Simple guide that walks you through the steps to update your RaspiBlitz to the latest version.

Overview

  1. Download the latest version of RaspiBlitz
  2. Verify the signature
  3. Flash the new RaspiBlitz image to the new SD card
  4. Update the RaspiBlitz
  5. Install LCD driver

It is recommended that you have two 32GB SD Cards for the upgrade. The one currently in your RaspiBlitz, and a second one that we’ll use to burn the new version of the RaspiBlitz OS.

The two cards will serve to swap them with each subsequent update.

1. Download the latest version of RaspiBlitz.

2. Verify the signature

  • To verify that the download was actually signed by rootzoll you need to use GPG and import the following public key:
curl https://keybase.io/rootzoll/pgp_keys.asc | gpg --import
  • After this download the “signature file” for the sd card image. It’s the same download link as for the image file - just added a .sig at the end. You should also find the download link for the signature file always in the README right below the image download link following the SIGNATURE link.
  • Now that you have all three elements needed — the imported public key, the image signature and the image file itself — you can verify the download with:
gpg --verify [SIGNATURE-FILE] [IMAGE-FILE]

i.e.

Downloads ❯ gpg --verify raspiblitz-v1.6.2-2020-11-30.img.gz.sig raspiblitz-v1.6.2-2020-11-30.img.gz
gpg: Signature made Mon Nov 30 16:48:41 2020 PST
gpg:                using RSA key C0EE614531A416B4CDB7A2D7AA9DD1B5CC5647DA
gpg: Good signature from "Christian Rotzoll <christian@rotzoll.de>" [unknown]
gpg: WARNING: This key is not certified with a trusted signature!
gpg:          There is no indication that the signature belongs to the owner.
Primary key fingerprint: 92A7 46AE 33A3 C186 D014  BF5C 1C73 060C 7C17 6461
     Subkey fingerprint: C0EE 6145 31A4 16B4 CDB7  A2D7 AA9D D1B5 CC56 47DA

3. Flash the new RaspiBlitz image to the new SD card

  • Download Balena Etcher.
  • Install Balena Etcher.
  • Burn the RaspiBlitz update image onto the new SD card.
    1. Flash from file
    2. Select file you just downloaded i.e. raspiblitz-v1.6.2-2020-11-30.img.gz
    3. Select target: the SD card.
    4. Flash!

4. Update the RaspiBlitz

  • ssh admin@192.168.0.247
  • Enter Password A
  • Enter the CLI menu by typing menu
  • Select Update | Check/Prepare RaspiBlitz Update
  • Select Release | RaspiBlitz Release Update/Recovery
  • Make a backup of all your LND Data and download that file to your laptop

When you start the update: The RaspiBlitz will power down. Once the LCD is white and no LEDs are blinking anymore:

  • Remove the Power from RaspiBlitz
  • Exchange the old with the new SD card
  • Connect Power back to the RaspiBlitz

Your LCD may not work after the upgrade. This is likely because the drivers are not shipped with RaspiBlitz by default. We’ll SSH back into the RaspiBlitz to continue the update.

  • Wait a few mins then SSH back in ssh admin@192.168.0.247
  • Note that Password A has been reset to the default raspiblitz. The installer will ask you to set Password A at the end.

RaspiBlitz will warn you: bootstrap still updating.

  • I like to monitor progress –> tail -n1000 -f raspiblitz.log
  • The RaspiBlitz will restart when it’s done updating
  • Wait a few mins then SSH back in ssh admin@192.168.0.247
  • The RaspiBlitz will confirm that it has succesfully restored your backup and prompt you the set Password A
  • The RaspiBlitz will restart again
  • Wait a few mins then SSH in ssh admin@192.168.0.247. Use Password A that you just set

You will need to add back your customizations. In my case, I have an LCD display that needs a driver — I lose this driver every time I update my RaspiBlitz. I also allow RPC connections to Bitcoin Core from within my local network for Specter Desktop; I must allow port 8332 through the firewall.

5. Install LCD driver

6. Allow RPC connections through firewall

  • sudo ufw allow 8332
  • Connect Specter Desktop on Mac OS to your RaspiBlitz node (Full Guide)

Command Reference

  • bitcoind --help
  • sudo systemctl status bitcoind
  • sudo systemctl status lnd

Tools

References

Parts

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