Recent Spark Reconnect Issues

1

Over the last few months I’ve noticed that a WiFi outage (as simple as an access point rebooting from a firmware update) will cause the spark (3) to fail to reconnect and even once it reconnects the spark service requires a manual restart. This didn’t used to happen it I believe I did a Brewblox update a few months back. I updated again but no luck.

Can we get this fixed?

2

Just to clarify, you’re connecting from the Brewblox server to the spark over the network, yes?

3

That is correct, Brewblox server is a VM running on Proxmox for the last few years and the Spark is on wifi.

4

I have my setup configured the exact same way. How have you managed the IP addressing or hostname config from the server to find the Spark?

I have my Spark setup with a static IP and I have included that in my config file. I’m happy to share that with you if you want it.

5

The Spark has a fixed DHCP address. Interested in how to add it to the config file.

6

It makes things much easier if you can assign it a static lease via DHCP.

Here is my config:

vim ~/brewblox/docker-compose.yml

You should have an existing file by this name with some of this config pre-populated and likely more beyond this.

services:
  ferm-spark:
    image: ghcr.io/brewblox/brewblox-devcon-spark:${BREWBLOX_RELEASE}
    privileged: true
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
    - BREWBLOX_SPARK_DEVICE_HOST=XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
    - BREWBLOX_SPARK_DEVICE_ID=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
    - BREWBLOX_SPARK_DISCOVERY=mdns
    volumes:
    - type: bind
      source: /etc/localtime
      target: /etc/localtime
      read_only: true
    - type: bind
      source: ./spark/backup
      target: /app/backup

Replace all Xs with your specific values. The BREWBLOX_SPARK_DEVICE_ID can be found under your Brewblox Spark service section in the System Info block.

7

Thanks, I added that but along the way discovered that somehow the Spark is connecting to an old SSID. At least a year ago I split my network into several VLANs. At that time I moved the Spark to my IOT VLAN which required changing the SSID. Apparently its stored the old one as well and has started reconnecting. Very odd. With a reboot, the Spark connects to the desired SSID but I did have to restart the brewblox (did not try just the service) to connect so I’m not sure this fixed my issue.

I did reflash the firmware to the Spark just now, but I believe its been flashed twice sine the issue started before today. I also re-entered the WIFI credentials.

8

I also have a similar issue with the multiple SSIDs. I haven’t found the fix for that yet and just reboot/reconnect the Spark when it’s connected to the wrong network and roll the dice that it reconnects to the proper network.

9

On a Spark 3, you can hold the setup button for 10 seconds to clear wifi credentials.
Then brewblox-ctl wifi again to configure wifi. It can remember multiple SSIDs if I remember correctly. Clearing and setting up just one could help.

    - BREWBLOX_SPARK_DEVICE_HOST=XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
    - BREWBLOX_SPARK_DISCOVERY=mdns

if you specify a device host, the discovery setting does nothing. It will just use the host without any discovery.

10

That requires a USB connection, correct?

11

For now I’ve denied it access to the network it shouldn’t be connecting to in Unifi.