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MacOS

Instructions to onboard your DIY miner using MacOS

Prerequisites​

  • Python
  • 2.4GHz WiFi connection
  • Android or IOS phone

MAKE SURE YOUR USB CABLE IS A DATA CABLE. MANY USB CABLES ARE POWER ONLY CABLES AND WILL NOT WORK FOR PROGRAMMING OR MONITORING!!!​

Guide​

Step 1: Ready the device​

  • Open a terminal window

  • Install the ESP bootloader utility

    pip3 install esptool

  • Connect your ESP32 or ESP32-S3 and allow accessory to connect

    • You may have multiple connection ports on the device; the correct one is likely labeled USB

  • Find the port where the board is connected

    • List all connections before and after plugging in the device 
      ls /dev/tty.*
    • You will likely need to install a driver to allow the board to communicate with your computer
      • This part can be complicated by the Mac's security features
      • Typically, the ESP32-S3 requires the CP210x driver
      • Instructions are here
    • Once you install the driver, find the port again by putting the device into Boot Mode (see below) and checking the connections
      • Boot Mode instructions:
        • Hold the BOOT button
        • Pressing and release the RESET button
        • Release the BOOT button

Step 2: Flash firmware​

  • Download your firmware binary YOUR_FIRMWARE.bin

    • For security reasons, every binary is unique to a credential

  • Change your working directory to the location of the firmware binary YOUR_FIRMWARE.bin

  • Clear the board of any previous software if necessary

    esptool.py --chip esp32* --port /dev/tty.* erase_flash
    • esp32* is esp32 or esp32s3, depending on your board

  • Flash the firmware

    esptool.py --chip esp32* --port /dev/tty.* --baud 115200 write_flash --flash_mode dio 0x0 YOUR_FIRMWARE.bin
    • Unlikely, but you might need to put the device into Boot Mode

  • To monitor the device, run the GNU Screen utility

    screen -L /dev/tty.* 115200
    • To quit: ctrl+A ctrl+D

Step 3: Connect to WiFi [ESP32 only supports the 2.4GHz band]​

  • Download an ESP WiFi config app from your app store

  • Connect your phone to your WiFi access point

  • Open the app and share the password with the device

  • If you have a firewall, please ensure that outbound traffic on port 8883 is allowed as this is the port used for secure MQTT connections

Step 4: Set it and forget it​

  • Monitor the device over the terminal for as long as you like

  • Disconnect and plug the device to a 5V power source

    • Any USB adapter should work
    • Average current draw will be about 20mA, spiking to about 0.5A when connecting to WiFi, i.e., the power consumption is about 0.1W