Feature request: Backup/transfer configuration using USB/SD-card

[izak]

Add a feature whereby the configuration of a GX device can be backed-up to offline media, such as an SD-card or USB flash drive. Also add a restore feature, so that configuration can also easily be cloned.

Caveat: Some configuration is stored under the serial number of a device, and copying it won't apply on another GX device.

• Implement backup feature
• Implement restore feature
• Determine what works and what doesn't (re serial number specific items) and document it
• Fix the SDCard eject or insert issue conflict.
• Review and include
• Document feature

[izak]

Files to backup

/data/conf/settings.xml
/data/conf/vncpassword.txt <--- so new device will have same remote console password

Using the menu as a guide. This is what works and what doesn't work.

What works

• Everything under Settings -> General
• Firmware update preferences under Settings -> Firmware
• Date & Time settings
• Remote console settings
• Everything under System Setup, except Marine MFD app integration
• Everything under DVCC
• Display and language settings
• VRM portal settings
• ESS settings
• Modbus TCP devices (if IP addresses of devices don't change)
• Settings related to modbus-tcp devices (but not the device configuration itself)
• GSM modem settings
• GPS settings (format, unit)
• Generator start/stop settings
• Tank pump settings
• Relay settings
• Service configuration, except NMEA2000-out instance numbers which may be different
• Analog and digital input configuration

What works partially

• PV inverters: IP addresses and whether to scan for PV-inverters

What doesn't work

• Energy meter settings (role and phase configuration, DeviceInstance number)
• Ethernet EM24 meter and Smappee meter DeviceInstance, role and CustomName).
• PV-inverter settings (position and phase configuration, DeviceInstance number)
• Ethernet configuration is not preserved
• Wi-Fi configuration is not preserved
• Allocated DeviceInstance numbers for VE.Can solar chargers
• CustomNames for most devices (vague, but this is almost always bound to the serial number of the device if not stored on the device itself).
• Marine MFD app integration, battery names will not transfer if the DeviceInstance has changed.

[jhofstee]

/data/conf/vncpassword.txt <--- so new device will have same remote console password

You can forget about that, the password is salted. It won't work on an other installation by just copying the file.

[izak]

Backup screen if no SD-card or USB is available:

Options when there is an SD-card.

Operation is communicated using toasts as always:

A reboot is performed after a restore, booting with the fresh settings.

The restore option is restricted to at least Installers or higher.

[kwindrem]

Most excellent addition.

For backup/restore to the same or replacement GX device, the serial numbers of connected devices will not change. If serial numbers don't change it should be possible to retain custom names. Yes?

For export, will this write to SD/USB memory for transfer to another device or will this happen over the network?

When SD/USB is inserted into a GX device, it immediately assumes the role of offline VRM storage. This is probably not a good idea if the memory device is being used for settings transfer. If on-line, no data is stored to the memory device but if off-line VRM data will be sent to the card and will therefore be lost.

[izak]

Hi @kwindrem

For backup/restore to the same or replacement GX device, the serial numbers of connected devices will not change. If serial numbers don't change it should be possible to retain custom names. Yes?

If you restore to the same GX-device, all settings will be retained. For a replacement device, unfortunately it won't retain everything.

For export, will this write to SD/USB memory for transfer to another device or will this happen over the network?

Currently it only supports SD/USB backups.

it immediately assumes the role of offline VRM storage.
if off-line VRM data will be sent to the card and will therefore be lost.

You are absolutely right. I was under the impression that simply unmounting the sd-card would take care of moving data back to the internal buffer but I was mistaken. Some sort of safeguard or workaround will be required.

[kwindrem]

Regarding the interaction with VRM off-line storage:

Would it be appropriate to ask first? That is, pop up a dialog when a memory device is inserted asking if the card should be used for off-line VRM storage.

This would require an extra step when inserting a memory device, but how often does this actually happen?

Your idea of moving VRM data back to to internal storage would work only if there is sufficient space on internal storage and if there are a lot of records could take some time. But again, dialogs could allow the user to do what suits their situation best: Most recent records, no records; then ... transferring data please wait ...