Differences

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--- venus-os:large [2025-08-18 19:38] – Added first draft of Virtual devices warwickchapman
+++ venus-os:large [2026-04-15 21:51] (current) – [5.9 Node-RED Dashboard] dfaber
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 ===== 2. Where to find support =====
-Victron maintains the integration of Node-RED and SignalK into Venus OS for GX-devices.  However, Victron does not provide support for systems which make use of these extended features to implement advanced solutions.
+Node-RED and SignalK are a stable and reliable features in Venus OS Large for GX devices.  There are tens of thousands of systems running Node-RED or SignalK in the field.  However, Victron does not provide support for systems which make use of these extended features to implement advanced solutions.
 **Node-RED support**
@@ Line 247: / Line 247: @@
   * **Virtual GPS** – GPSd or another data sources can be used to provide live positional data.
   * **Virtual tank/temperature sensor** – integrate LoRa, MQTT, or custom sensors.
 === Supported Virtual Devices ===
@@ Line 259: / Line 258: @@
   * **Motor drive** (eg. electric boats)
   * **PV inverter**
-  * **Switch**
   * **Tank sensor**
   * **Temperature sensor**
-> Support for additional devices may be added in the future depending on feedback and use cases.
+As separate Virtual Switch node is provided for the virtual switch feature.
 === Virtual Switches ===
 Virtual Switches are a special class of virtual devices:
-  * They appear in the **Switch pane** of the **New GUI** in Venus OS.
+  * They appear in the **Switch pane** of the **New UI** in Venus OS.
   * They can be controlled like a real digital switch — toggled on/off, queried from the GX, and automated via Node-RED flows.
   * Their state is stored on the GX device and can survive reboots.
@@ Line 282: / Line 280: @@
 ==== 5.9 Node-RED Dashboard ====
-Besides the flow and automation functionally, Node-RED also offers a fully customisable dashboard. Including graphs, indicators as well as controls such as switches and sliders.
+Besides the flow and automation functionality, Node-RED also supports fully customisable dashboards, including graphs, gauges, indicators and controls such as switches and sliders.
+The dashboard is viewable in a web browser - both locally and remotely via VRM. See chapter 7 for remote access.
+**Recommended: FlowFuse Dashboard 2.0**
+Install [[https://flows.nodered.org/node/@flowfuse/node-red-dashboard|@flowfuse/node-red-dashboard]] via the Manage Palette menu (right side of the editor). This is the current, actively maintained dashboard package. The older ''node-red-dashboard'' package is deprecated and should no longer be used.
+Once installed, the dashboard nodes appear in the palette on the left. After configuring and deploying a dashboard, an extra tile appears in the Venus OS Large menu on VRM to access it remotely.
-It is viewable in a web browser - both locally as well as remote, via the VRM Servers. See chapter 6.2 for how to see it remotely.
+Example dashboard:
-The [[https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-dashboard|dashboard]] needs to be installed, just like other extra palettes, using the Manage Palette feature, on the right of the screen in the menus.
+{{:venus-os:vrm_node_red_ui_step_3.png?600|VRM Node-RED UI - Step 3}}
-Once that is done, you can find the nodes in the palettes on the left. Once the dashboard has been configured and deployed, an extra tile will appear in the //Venus OS Large// menu on VRM, allowing to connect to the dashboard via VRM.
+**Alternative: uibuilder**
-Example dashboard:
+For users comfortable with HTML, CSS and JavaScript, [[https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-uibuilder|node-red-contrib-uibuilder]] is a powerful alternative that gives full control over the frontend. It does not provide ready-made widgets - you build the UI yourself using any web framework you prefer. This makes it more flexible but significantly more complex than Dashboard 2.0.
-{{ :venus-os:vrm_node_red_ui_step_3.png?direct&600 |VRM Node-RED UI - Step 3}}
 ==== 5.10 Configuration files ====