Firmware, Updates &
Recovery

Before you perform an update, you need to know the currently installed firmware version of your Didactum device so that you can download the appropriate update file.

Option A – via the web interface

In the web interface, navigate to:

System menu → Info → Firmware version

The displayed version number indicates the current driver status.

Option B – via the system statistics

Overall statistics → System info → Firmware version

This step should always be carried out before an update or recovery. The reservation saves the current configuration of the device as a file that can be imported again later.

Download settings (create backup)

1. Log in to the web interface
2. Navigate to: System menu → Firmware → Download backup settings
3. The file is downloaded to your computer as settings.zor
4. Save the file in a safe place (e.g. on a network drive or local hard disk)

What is backed up?

• Network configuration (IP address, gateway, DNS)
• Users and passwords
• Sensor configurations and descriptions
• Alarm rules and notification settings
• SNMP configuration
• E-mail settings

What is not backed up?

• Historical sensor data (measurement history)
• Logic schemes (must be backed up separately)

The update via the web interface is the simplest and recommended method to update the firmware of your Didactum device.

Requirements

• Settings backed up (see chapter 2)
• Suitable firmware file downloaded (see chapter 1 for correct file naming)
• Stable network connection to the device ensured

Step-by-step instructions

1. Log in to the web interface
2. Navigate to: System menu → Firmware → Upload source → From local filesystem
3. Click “Choose file”
4. Select the appropriate firmware file (see downloads above)
5. Click “OK” to start the upload
6. After the upload is complete, the message “Firmware upload” appears in the web interface

Update duration and behavior

• Total duration: approx. 2 minutes
• During the update, the ERR LED on the front panel blinks
• After completion: all LEDs briefly switch off, device restarts
• After the restart (30–60 seconds after the LEDs switch off) the web interface is reachable again

Import sensor configuration

Via the same upload dialog, a previously backed up sensor configuration file (settings.zor) can also be imported:

1. System menu → Firmware → Upload source → From local filesystem
2. Select the file settings.zor
3. Click “OK”

The update via USB stick allows the firmware to be updated even when the web interface is not reachable or a local network connection is missing.

Requirements

• USB stick formatted with the FAT32 file system
• Suitable firmware file downloaded
• File name must not be changed (the processor searches for a fixed file name)

Step 1 – Firmware update via USB

For devices from version 2.7.1:

1. Download the file firmware.zor (web interface update)
2. Optional: additionally download firmware-kernel.zor for the kernel update
3. Recommendation: update the kernel first, then the web interface
4. Format the USB stick with the FAT32 file system
5. Copy one file to the USB stick (keep the file name)
6. Insert the USB stick into the device’s “HS” USB input
7. Wait until the device automatically detects the stick and starts the update process

Step 2 – Reset IP address or user via USB

If the web interface is not reachable, service files are available (for download as tools.zip or tools-DESKTOP-2M75R26.zip):

1. Copy the desired file to the USB stick (keep the file name)
2. Insert the USB stick into the HS USB input
3. Wait until the process is completed (LEDs switch off, restart occurs)
4. Remove the USB stick during the restart

Step 3 – Apply saved settings via USB

1. Format the USB stick with the FAT32 file system
2. Copy the backup file to the USB stick and rename it to settings.zor
3. Insert the USB stick into the HS USB input
4. Wait until the process is completed

USB process – important notes

• Remove the USB stick during the restart (when all LEDs switch off)
• Never restart the device manually during the process
• If an error occurs during the update, the ERR LED lights up permanently

Restoring the factory settings resets the device to its original default values. This is necessary when the device no longer functions correctly or the web interface is no longer reachable.

Method A – via the web interface

1. Log in to the web interface
2. Navigate to: System menu → Firmware → Reset to factory settings
3. Enter confirmation and start the process
4. The device restarts with the factory settings

Method B – via USB stick (when web interface is not reachable)

Download the service file settings.zor (from the tools.zip archive or tools-DESKTOP-2M75R26.zip archive) and follow the USB instructions from chapter 4.

After restoration, the following default access data apply:

• IP address: 192.168.0.193 (old devices)
• IP address: 192.168.0.101 (current T series and PDUs)
• Username: guest
• Password: guest

Method C – hardware reset (physical button)

Some device series have a hardware reset button on the rear or underside of the device:

1. Locate the button labelled “RESET”
2. Press and hold the button with a pointed object (e.g. toothpick or pen) for 10–15 seconds
3. Release the button when the LEDs light up and go off again
4. The device restarts with factory settings

If you previously created a backup of your settings (file settings.zor), you can restore them in different ways.

Method A – restore via the web interface

1. Log in to the web interface
2. Navigate to: System menu → Firmware → Upload source → From local filesystem
3. Select the backed up file settings.zor
4. Click “OK”
5. The system imports the configuration and restarts if necessary

Method B – restore via USB stick

1. Format the USB stick with the FAT32 file system
2. Copy the backup file to the USB stick and rename it to settings.zor
3. Insert the USB stick into the HS USB input
4. The device automatically detects the file and applies the configuration
5. ERR LED blinks during the process – all LEDs switch off during restart
6. Remove the USB stick as soon as the LEDs switch off

What is restored?

• Network configuration (IP, gateway, DNS, VLAN)
• User accounts and passwords
• Sensor descriptions and configurations
• Alarm rules and thresholds
• E-mail and SNMP settings
• Notification configurations

In rare cases, it is necessary to completely rewrite the firmware of your Didactum Monitoring System. Reasons for this include a malfunction or a firmware update that changes the memory organization.

Required accessories

• An SD card (SDHC < 32GB)
• An SD card reader
• The program “Etcher” (etcher.balena.io)
• The current firmware image for system recovery

Preparing the SD card

• Insert the SD card into the card reader
• Open the Etcher program on your computer
• Select the firmware file and the drive
• Click the “Flash!” button to start the write process

After the write process has completed, you can restore the firmware of your Didactum Monitoring System.

Performing system recovery

1. Set the “N-R” dip switch of your monitoring system to the R position for Restore
2. Insert the SD card described by the firmware image into the SD card slot of your Didactum Monitoring System
3. Restart the device. The “Error” LED now begins to blink. This means that the firmware is being written to the monitoring system
4. Wait until the “ACT” LED lights up. Then remove the SD card
5. Set the “N-R” dip switch back to N
6. Restart the device

The front side of the device indicates the status of the update or recovery process via the LED displays.