Mender is an end-to-end open-source software updater for embedded Linux devices.
Mender is a server-client application that allows you to deploy an image-based update from the server-side component to your connected clients (device or fleet of devices). The deployment is done securely using HTTPS and the partitioned setup (dual A/B rootfs partition) makes sure your device will stay up and running should anything interrupt the update process.
Note: Toradex also provides over-the-air (OTA) update functionality, and much more, all built-in and fully tested within our hardware on our ready-to-use Embedded Linux distribution Torizon.
Hosted Mender delivers a secure and robust update server as a service and now it is fully integrated in the Toradex Easy Installer image format. This integration enables Over The Air (OTA) updates in an out-of-the-box experience for Toradex customers.
The following Computer on Modules are supported:
While you can use a wide variety of displays and monitors, additional configuration may be required for a specific setup.
A section at the end of this guide provides instructions about the display and touch screen configuration.
This partner demo image is meant for the evaluation of the technology. It is not suitable for development or production.
This section provides instructions for you to quickly get started with Mender Easy Installer.
Load the Toradex Easy Installer on the target module and select the Mender demo image from the list of available images:
Installing Mender using the Toradex Easy Installer (click to enlarge)
Mender enables the management of software updates to connected devices over any TCP/IP network. One can update devices over-the-air (OTA) with Hosted Mender which is a secure Mender Server with monthly subscription.
In your host PC, sign up to Hosted Mender or log in if you already have an account.
Boot the board and sign in with your Hosted Mender account on board:
First boot with Mender: enter your Hosted Mender account (click to enlarge)
Hosted Mender Dashboard (click to enlarge)
New device found: Colibri iMX7 (click to enlarge)
Go to ARTIFACTS tab in Hosted Mender dashboard
user@pc:~$ wget https://docs.toradex.cn/105541-artifacts.zipuser@pc:~$ unzip artifacts.zipTwo artifacts are provided:
user@pc:~$ ls artifactscore-image-sato-colibri-imx7-mender-release-2.0.mendercore-image-sato-colibri-imx7-mender-release-3.0.mender
Upload artifacts
Create a new deployment with Hosted Mender(click to enlarge)
Create a deployment with the proper artifact and group device
For more information about how to create your own image artifacts and deployment head over to the Colibri iMX7 guide in hub.mender.io and visit the extensive Mender.io documentation.
Displays and Monitors used in Embedded Systems are available in a myriad of configuration possibilities - resistive, capacitive or without touch, single or multi touch, different resolution, density of pixels, pin-out and clock frequency are some examples.
To make things easy for you, Toradex provides specific instructions on how to use its display offerings as well as comprehensive information about how to interface your custom display or monitor to Toradex modules. Please refer to the table below:
| Display | Display Resolution | Touch Screen Support | Touch Screen Calibration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resistive Touch Display 7" Parallel | First Steps with Parallel Resistive Touch Display - Resolution | Supported out-of-the-box | Touch Screen Calibration (Linux) |
| Capacitive Touch Display 7" Parallel | First Steps with Capacitive Touch Display 7 Inch Parallel - Resolution | First Steps with Capacitive Touch Display 7 Inch Parallel - Touch Screen | Touch Screen Calibration (Linux) |
| VGA monitor | Display Output, Resolution and Timings | USB HID touch screen works out-of-the-box | Touch Screen Calibration (Linux) |
| DVI/HDMI monitor | Display Output, Resolution and Timings | USB HID touch screen works out-of-the-box | Touch Screen Calibration (Linux) |
| • For additional comprehensive information • If you use another display/monitor |
Display Output, Resolution and Timings | • Compile the specific kernel driver: Build Linux kernel • Enable it in the device-tree: Device Tree Customization |
Touch Screen Calibration (Linux) |
Download offline installers and older releases of the Partner Demo Image in this section.
