Re: Restoring node red from a backup?
Kile,
?
I am going to do my first backup of my original flow and move it to the drive you showed me. ?I am doing this to prepare for moving to the Host Adapter board. ?I will use your backup as shown, and I guess you can email the file for saving or put it on a USB stick.
?
My question is, does it capture all your nodes too, so you do not have to reinstall all of them again? ? ?
?
My second question, if you may, is how do I get Raspbian on the external SSD? ?
?
My SSD will be in next week, and I hope to move to the Host adapter board then. ?
?
Tim?
KM4ESU
|
Kyle,
?
Thank you, I had no idea you could pull and push data to another program. ?Awesome that you can, and I will use that for what I am doing. ?
?
Also, nice presentation at Hamvention it helped to see live radio control.?
?
Tim?
KM4ESU
|
Re: Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
I recommended the BERL AX3000 travel router. You can use your cell phone connected to the USB A port on the travel router and it sets up a network connection from phone to router, then log the router onto a WiFi network and log on the network’s captive portal.
73
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 26, 2025, at 10:26?AM, Marty Boroff via groups.io <m_boroff@...> wrote:
?
Thanks all for the great responses.
One of my cohorts in this project has a GL travel router on Beryl AX. I think it is the GL-MT300. He purchased it because someone on another Flex group recommended it for use with his Maestro. Of course it is still in the box as it arrived from Amazon. I intend to borrow it as a part of my project.
I started with Softether because it provides a bridging capability for the five locations hosting radios for my group. I have eliminated the bridging due to some inconsistencies connecting to a radio.?
I currently have one server defined in each of three locations. One running on a Pi 5 4gb in my location. One running on a Pi3b shared with a Node-red dashboard. And one I am unable to connect with a Pi 3b shared with Node-red.?
This last one gets an error of the server not responding to the connection request. I am able to connect to it with the management software. I will attempt to install a stand alone Pi 4 in this location.
Again thanks for all the great responses.
73, Marty WD9GYM
On Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 05:25:17 PM CDT, Mike / K5JR via groups.io <k5jr.flex@...> wrote:
Thanks, Bret. I'm overdue for an update. Same with node-red.?
tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA
On May 25, 2025, at 4:47?PM, Bret Mills via groups.io <bret.wx7y@...> wrote:
?
Hello to the Group, you can export your
Softether settings then do the Linux Upgrades and Updates to all
the files and re-install Softether then import your settings. Do
this in the "Edit Config" (Gear ICON) with the "Save to File" Tab
and "Import File and Apply" Tabs at the bottom of the "Edit
Config" window.
I have moved from a Raspberry Pi to a Windows machine and Back
using this method in the past almost 10 years. Actually it's
easier I think then NODE-RED is to update or Move because you
don't have to load all the Pallets, Wish Node_Red would build a
way to backup for reinstall but that's another topic.?
But Back to the topic of this message I personally would NOT run
them on the same Computer / Pi, I have had a Pi 4 8Gig on it's
knees when I had a bunch of quick moving meters like for
Modulation and a bunch of stream deck screens having to be drawn
and you really don't want to have your VPN traffic slowing down to
a unusable state because Node-Red is to busy.
This Email is ONLY for the Person or entity it was addressed to
Have a great day
Bret WX7Y
-- YMMV
73
Bret
WX7Y
<OpenPGP_0x0B4B9F1DAF6C9D40.asc>
|
Re: Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
Thanks all for the great responses.
One of my cohorts in this project has a GL travel router on Beryl AX. I think it is the GL-MT300. He purchased it because someone on another Flex group recommended it for use with his Maestro. Of course it is still in the box as it arrived from Amazon. I intend to borrow it as a part of my project.
I started with Softether because it provides a bridging capability for the five locations hosting radios for my group. I have eliminated the bridging due to some inconsistencies connecting to a radio.?
I currently have one server defined in each of three locations. One running on a Pi 5 4gb in my location. One running on a Pi3b shared with a Node-red dashboard. And one I am unable to connect with a Pi 3b shared with Node-red.?
This last one gets an error of the server not responding to the connection request. I am able to connect to it with the management software. I will attempt to install a stand alone Pi 4 in this location.
Again thanks for all the great responses.
73, Marty WD9GYM
On Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 05:25:17 PM CDT, Mike / K5JR via groups.io <k5jr.flex@...> wrote:
Thanks, Bret. I'm overdue for an update. Same with node-red.?
tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA
On May 25, 2025, at 4:47?PM, Bret Mills via groups.io <bret.wx7y@...> wrote: ?
Hello to the Group, you can export your
Softether settings then do the Linux Upgrades and Updates to all
the files and re-install Softether then import your settings. Do
this in the "Edit Config" (Gear ICON) with the "Save to File" Tab
and "Import File and Apply" Tabs at the bottom of the "Edit
Config" window.
I have moved from a Raspberry Pi to a Windows machine and Back
using this method in the past almost 10 years. Actually it's
easier I think then NODE-RED is to update or Move because you
don't have to load all the Pallets, Wish Node_Red would build a
way to backup for reinstall but that's another topic.?
But Back to the topic of this message I personally would NOT run
them on the same Computer / Pi, I have had a Pi 4 8Gig on it's
knees when I had a bunch of quick moving meters like for
Modulation and a bunch of stream deck screens having to be drawn
and you really don't want to have your VPN traffic slowing down to
a unusable state because Node-Red is to busy.
This Email is ONLY for the Person or entity it was addressed to
Have a great day
Bret WX7Y
-- YMMV
73
Bret
WX7Y
<OpenPGP_0x0B4B9F1DAF6C9D40.asc>
|
Re: Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
Thanks, Bret. I'm overdue for an update. Same with node-red.?
tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 25, 2025, at 4:47?PM, Bret Mills via groups.io <bret.wx7y@...> wrote: ?
Hello to the Group, you can export your
Softether settings then do the Linux Upgrades and Updates to all
the files and re-install Softether then import your settings. Do
this in the "Edit Config" (Gear ICON) with the "Save to File" Tab
and "Import File and Apply" Tabs at the bottom of the "Edit
Config" window.
I have moved from a Raspberry Pi to a Windows machine and Back
using this method in the past almost 10 years. Actually it's
easier I think then NODE-RED is to update or Move because you
don't have to load all the Pallets, Wish Node_Red would build a
way to backup for reinstall but that's another topic.?
But Back to the topic of this message I personally would NOT run
them on the same Computer / Pi, I have had a Pi 4 8Gig on it's
knees when I had a bunch of quick moving meters like for
Modulation and a bunch of stream deck screens having to be drawn
and you really don't want to have your VPN traffic slowing down to
a unusable state because Node-Red is to busy.
This Email is ONLY for the Person or entity it was addressed to
Have a great day
Bret WX7Y
-- YMMV
73
Bret
WX7Y
<OpenPGP_0x0B4B9F1DAF6C9D40.asc>
|
Re: Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
Yes, Bob, I await your contact.?
tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 25, 2025, at 5:16?PM, Bob Watson via groups.io <kn4hhptc@...> wrote: ? Hey, Mike great to hear from you. ?I used to run my Maestro in the car using my iPhone hotspot. ?A couple of years ago, T-Mobile started blocking UDP data. ?Any workaround at this point is worth looking at. ?I will contact you off-line if that’s OK.
Bob, KN4HH? On May 25, 2025, at 3:30?PM, Mike / K5JR via groups.io <k5jr.flex@...> wrote:
? Hey, Bob. The best workaround that I've found for the UDP blocking has been a small travel router. Mine supports a Wireguard client to automatically connect to the Wireguard server built into my Firewalla Purple router sitting behind my AT&T fiber Residential Gateway in "passthrough" mode.?
I was just at a timeshare last week that blocked UDP on their wifi. The laptop connecting to the wifi and SmartLink resulted in the typical "down ramp" display. Connecting to my Softether VPN allowed audio to pass, but no pan/wf.
I had my travel router with me (used it in the vehicle down and back) and set it up to connect to the wifi, auto connecting to my home LAN via the Wireguard client. Connecting the laptop to the travel router wifi allowed me to connect to the Softether server and run the Flex radio as if on my local LAN. Ability to upgrade/downgrade software and all.?
Laptop WiFi (w/Softether client) > TrvlRtr (w/Wireguard client) > Timeshare WiFi > Wireguard server > Softether server >Flex Radio.?
I'm using a GL-iNet AX 1800.?
tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA
On May 25, 2025, at 1:26?PM, Bob Watson via groups.io <kn4hhptc@...> wrote:
? Alan, I have read your discussion with Mike regarding VPN. I am a maestro user. ?However, ?my cell provider (T-Mobile) blocks UDP traffic. ?Would your recommendation to Mike apply to my dilemma as well.
Bob, KN4HH? On May 25, 2025, at 12:56?PM, Alan Blind, WA9WUD via groups.io <a.alan.blind@...> wrote:
? I know the question was about soft ether VPN, to enable to Maestro to call home, to the LAN, with level 2 bridge.
May I suggest using a pepwave SD WAN tunnel, hardware based on both ends.
If one end needs a mobile router, with cellular connection use this product:
On the Shack side, and the remote?side if there is an existing ISP connection?use this:
Each is at the very low end of the product range and has limited features.? Check out the PepLink web site for the full range of products.? All the routers include the ability to set up a WAN tunnel with level 2 bridge.
Alan. WA9WUD On Sun, May 25, 2025 at 12:03?PM Mike / K5JR via <k5jr.flex= [email protected]> wrote: Marty, I run separate RPi's for a Softether server and a node-red server, mainly because my Softether VPN has been in service since 2016, following K6OZY's two part video tutorial. This predates Flex's SmartLink deployment. I use my SE VPN often when out and about to reach my Flex radios without going through SmartLink. My node-red server is not open to the internet, so I VPN in to reach it. The built in Windows and iOS VPN clients natively support the protocol needed.?
If I understand your needs, getting a Maestro connected remotely and not via SmartLink, then yes, you will need some tunneling process - Softether, Wireguard, ZeroTier, Tailscale, etc. The important deployment requirement is that it will need to be a Layer 2 connection for the Flex broadcast messages to be heard at the Maestro. A Layer 3 connection, typical with many VPN's, like OpenVPN, will not pass the UDP broadcasts to the Maestro.?
There's numerous physical ways to achieve getting the Maestro to appear on the same LAN as a radio.?
BTW, the version "upgrade" process for a Softether server on a RPi is to essentially build a new one. Because of this, I've kept my RPi SE server standalone.?
tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA ?
Thanks for the reply Mick
We currently have four owners/QTHs sharing the credentials of six radios. I currently have five Pis running dashboards and tailscale. One location the owner is always around to handle any lightning potential but the others are not and depend on the lightning monitoring as one of the tools they use. Tailscale does not require any port forwarding and I think the other owners are just operators who do not actually look at the dashboards.
The sites all use Xfinity and modem/router is leased. Although I could place the gateways in bridge mode I would have to purchase two of the routers and convince two others to do the same.?
Softether requires three ports to be opened.
During my testing of the Softether I found it pretty snappy when used as a stndalone server running on a Pi 5. I attempted to put the bridge Softether on another location. The goal qwas to get to a user administered solution and eliminate Smartlink.?
Strange things happened when I added the bridge and my ability to get to unregistered radios was inconsistent.?
The killer was I would need another Pi for each Maestro that would run Softether and provide a LAN for the Maestro. At least I haven't come across a way for a Maestro to open a VPN connection.
In the meantime thanks Mick for the info on Ubiquity. And it seems Alan Gordan N7AKG, creater of the control system, is working on a cloud based system that may provide a solution for us.
73, Marty
On Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 08:14:44 AM CDT, Mick , W8BE via <w8bea2b2c2= [email protected]> wrote:
Marty,
?
I briefly perused the documentation and I assume you would run the server on the pi and then the client software on your laptop, etc. ? I think from a process standpoint running the vpn server on the pi should not be an issue at all as long as you run it on a pi4/5. I wonder if running on a device inside your network would expose other devices to potential threats. Do you just use a port forward to the Pi VPN server for the tunnel to work?
?
?I just recently cutover to a Ubiquity gateway and it has a built in vpn (Wireguard, OpenVPN , and L2TP).? I use the Wireguard and I have been impressed with how easy it is to setup and I like the fact that the gateway runs the vpn server so no port forwarding to a device inside my network.? ?
?
Regards
?
?
|
Re: Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
Hey, Mike great to hear from you. ?I used to run my Maestro in the car using my iPhone hotspot. ?A couple of years ago, T-Mobile started blocking UDP data. ?Any workaround at this point is worth looking at. ?I will contact you off-line if that’s OK.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 25, 2025, at 3:30?PM, Mike / K5JR via groups.io <k5jr.flex@...> wrote:
? Hey, Bob. The best workaround that I've found for the UDP blocking has been a small travel router. Mine supports a Wireguard client to automatically connect to the Wireguard server built into my Firewalla Purple router sitting behind my AT&T fiber Residential Gateway in "passthrough" mode.?
I was just at a timeshare last week that blocked UDP on their wifi. The laptop connecting to the wifi and SmartLink resulted in the typical "down ramp" display. Connecting to my Softether VPN allowed audio to pass, but no pan/wf.
I had my travel router with me (used it in the vehicle down and back) and set it up to connect to the wifi, auto connecting to my home LAN via the Wireguard client. Connecting the laptop to the travel router wifi allowed me to connect to the Softether server and run the Flex radio as if on my local LAN. Ability to upgrade/downgrade software and all.?
Laptop WiFi (w/Softether client) > TrvlRtr (w/Wireguard client) > Timeshare WiFi > Wireguard server > Softether server >Flex Radio.?
I'm using a GL-iNet AX 1800.?
tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA
On May 25, 2025, at 1:26?PM, Bob Watson via groups.io <kn4hhptc@...> wrote:
? Alan, I have read your discussion with Mike regarding VPN. I am a maestro user. ?However, ?my cell provider (T-Mobile) blocks UDP traffic. ?Would your recommendation to Mike apply to my dilemma as well.
Bob, KN4HH? On May 25, 2025, at 12:56?PM, Alan Blind, WA9WUD via groups.io <a.alan.blind@...> wrote:
? I know the question was about soft ether VPN, to enable to Maestro to call home, to the LAN, with level 2 bridge.
May I suggest using a pepwave SD WAN tunnel, hardware based on both ends.
If one end needs a mobile router, with cellular connection use this product:
On the Shack side, and the remote?side if there is an existing ISP connection?use this:
Each is at the very low end of the product range and has limited features.? Check out the PepLink web site for the full range of products.? All the routers include the ability to set up a WAN tunnel with level 2 bridge.
Alan. WA9WUD On Sun, May 25, 2025 at 12:03?PM Mike / K5JR via <k5jr.flex= [email protected]> wrote: Marty, I run separate RPi's for a Softether server and a node-red server, mainly because my Softether VPN has been in service since 2016, following K6OZY's two part video tutorial. This predates Flex's SmartLink deployment. I use my SE VPN often when out and about to reach my Flex radios without going through SmartLink. My node-red server is not open to the internet, so I VPN in to reach it. The built in Windows and iOS VPN clients natively support the protocol needed.?
If I understand your needs, getting a Maestro connected remotely and not via SmartLink, then yes, you will need some tunneling process - Softether, Wireguard, ZeroTier, Tailscale, etc. The important deployment requirement is that it will need to be a Layer 2 connection for the Flex broadcast messages to be heard at the Maestro. A Layer 3 connection, typical with many VPN's, like OpenVPN, will not pass the UDP broadcasts to the Maestro.?
There's numerous physical ways to achieve getting the Maestro to appear on the same LAN as a radio.?
BTW, the version "upgrade" process for a Softether server on a RPi is to essentially build a new one. Because of this, I've kept my RPi SE server standalone.?
tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA ?
Thanks for the reply Mick
We currently have four owners/QTHs sharing the credentials of six radios. I currently have five Pis running dashboards and tailscale. One location the owner is always around to handle any lightning potential but the others are not and depend on the lightning monitoring as one of the tools they use. Tailscale does not require any port forwarding and I think the other owners are just operators who do not actually look at the dashboards.
The sites all use Xfinity and modem/router is leased. Although I could place the gateways in bridge mode I would have to purchase two of the routers and convince two others to do the same.?
Softether requires three ports to be opened.
During my testing of the Softether I found it pretty snappy when used as a stndalone server running on a Pi 5. I attempted to put the bridge Softether on another location. The goal qwas to get to a user administered solution and eliminate Smartlink.?
Strange things happened when I added the bridge and my ability to get to unregistered radios was inconsistent.?
The killer was I would need another Pi for each Maestro that would run Softether and provide a LAN for the Maestro. At least I haven't come across a way for a Maestro to open a VPN connection.
In the meantime thanks Mick for the info on Ubiquity. And it seems Alan Gordan N7AKG, creater of the control system, is working on a cloud based system that may provide a solution for us.
73, Marty
On Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 08:14:44 AM CDT, Mick , W8BE via <w8bea2b2c2= [email protected]> wrote:
Marty,
?
I briefly perused the documentation and I assume you would run the server on the pi and then the client software on your laptop, etc. ? I think from a process standpoint running the vpn server on the pi should not be an issue at all as long as you run it on a pi4/5. I wonder if running on a device inside your network would expose other devices to potential threats. Do you just use a port forward to the Pi VPN server for the tunnel to work?
?
?I just recently cutover to a Ubiquity gateway and it has a built in vpn (Wireguard, OpenVPN , and L2TP).? I use the Wireguard and I have been impressed with how easy it is to setup and I like the fact that the gateway runs the vpn server so no port forwarding to a device inside my network.? ?
?
Regards
?
?
|
Re: Getting started with Node Red
Hi Justin
I had ChatGPT answer your question:
Mike
-------------------------------------------------------
Hi Justin,
Great question — and yes, using ChatGPT to help design Node-RED flows can be a really useful alternative to the drag-and-drop interface, especially when using a screen reader.
? Example of a Prompt I Used
Here’s one I’ve used in the past:
“Create a Node-RED flow that listens for MQTT messages on the topic sensors/temperature, checks if the temperature is above 80°F, and sends an email alert if it is.”
ChatGPT responded with a step-by-step explanation of what nodes would be involved — an MQTT input node, a function node to check the temperature, and an email node to send the alert — and it generated the flow in JSON format that I could copy and import directly into Node-RED using keyboard shortcuts.
? Why It Helps
This process works well because:
-
You can describe the logic you want in plain language.
-
ChatGPT gives you flow JSON that doesn’t require using the visual editor.
-
It often includes explanations of each part of the flow, which helps with understanding and editing it later.
? Tips for Writing Prompts
If you decide to try this approach, here are a few prompt tips:
-
Be as specific as you can: describe inputs (like “an HTTP request” or “MQTT message”) and what you want to do with the data.
-
Let it know you're blind and need output in a text format only.
-
Ask for a plain-language summary of each node's purpose if needed.
If you'd like, I can share a few more sample prompts or help create one tailored to a flow you want to build.
Thanks for the thoughtful question — happy to help further!
Best regards,
Mike
HI Mike, Can you give an example of some of thbe inputs that you used with chat gpt to write a flow?? I”m thinking that being totally blind this might help me design some flows I’d find usable.? The major trouble that I’m having is that the pallet that is used to drag and drop various widgets to manipulate data is not accessible with any screenreaders save a few keyboard shortcuts that can be used to import existing flows.? I’d like to see what your queries to chat gpt look like, as well as chat gpt’s output. ?that would give me a good idea as a blind person what to expect, and how to create prompts. Thanks, Justin-ai5os ?
After you understand how the dashboard works and the basics, you can also leverage ChatGPT to help you write some flows.? This is good for newbies as we can't all write this stuff like Alan and Dave!? :)?
?
What I have learned is to do that in small steps.
?
After you have some Flow written by AI, have a look at it and see what it did.? It really helps with the education.?
?
I would have never figured out how the UI Templates work without its input.
?
Mike va3mw
|
Re: Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
Hello to the Group, you can export your
Softether settings then do the Linux Upgrades and Updates to all
the files and re-install Softether then import your settings. Do
this in the "Edit Config" (Gear ICON) with the "Save to File" Tab
and "Import File and Apply" Tabs at the bottom of the "Edit
Config" window.
I have moved from a Raspberry Pi to a Windows machine and Back
using this method in the past almost 10 years. Actually it's
easier I think then NODE-RED is to update or Move because you
don't have to load all the Pallets, Wish Node_Red would build a
way to backup for reinstall but that's another topic.?
But Back to the topic of this message I personally would NOT run
them on the same Computer / Pi, I have had a Pi 4 8Gig on it's
knees when I had a bunch of quick moving meters like for
Modulation and a bunch of stream deck screens having to be drawn
and you really don't want to have your VPN traffic slowing down to
a unusable state because Node-Red is to busy.
This Email is ONLY for the Person or entity it was addressed to
Have a great day
Bret WX7Y
-- YMMV
73
Bret
WX7Y
|
Re: Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
Hey, Bob. The best workaround that I've found for the UDP blocking has been a small travel router. Mine supports a Wireguard client to automatically connect to the Wireguard server built into my Firewalla Purple router sitting behind my AT&T fiber Residential Gateway in "passthrough" mode.?
I was just at a timeshare last week that blocked UDP on their wifi. The laptop connecting to the wifi and SmartLink resulted in the typical "down ramp" display. Connecting to my Softether VPN allowed audio to pass, but no pan/wf.
I had my travel router with me (used it in the vehicle down and back) and set it up to connect to the wifi, auto connecting to my home LAN via the Wireguard client. Connecting the laptop to the travel router wifi allowed me to connect to the Softether server and run the Flex radio as if on my local LAN. Ability to upgrade/downgrade software and all.?
Laptop WiFi (w/Softether client) > TrvlRtr (w/Wireguard client) > Timeshare WiFi > Wireguard server > Softether server >Flex Radio.?
I'm using a GL-iNet AX 1800.?
tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 25, 2025, at 1:26?PM, Bob Watson via groups.io <kn4hhptc@...> wrote: ? Alan, I have read your discussion with Mike regarding VPN. I am a maestro user. ?However, ?my cell provider (T-Mobile) blocks UDP traffic. ?Would your recommendation to Mike apply to my dilemma as well.
Bob, KN4HH? On May 25, 2025, at 12:56?PM, Alan Blind, WA9WUD via groups.io <a.alan.blind@...> wrote:
? I know the question was about soft ether VPN, to enable to Maestro to call home, to the LAN, with level 2 bridge.
May I suggest using a pepwave SD WAN tunnel, hardware based on both ends.
If one end needs a mobile router, with cellular connection use this product:
On the Shack side, and the remote?side if there is an existing ISP connection?use this:
Each is at the very low end of the product range and has limited features.? Check out the PepLink web site for the full range of products.? All the routers include the ability to set up a WAN tunnel with level 2 bridge.
Alan. WA9WUD On Sun, May 25, 2025 at 12:03?PM Mike / K5JR via <k5jr.flex= [email protected]> wrote: Marty, I run separate RPi's for a Softether server and a node-red server, mainly because my Softether VPN has been in service since 2016, following K6OZY's two part video tutorial. This predates Flex's SmartLink deployment. I use my SE VPN often when out and about to reach my Flex radios without going through SmartLink. My node-red server is not open to the internet, so I VPN in to reach it. The built in Windows and iOS VPN clients natively support the protocol needed.?
If I understand your needs, getting a Maestro connected remotely and not via SmartLink, then yes, you will need some tunneling process - Softether, Wireguard, ZeroTier, Tailscale, etc. The important deployment requirement is that it will need to be a Layer 2 connection for the Flex broadcast messages to be heard at the Maestro. A Layer 3 connection, typical with many VPN's, like OpenVPN, will not pass the UDP broadcasts to the Maestro.?
There's numerous physical ways to achieve getting the Maestro to appear on the same LAN as a radio.?
BTW, the version "upgrade" process for a Softether server on a RPi is to essentially build a new one. Because of this, I've kept my RPi SE server standalone.?
tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA ?
Thanks for the reply Mick
We currently have four owners/QTHs sharing the credentials of six radios. I currently have five Pis running dashboards and tailscale. One location the owner is always around to handle any lightning potential but the others are not and depend on the lightning monitoring as one of the tools they use. Tailscale does not require any port forwarding and I think the other owners are just operators who do not actually look at the dashboards.
The sites all use Xfinity and modem/router is leased. Although I could place the gateways in bridge mode I would have to purchase two of the routers and convince two others to do the same.?
Softether requires three ports to be opened.
During my testing of the Softether I found it pretty snappy when used as a stndalone server running on a Pi 5. I attempted to put the bridge Softether on another location. The goal qwas to get to a user administered solution and eliminate Smartlink.?
Strange things happened when I added the bridge and my ability to get to unregistered radios was inconsistent.?
The killer was I would need another Pi for each Maestro that would run Softether and provide a LAN for the Maestro. At least I haven't come across a way for a Maestro to open a VPN connection.
In the meantime thanks Mick for the info on Ubiquity. And it seems Alan Gordan N7AKG, creater of the control system, is working on a cloud based system that may provide a solution for us.
73, Marty
On Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 08:14:44 AM CDT, Mick , W8BE via <w8bea2b2c2= [email protected]> wrote:
Marty,
?
I briefly perused the documentation and I assume you would run the server on the pi and then the client software on your laptop, etc. ? I think from a process standpoint running the vpn server on the pi should not be an issue at all as long as you run it on a pi4/5. I wonder if running on a device inside your network would expose other devices to potential threats. Do you just use a port forward to the Pi VPN server for the tunnel to work?
?
?I just recently cutover to a Ubiquity gateway and it has a built in vpn (Wireguard, OpenVPN , and L2TP).? I use the Wireguard and I have been impressed with how easy it is to setup and I like the fact that the gateway runs the vpn server so no port forwarding to a device inside my network.? ?
?
Regards
?
?
|
Re: Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
On Sun, May 25, 2025 at 11:26 AM, Bob Watson wrote:
my cell provider (T-Mobile) blocks UDP traffic. ?Would your recommendation to Mike apply to my dilemma as well
Bob, I am not the final word, but the Flex uses UDP streams and the connection information is also UDP, so I would think the ISP, in your case T-Mobile, needs to pass UDP.
?
The BR series of cellular routers I included, allow for the use of electronica SIMM Cards. ?Check out PepLink cellular plans, available from MobileMustHave:
?
?
Alan
|
Re: Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
Alan, I have read your discussion with Mike regarding VPN. I am a maestro user. ?However, ?my cell provider (T-Mobile) blocks UDP traffic. ?Would your recommendation to Mike apply to my dilemma as well.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 25, 2025, at 12:56?PM, Alan Blind, WA9WUD via groups.io <a.alan.blind@...> wrote:
? I know the question was about soft ether VPN, to enable to Maestro to call home, to the LAN, with level 2 bridge.
May I suggest using a pepwave SD WAN tunnel, hardware based on both ends.
If one end needs a mobile router, with cellular connection use this product:
On the Shack side, and the remote?side if there is an existing ISP connection?use this:
Each is at the very low end of the product range and has limited features.? Check out the PepLink web site for the full range of products.? All the routers include the ability to set up a WAN tunnel with level 2 bridge.
Alan. WA9WUD On Sun, May 25, 2025 at 12:03?PM Mike / K5JR via <k5jr.flex= [email protected]> wrote: Marty, I run separate RPi's for a Softether server and a node-red server, mainly because my Softether VPN has been in service since 2016, following K6OZY's two part video tutorial. This predates Flex's SmartLink deployment. I use my SE VPN often when out and about to reach my Flex radios without going through SmartLink. My node-red server is not open to the internet, so I VPN in to reach it. The built in Windows and iOS VPN clients natively support the protocol needed.?
If I understand your needs, getting a Maestro connected remotely and not via SmartLink, then yes, you will need some tunneling process - Softether, Wireguard, ZeroTier, Tailscale, etc. The important deployment requirement is that it will need to be a Layer 2 connection for the Flex broadcast messages to be heard at the Maestro. A Layer 3 connection, typical with many VPN's, like OpenVPN, will not pass the UDP broadcasts to the Maestro.?
There's numerous physical ways to achieve getting the Maestro to appear on the same LAN as a radio.?
BTW, the version "upgrade" process for a Softether server on a RPi is to essentially build a new one. Because of this, I've kept my RPi SE server standalone.?
tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA ?
Thanks for the reply Mick
We currently have four owners/QTHs sharing the credentials of six radios. I currently have five Pis running dashboards and tailscale. One location the owner is always around to handle any lightning potential but the others are not and depend on the lightning monitoring as one of the tools they use. Tailscale does not require any port forwarding and I think the other owners are just operators who do not actually look at the dashboards.
The sites all use Xfinity and modem/router is leased. Although I could place the gateways in bridge mode I would have to purchase two of the routers and convince two others to do the same.?
Softether requires three ports to be opened.
During my testing of the Softether I found it pretty snappy when used as a stndalone server running on a Pi 5. I attempted to put the bridge Softether on another location. The goal qwas to get to a user administered solution and eliminate Smartlink.?
Strange things happened when I added the bridge and my ability to get to unregistered radios was inconsistent.?
The killer was I would need another Pi for each Maestro that would run Softether and provide a LAN for the Maestro. At least I haven't come across a way for a Maestro to open a VPN connection.
In the meantime thanks Mick for the info on Ubiquity. And it seems Alan Gordan N7AKG, creater of the control system, is working on a cloud based system that may provide a solution for us.
73, Marty
On Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 08:14:44 AM CDT, Mick , W8BE via <w8bea2b2c2= [email protected]> wrote:
Marty,
?
I briefly perused the documentation and I assume you would run the server on the pi and then the client software on your laptop, etc. ? I think from a process standpoint running the vpn server on the pi should not be an issue at all as long as you run it on a pi4/5. I wonder if running on a device inside your network would expose other devices to potential threats. Do you just use a port forward to the Pi VPN server for the tunnel to work?
?
?I just recently cutover to a Ubiquity gateway and it has a built in vpn (Wireguard, OpenVPN , and L2TP).? I use the Wireguard and I have been impressed with how easy it is to setup and I like the fact that the gateway runs the vpn server so no port forwarding to a device inside my network.? ?
?
Regards
?
?
|
Re: Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
I know the question was about soft ether VPN, to enable to Maestro to call home, to the LAN, with level 2 bridge.
May I suggest using a pepwave SD WAN tunnel, hardware based on both ends.
If one end needs a mobile router, with cellular connection use this product:
On the Shack side, and the remote?side if there is an existing ISP connection?use this:
Each is at the very low end of the product range and has limited features.? Check out the PepLink web site for the full range of products.? All the routers include the ability to set up a WAN tunnel with level 2 bridge.
Alan. WA9WUD
On Sun, May 25, 2025 at 12:03?PM Mike / K5JR via <k5jr.flex= [email protected]> wrote: Marty, I run separate RPi's for a Softether server and a node-red server, mainly because my Softether VPN has been in service since 2016, following K6OZY's two part video tutorial. This predates Flex's SmartLink deployment. I use my SE VPN often when out and about to reach my Flex radios without going through SmartLink. My node-red server is not open to the internet, so I VPN in to reach it. The built in Windows and iOS VPN clients natively support the protocol needed.?
If I understand your needs, getting a Maestro connected remotely and not via SmartLink, then yes, you will need some tunneling process - Softether, Wireguard, ZeroTier, Tailscale, etc. The important deployment requirement is that it will need to be a Layer 2 connection for the Flex broadcast messages to be heard at the Maestro. A Layer 3 connection, typical with many VPN's, like OpenVPN, will not pass the UDP broadcasts to the Maestro.?
There's numerous physical ways to achieve getting the Maestro to appear on the same LAN as a radio.?
BTW, the version "upgrade" process for a Softether server on a RPi is to essentially build a new one. Because of this, I've kept my RPi SE server standalone.?
tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA ?
Thanks for the reply Mick
We currently have four owners/QTHs sharing the credentials of six radios. I currently have five Pis running dashboards and tailscale. One location the owner is always around to handle any lightning potential but the others are not and depend on the lightning monitoring as one of the tools they use. Tailscale does not require any port forwarding and I think the other owners are just operators who do not actually look at the dashboards.
The sites all use Xfinity and modem/router is leased. Although I could place the gateways in bridge mode I would have to purchase two of the routers and convince two others to do the same.?
Softether requires three ports to be opened.
During my testing of the Softether I found it pretty snappy when used as a stndalone server running on a Pi 5. I attempted to put the bridge Softether on another location. The goal qwas to get to a user administered solution and eliminate Smartlink.?
Strange things happened when I added the bridge and my ability to get to unregistered radios was inconsistent.?
The killer was I would need another Pi for each Maestro that would run Softether and provide a LAN for the Maestro. At least I haven't come across a way for a Maestro to open a VPN connection.
In the meantime thanks Mick for the info on Ubiquity. And it seems Alan Gordan N7AKG, creater of the control system, is working on a cloud based system that may provide a solution for us.
73, Marty
On Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 08:14:44 AM CDT, Mick , W8BE via <w8bea2b2c2= [email protected]> wrote:
Marty,
?
I briefly perused the documentation and I assume you would run the server on the pi and then the client software on your laptop, etc. ? I think from a process standpoint running the vpn server on the pi should not be an issue at all as long as you run it on a pi4/5. I wonder if running on a device inside your network would expose other devices to potential threats. Do you just use a port forward to the Pi VPN server for the tunnel to work?
?
?I just recently cutover to a Ubiquity gateway and it has a built in vpn (Wireguard, OpenVPN , and L2TP).? I use the Wireguard and I have been impressed with how easy it is to setup and I like the fact that the gateway runs the vpn server so no port forwarding to a device inside my network.? ?
?
Regards
?
?
|
Re: Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
Marty, I run separate RPi's for a Softether server and a node-red server, mainly because my Softether VPN has been in service since 2016, following K6OZY's two part video tutorial. This predates Flex's SmartLink deployment. I use my SE VPN often when out and about to reach my Flex radios without going through SmartLink. My node-red server is not open to the internet, so I VPN in to reach it. The built in Windows and iOS VPN clients natively support the protocol needed.?
If I understand your needs, getting a Maestro connected remotely and not via SmartLink, then yes, you will need some tunneling process - Softether, Wireguard, ZeroTier, Tailscale, etc. The important deployment requirement is that it will need to be a Layer 2 connection for the Flex broadcast messages to be heard at the Maestro. A Layer 3 connection, typical with many VPN's, like OpenVPN, will not pass the UDP broadcasts to the Maestro.?
There's numerous physical ways to achieve getting the Maestro to appear on the same LAN as a radio.?
BTW, the version "upgrade" process for a Softether server on a RPi is to essentially build a new one. Because of this, I've kept my RPi SE server standalone.?
tnx Mike / K5JR Alpharetta GA
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 25, 2025, at 10:36?AM, Marty Boroff via groups.io <m_boroff@...> wrote: ?
Thanks for the reply Mick
We currently have four owners/QTHs sharing the credentials of six radios. I currently have five Pis running dashboards and tailscale. One location the owner is always around to handle any lightning potential but the others are not and depend on the lightning monitoring as one of the tools they use. Tailscale does not require any port forwarding and I think the other owners are just operators who do not actually look at the dashboards.
The sites all use Xfinity and modem/router is leased. Although I could place the gateways in bridge mode I would have to purchase two of the routers and convince two others to do the same.?
Softether requires three ports to be opened.
During my testing of the Softether I found it pretty snappy when used as a stndalone server running on a Pi 5. I attempted to put the bridge Softether on another location. The goal qwas to get to a user administered solution and eliminate Smartlink.?
Strange things happened when I added the bridge and my ability to get to unregistered radios was inconsistent.?
The killer was I would need another Pi for each Maestro that would run Softether and provide a LAN for the Maestro. At least I haven't come across a way for a Maestro to open a VPN connection.
In the meantime thanks Mick for the info on Ubiquity. And it seems Alan Gordan N7AKG, creater of the control system, is working on a cloud based system that may provide a solution for us.
73, Marty
On Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 08:14:44 AM CDT, Mick , W8BE via groups.io <w8bea2b2c2@...> wrote:
Marty,
?
I briefly perused the documentation and I assume you would run the server on the pi and then the client software on your laptop, etc. ? I think from a process standpoint running the vpn server on the pi should not be an issue at all as long as you run it on a pi4/5. I wonder if running on a device inside your network would expose other devices to potential threats. Do you just use a port forward to the Pi VPN server for the tunnel to work?
?
?I just recently cutover to a Ubiquity gateway and it has a built in vpn (Wireguard, OpenVPN , and L2TP).? I use the Wireguard and I have been impressed with how easy it is to setup and I like the fact that the gateway runs the vpn server so no port forwarding to a device inside my network.? ?
?
Regards
?
?
|
Re: Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
Thanks for the reply Mick
We currently have four owners/QTHs sharing the credentials of six radios. I currently have five Pis running dashboards and tailscale. One location the owner is always around to handle any lightning potential but the others are not and depend on the lightning monitoring as one of the tools they use. Tailscale does not require any port forwarding and I think the other owners are just operators who do not actually look at the dashboards.
The sites all use Xfinity and modem/router is leased. Although I could place the gateways in bridge mode I would have to purchase two of the routers and convince two others to do the same.?
Softether requires three ports to be opened.
During my testing of the Softether I found it pretty snappy when used as a stndalone server running on a Pi 5. I attempted to put the bridge Softether on another location. The goal qwas to get to a user administered solution and eliminate Smartlink.?
Strange things happened when I added the bridge and my ability to get to unregistered radios was inconsistent.?
The killer was I would need another Pi for each Maestro that would run Softether and provide a LAN for the Maestro. At least I haven't come across a way for a Maestro to open a VPN connection.
In the meantime thanks Mick for the info on Ubiquity. And it seems Alan Gordan N7AKG, creater of the control system, is working on a cloud based system that may provide a solution for us.
73, Marty
On Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 08:14:44 AM CDT, Mick , W8BE via groups.io <w8bea2b2c2@...> wrote:
Marty,
?
I briefly perused the documentation and I assume you would run the server on the pi and then the client software on your laptop, etc. ? I think from a process standpoint running the vpn server on the pi should not be an issue at all as long as you run it on a pi4/5. I wonder if running on a device inside your network would expose other devices to potential threats. Do you just use a port forward to the Pi VPN server for the tunnel to work?
?
?I just recently cutover to a Ubiquity gateway and it has a built in vpn (Wireguard, OpenVPN , and L2TP).? I use the Wireguard and I have been impressed with how easy it is to setup and I like the fact that the gateway runs the vpn server so no port forwarding to a device inside my network.? ?
?
Regards
?
?
|
Re: Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
Marty,
?
I briefly perused the documentation and I assume you would run the server on the pi and then the client software on your laptop, etc. ? I think from a process standpoint running the vpn server on the pi should not be an issue at all as long as you run it on a pi4/5. I wonder if running on a device inside your network would expose other devices to potential threats. Do you just use a port forward to the Pi VPN server for the tunnel to work?
?
?I just recently cutover to a Ubiquity gateway and it has a built in vpn (Wireguard, OpenVPN , and L2TP).? I use the Wireguard and I have been impressed with how easy it is to setup and I like the fact that the gateway runs the vpn server so no port forwarding to a device inside my network.? ?
?
Regards
?
?
|
Sharing Pi with node-red and Softether Server
Anyone running Softether server on the same Pi as node-red?
|
Re: Getting started with Node Red
HI Mike, Can you give an example of some of thbe inputs that you used with chat gpt to write a flow? ?I”m thinking that being totally blind this might help me design some flows I’d find usable. ?The major trouble that I’m having is that the pallet that is used to drag and drop various widgets to manipulate data is not accessible with any screenreaders save a few keyboard shortcuts that can be used to import existing flows. ?I’d like to see what your queries to chat gpt look like, as well as chat gpt’s output. ?that would give me a good idea as a blind person what to expect, and how to create prompts. Thanks, Justin-ai5os ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 24, 2025, at 9:19?AM, Michael Walker via groups.io <va3mw@...> wrote:
After you understand how the dashboard works and the basics, you can also leverage ChatGPT to help you write some flows.? This is good for newbies as we can't all write this stuff like Alan and Dave!? :)?
?
What I have learned is to do that in small steps.
?
After you have some Flow written by AI, have a look at it and see what it did.? It really helps with the education.?
?
I would have never figured out how the UI Templates work without its input.
?
Mike va3mw
|
Re: Getting started with Node Red
After you understand how the dashboard works and the basics, you can also leverage ChatGPT to help you write some flows.? This is good for newbies as we can't all write this stuff like Alan and Dave!? :)?
?
What I have learned is to do that in small steps.
?
After you have some Flow written by AI, have a look at it and see what it did.? It really helps with the education.?
?
I would have never figured out how the UI Templates work without its input.
?
Mike va3mw
|
Re: Challenges while installing the LP700 Flow in Nodered 4.0 with node.js version 20.xx and npm version 10.8.2 and workarounds
Thanks for this!
I am going to test it here. I have been using Virtual Here to forward the USB ports for the LP700 and Shack Master 600 power supply to my operating position PC. Then use the native apps for each.
Just need to carve out time to play.
Thanks Vinod for the contribution and instructions. Yes, Stoptimer 2 will work in place of Stoptimer 3.
73
Dave wo2x
Group admin staff
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Vinod,
Thank you so much for the guidance for the Node-Red LP-500/700 installation guidance. I recently?built a new Node Red 4.0 server and delayed putting it into production due to issues with the LP-500/700 flow. Your guidance was spot
on. Thanks again!
Ron WB2WGH
On Mon, Apr 28, 2025 at 12:28?PM Vinod, LB9KJ/VU3ESV via
?<vinodes4= [email protected]> wrote:
[Edited Message Follows]
Hello All,?
?
I am sharing this information for the LP700 and LP500 users in this group. Recently I was helping my friend in VU to upgrade the NodeRed Setup to the latest NodeRed version. We have exported all the flows ( FlexRadio, SPE amp, LP700Power meter etc.) We
setup a new PI4 with the Nodered 4.0 and imported the flows one after another, we could manage the flows except the LP700 .? Author of the LP700 flow is KD4Z , In this flow the HID node from this repo -robertslando/node-red-contrib-usbhid - is used to avoid
any specific drivers.?
?
I tried to follow the steps mentioned in the flow , and the npm install command (--sudo npm install robertsLando/node-red-contrib-usbhid
--?) failed in the Node Red Version 4.0 .?
?
Since it is failing in the latest version, I found another repo with similar implementation and that solved the problem of finding the right hid node that works with the LP700.? Here is the new repo of hid node --somebuddy87/node-red-contrib-usbhid?
?-- that works with the LP700.?
?
Next challenge was to find the stoptimer3 node, I could find the stoptimer3 implementation in this repo --
zybron/node-red-contrib-stoptimer3--- . When I tried the npm install in a fresh installation of NodeRed 4? ( without any other flows) I could see the stoptimer3 node got installed properly and the LP700 flow got imported without any problems . When i
repeated the same in my friend's system , I could not find stoptimer3 even after multiple npm install and reboot attempts. I am not sure why , but I noticed one major difference between these systems. Second PI had the stoptimer and stoptimer2 nodes present
and importing the stoptimer3 is not bringing the node . So I had to change the flow to use the stoptimer2 instead of stoptimer3 in my friend's NodeRed system. As a result of this changes I could see the LP700 flow started working and the dashboard is fully
functional.?
?
To cut short the story, I have uploaded a modified version of the LP700 flow under the WattMeters folder.? The Prerequisites in the flow is updated with the changes.
Hope this will help the LP700 uses when migrating to NodeRed 4.0.
?
73,?
LB9KJ/VU3ESV
Vinod Nair
?
?
?
?
?
--
Ron
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Dave wo2x
Bob Watson