Futurebit loses connection, it's gone forever until I restart it. In my case this means a hard restart because I don't have a monitor or keyboard connected to it. Is there something I can do to fix this? Maybe create a script that starts on startup and constantly checks for connection and if none is found it restarts the unit after 30 minutes of no connection or something like that?

That was original issue in batch #1, one of the reasons why I switched to headless Armbian back then, to make my own mining scripts. How is this still not fixed after so long time?
Now I am mining with another PC via USB cable, with miner process precisely controlled (even emergency backup power is taken into account), if this is still not fixed I am reluctant to let go my second unit to mine on its own with "Futurebit OS".

It's possible that this is not the same issue but it does seem like it. Obviously I have no real way of knowing when exactly my internet goes down or when the Futurebit loses connection to my access point but so far the times that I haven't been able to connect to my Futurebit I've noticed that my internet went down for a little bit. What's interesting is that when this happens, the Futurebit is still cranking and getting hot. What is it processing if it has no internet connection to the pool to feed it new blocks? What is it working on when it loses connection to the internet?

[unicornmangle]

What is it processing if it has no internet connection to the pool to feed it new blocks? What is it working on when it loses connection to the internet?

Sounds suspect to me i wonder why also everything is hosted on 3rd party websites. a trustless future looks amaze off to a good start already.

[satosato42]

What is it processing if it has no internet connection to the pool to feed it new blocks? What is it working on when it loses connection to the internet?

Sounds suspect to me i wonder why also everything is hosted on 3rd party websites. a trustless future looks amaze off to a good start already.

Not sure I follow what you're saying. What's hosted on 3rd party websites? Can you elaborate?

[crypto_curious]

What is it processing if it has no internet connection to the pool to feed it new blocks? What is it working on when it loses connection to the internet?

Apollo board is still mining for a couple of minutes when mining process is stopped, without submitting any shares. It's not instantaneous to stop the board.

Mining process not starting, or unable to mine again after Internet going down is another issue.

[satosato42]

What is it processing if it has no internet connection to the pool to feed it new blocks? What is it working on when it loses connection to the internet?

Apollo board is still mining for a couple of minutes when mining process is stopped, without submitting any shares. It's not instantaneous to stop the board.

Mining process not starting, or unable to mine again after Internet going down is another issue.

The Futurebit box was working heavily (red light blinking) and remaining hot with fan full speed for more than just a couple of minutes after it lost connection.

Your second statement does not pertain to me. My issue is that the unit loses both internet and intranet connection so I'm unable to remotely access it and shut it down properly. 

[crypto_curious]

The Futurebit box was working heavily (red light blinking) and remaining hot with fan full speed for more than just a couple of minutes after it lost connection.

Your second statement does not pertain to me. My issue is that the unit loses both internet and intranet connection so I'm unable to remotely access it and shut it down properly.  

My USB-connected Apollo stops drawing power couple of minutes after miner process is killed, I trained some scripts which monitor UPS backup power to work with this. I don't know how it is with full brick Apollo with original Orange Pi 4.

So your unit experiences full hang, not responding to LAN or WAN? Try to connect monitor and peripherals to it, see if unit is still alive and responding to mouse, keyboard etc, when it loses connection. So you know if this is network card problem or entire Orange Pi is dead.

[crypto_curious]

Quick question:

How can I keep screen enabled and emulate a monitor connected, when there isn't one connected via HDMI?
Right now I resort to HDMI dummy plug so Orange Pi 4 thinks there is a monitor connected. Autologin is enabled in Ubuntu user settings and Gnome session starts nicely. But without monitor/dummy plug connected, nothing starts and x11vnc won't let me login remotely.

I am using original Futurebit image with Armbian system.

jstefanop, any update on this please? Should I write to futurebit e-mail?

[mine48]

I have searched but can't find how to interact on the command line or in GUI with the bitcoin node.  I have tried bitcoin-cli with no luck.  I'd like an easy way to find my TOR address, etc. to interact with my other nodes.  Anyone else want the functionality?  Any suggestions on how to use the node more than just with Sparrow? Thanks!

Anyone have any suggestions about this?  Would really appreciate it.  Thanks.

[jstefanop]

Quick question:

How can I keep screen enabled and emulate a monitor connected, when there isn't one connected via HDMI?
Right now I resort to HDMI dummy plug so Orange Pi 4 thinks there is a monitor connected. Autologin is enabled in Ubuntu user settings and Gnome session starts nicely. But without monitor/dummy plug connected, nothing starts and x11vnc won't let me login remotely.

I am using original Futurebit image with Armbian system.

jstefanop, any update on this please? Should I write to futurebit e-mail?

This is a limitation of the hardware/graphics driver. The HDMI port /GUI won't activate unless there is a monitor powered on and connected to the HDMI port (or a dummy plug like your using).

[crypto_curious]

Quick question:

How can I keep screen enabled and emulate a monitor connected, when there isn't one connected via HDMI?
Right now I resort to HDMI dummy plug so Orange Pi 4 thinks there is a monitor connected. Autologin is enabled in Ubuntu user settings and Gnome session starts nicely. But without monitor/dummy plug connected, nothing starts and x11vnc won't let me login remotely.

I am using original Futurebit image with Armbian system.

jstefanop, any update on this please? Should I write to futurebit e-mail?

This is a limitation of the hardware/graphics driver. The HDMI port /GUI won't activate unless there is a monitor powered on and connected to the HDMI port (or a dummy plug like your using).

Thanks for letting me know 👍

[Damonious486]

Good Morning!

I have 2 Full nodes at the house but I only can only port forward one of them while the other will not.  I noticed the HOST ID for both Full Nodes is exactly the same "futurebitbtc."  I was wondering if I could change the host name of these units so I can attach the correct port forward information.

Side note:  Is there any other Port other than 8333 that I can port too for more connections? Stuck at 10 connections which I know is the normal for not forwarding. 

[brain brain]

I've scoured this thread but I'm sure I missed the answer to my problem, so sorry in advance!

I received my FULL and my STANDARD yesterday, and when hooked up to power, only the STANDARD mines. The FULL module is correctly syncing to the chain (it's at 69% after 12 hours) but does not mine.

I've re-seated the SD card, tried a different PSU, and have restarted and rebooted and re-everything'd a bunch of times. I've tried different pools, too.

Ideas for next steps?

[crypto_curious]

I've scoured this thread but I'm sure I missed the answer to my problem, so sorry in advance!

I received my FULL and my STANDARD yesterday, and when hooked up to power, only the STANDARD mines. The FULL module is correctly syncing to the chain (it's at 69% after 12 hours) but does not mine.

I've re-seated the SD card, tried a different PSU, and have restarted and rebooted and re-everything'd a bunch of times. I've tried different pools, too.

Ideas for next steps?

I suggest to first concentrate on full unit. Do not connect anything to it, just make sure it works all right. Reinstall SD card if need be, check all connections etc, full miner must work. Only when you achieve it, try and experiment with connecting secondary standard unit to it via USB cable.

[Sledge0001]

I've scoured this thread but I'm sure I missed the answer to my problem, so sorry in advance!

I received my FULL and my STANDARD yesterday, and when hooked up to power, only the STANDARD mines. The FULL module is correctly syncing to the chain (it's at 69% after 12 hours) but does not mine.

I've re-seated the SD card, tried a different PSU, and have restarted and rebooted and re-everything'd a bunch of times. I've tried different pools, too.

Ideas for next steps?

Wait until the blockchain has fully synced up on the full device before trying to mine would be my recommendation.

I believe there was a recommendation to NOT try to run the miner at Turbo mode until everything on the node side had synced up.

[PSapollo]

Hi.. I just receive my Apollo BTC miner + 2 Standard Unit
after setup I only get 4TH not 6TH
All 3 units are ACTIVE but 1 Standard unit is 0 Hash!
I can see the Temp dan Fan speed

according to Known Issue. Please leave it run 10-15min
After 1 hour still 0 Hash

I assume USB cable is not connected properly or damage

So I did this:
1. Shutdown Miner
2. Unplug both usb Cable
3. Swap usb Cable

Turn it back on
same problem!!!

Need Help

[Sledge0001]

Hi.. I just receive my Apollo BTC miner + 2 Standard Unit
after setup I only get 4TH not 6TH
All 3 units are ACTIVE but 1 Standard unit is 0 Hash!
I can see the Temp dan Fan speed

according to Known Issue. Please leave it run 10-15min
After 1 hour still 0 Hash

I assume USB cable is not connected properly or damage

So I did this:
1. Shutdown Miner
2. Unplug both usb Cable
3. Swap usb Cable

Turn it back on
same problem!!!

Need Help

Make sure you start up all of your standard units before starting the full.

I also found that using a small non-powered USB hub really added to the stability when I am running 5 additional standards off of a single full.

[Frisco415]

Can the CPU fan run from any of the 5v/GND GPIO pins? Or does it have to be run through the proprietary connector you guys have made?

CPU Fan Connector is attached to the 3.3v power, if you connect it to the 5v pins it will spin nearly twice as fast and be super loud.

Any help is appreciated to help me diagnose my LTC minner, do u have an exchange program

[nullama]

~snip~
Any help is appreciated to help me diagnose my LTC minner, do u have an exchange program

This thread is for the BTC miner.

You can get support for the LTC miner here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5081750