Phaeton

Install Phaeton on your GX

Download, copy to a USB stick, restart your GX, then finish in your browser.

Recommended USB installation

You can install without terminal commands or SSH access. No setup code is required. Your GX can stay offline during installation.

Have an empty USB stick and a computer with internet ready. You will need physical access to the GX and a connection to its local network.

Already installed?

Open https://GX-IP:8088/ and use Software Updates. USB installation preserves existing installations and does not update them. For an offline update, upload the matching .phaeton-update bundle there.

1. Download the USB installer

Download GX USB installer (0.60.0)

Keep the downloaded .tgz file unopened. Do not extract or rename it.

Which GX devices can use this installer?

This installer is for 32-bit ARMv7 Venus OS, including Cerbo GX. Its filename is venus-data-phaeton-VERSION-armv7.tgz. For other Linux devices, use the advanced downloads below. A .phaeton-update file is for updating Phaeton through its web interface.

2. Copy it to your USB stick

Use an empty, writable FAT32 USB stick with at least 256 MB free. Check the preparation help below if you need to format it.

Copy the unopened .tgz file directly onto the USB drive, outside any folder. Eject the stick from your computer when copying finishes.

Preparing your USB stick

The stick must have an MBR partition table. Formatting erases its contents. Save any files you want to keep first. Ask your installer for help preparing the stick if you are unsure about its format. Do not use a stick that stores GX logs.

Copying on Windows, macOS or Linux

Windows: in File Explorer, copy the archive from Downloads to the USB drive itself, then choose Eject.

macOS: in Finder, copy the archive from Downloads to the USB drive itself, then use the eject icon. In Safari, turn off 'Open safe files after downloading' first; download again if it was already extracted.

Linux: use your file manager to copy the archive from Downloads to the USB drive itself, then safely eject the drive.

.tgzUSB

3. Insert the stick and restart your GX

On the GX display or in Remote Console, check Settings → General → Modification checks → Modifications enabled. Menu names vary by firmware. Leave this enabled so Phaeton starts after a reboot.

Disconnect other removable storage. Insert the stick in a USB data port. The GX Touch power-only port cannot read it. Restart at a time when a reboot will not interrupt charging or other essential work.

Allow five minutes for startup and wait for USB activity to stop. Do not remove a busy stick or interrupt GX power. If you are unsure whether you can remove the stick, leave it inserted and contact support. You can finish setup in the browser.

4. Open Phaeton and finish setup

Find the GX IP address under Settings → Ethernet, or Settings → Wi-Fi → your connected network. On the same trusted local network, open https://GX-IP:8088/ in your browser, replacing GX-IP with that address.

Browser certificate warning

Phaeton uses its own certificate, so your browser may show a privacy warning. After safely removing the stick, open PHAETON-RESULT.html on your computer and compare its public SHA-256 certificate fingerprint with the browser certificate details before entering credentials. Stop if they differ. This offline report contains no setup credential.

Using a GX with separately prepared VRM Control Panel access?

Choose your local administrator username and password. Follow the wizard to connect your charger and GX. Then activate Phaeton with your portal account. Your portal account and local Phaeton login are separate.

Charger preparation guide

An offline GX can be activated by exchanging request and license files through an internet-connected computer. Check the dashboard and charger connection before choosing to start a charging test.

First-run setup and activation guide

Installation did not finish or the result file is missing

After safe removal, open PHAETON-RESULT.html on your computer. If it is missing, still says installation is in progress, or reports failure, follow the USB recovery guide. Read-only media cannot receive a result. A reused stick can still hold an earlier GX's result if the installer never started; confirm setup on the current GX.

Venus may also create vrmlogger-backlog.sqlite3 for its own VRM logs. It is not needed for setup; preserve any VRM records that have not yet been uploaded.

USB recovery and compatibility details

Advanced installation with SSH

Open Phaeton through VRM Control Panel

Phaeton 0.59.0 adds automatic remote access for fresh GX installations and existing named MQTT instances. Releases through 0.58.4 require a separately prepared trial route. Existing default Modbus installations keep their registration.

Configure the GX

  1. Use the GX display or Remote Console. Connect the GX to the internet under Settings → Connectivity → Ethernet / Wi-Fi; older menus put Ethernet / Wi-Fi directly under Settings.
  2. Open Settings → VRM → VRM Portal, or Settings → VRM online portal → VRM Portal on older firmware. Select Full if the owner wants remote configuration.
  3. In the same VRM menu, check that Last contact is recent and there is no connection error. Register the GX with your VRM installation if needed. Your VRM account must have permission to change settings.
  4. Keep Settings → General → Modification checks → Modifications enabled on for Phaeton's normal startup. On supported installations, Phaeton manages its own Control Panel route after startup.

Open Phaeton

  1. Use a fresh GX installation from the 0.59.0 installer, or upgrade an existing named MQTT instance. Phaeton uses the GX's local MQTT services. Allow the device list to refresh after startup.
  2. Sign in to VRM, open your installation and select Device list. Expand the intended Phaeton EV Charging Station and select Control Panel. During onboarding the entry is named Phaeton - setup / activation. Remote Console opens the GX interface.
  3. Create your Phaeton administrator account on first setup, or sign in with your existing Phaeton credentials. VRM does not sign you in to Phaeton. Your VRM, local Phaeton and licensing-portal accounts are separate.

Keep the existing local network security profile. Phaeton uses MQTT internally and manages its own web route. Enabling LAN MQTT or network-device pairing does not create this route. Control Panel requires no SSH on LAN, Remote Support or router port forwarding.

Earlier GX trials verified setup, login/logout and the activation page. The new automatic lifecycle, completed activation, licensed dashboard and updates still need GX/VRM qualification. Use local HTTPS for commissioning while that verification is outstanding.

If Control Panel is missing or opens GX, check the deployment version, GX internet, VRM Full mode and permissions. On 0.59.0, inspect Phaeton's Control Panel status and logs; route repair runs every 30 seconds. Continue locally at https://GX-IP:8088/. The USB fingerprint belongs to that local certificate; VRM uses its own HTTPS certificate.

VRM access details and first-run setup

Advanced installation with SSH

1. Check what you need

Use this alternative if you cannot use a USB stick or prefer a terminal. Follow these six steps on a computer connected to the same local network as your GX. The SSH installer downloads the software for you; no additional account is needed.

  1. A Cerbo GX running Venus OS with permission to change its settings. The installer currently supports 32-bit ARMv7 Venus OS only; other GX models and firmware combinations need compatibility checks.
  2. Internet access from the GX, and a Windows, macOS or Linux computer on the same local network. A VRM connection alone does not connect your computer to the GX over SSH.
  3. A supported charger and access to its connection settings. Check the charger preparation guide before relying on charging control.

Charger preparation and supported integrations

Already installed? Open Phaeton
Start SSH installation

2. Prepare your GX

Use the GX display, or sign in to Victron VRM, open your installation and select Remote Console. If you already know the GX IP address, open it in your browser on the local network. Keep the GX settings screen open.

Find the IP address under Settings → Ethernet, or Settings → Wi-Fi → your connected network. Use the address for the network your computer is on.

For example, 192.168.1.50. Enter only the address, without http:// or a port. It stays in this browser and is not sent to Phaeton's website.

New UI / touchscreen

  1. Open Settings → General → Access & Security. Set Access level to User and installer (the access-level password is ZZZ).
  2. Pull the entire menu list down and hold it down for five seconds, until Access level changes to Superuser.

Classic UI / Remote Console

  1. Open Settings → General. Set Access level to User and installer (password ZZZ).
  2. Return to General and highlight Access level without opening it. Hold your keyboard's right-arrow key until it changes to Superuser. Holding the mouse button on the on-screen arrow does not work.
  1. Set a temporary root password in the General / Access & Security settings. Choose your own password and keep it for the next step; ZZZ is not your SSH password.
  2. Enable SSH on LAN. You do not need to enable Remote Support on current Venus OS.
  3. Open General → Modification checks and make sure Modifications enabled is on, so Phaeton can start after a reboot.

Menu labels vary with Venus OS. If the access-level password ZZZ has been changed, ask your installer. If your screen differs, use Victron's illustrated root-access guide.

Victron root-access guide

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3. Connect from your computer

Windows: Open the Start menu, type PowerShell, and open Windows PowerShell or Terminal. Paste the command below and press Enter.

macOS: Open Spotlight with Command + Space, type Terminal, and open it. Paste the command below and press Return.

Linux: Open your Terminal application. Paste the command below and press Enter.

Run on your computer

ssh root@<gx-ip>

GX IP address

  1. On your first connection, SSH shows a host-key fingerprint. Check the address is your GX and verify the key through a trusted device/admin if needed; accept only a device you recognize. An unexpected changed-key warning needs investigation.
  2. Enter the temporary root password you just set on the GX. Nothing appears while you type, even dots; this is normal. Press Enter.
  3. A prompt beginning with root@ means you are connected to the GX. Keep this terminal open until installation finishes.
Connection help
  1. Connection refused: check SSH on LAN is enabled.
  2. Connection timed out: check the GX address and that both devices are on the same local network; guest Wi-Fi or a VPN may isolate them.
  3. Permission denied: use root as the username and your temporary GX root password. A Venus firmware update resets that password.
  4. ssh is not recognized: enable the OpenSSH Client optional feature in Windows, then reopen PowerShell.
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4. Install Phaeton

You are now in the GX terminal. Copy this entire command, paste it at the root@ prompt, and press Enter. Leave the terminal open until the installer finishes.

Run on the GX after connecting

(installer=$(mktemp) && trap 'rm -f "$installer"' EXIT && curl -fL --connect-timeout 15 --max-time 120 https://phaeton.virtunet.io/install/gx.sh -o "$installer" && sh "$installer")

The installer checks the GX, downloads the stable release, verifies its signature, installs it and waits for the web interface. It configures startup without replacing other software's startup commands.

Installation help
  1. Download failed: check internet access on the GX and try the command again.
  2. Unsupported device or low storage: follow the message before retrying. Do not use a different binary at random.
  3. Modifications disabled: enable them in the GX menu. Follow the installer's recovery guidance if an old startup file is disabled.
  4. Phaeton is already running: use its Software Updates screen. Repeating the install command does not update a running instance.
  5. Web interface did not become ready: keep the terminal open and follow the installer's log and retry instructions. Installation is not complete yet.
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5. Open Phaeton

The installer shows your Phaeton web address and the certificate's SHA-256 fingerprint. Open Phaeton and choose your local administrator username and password. No setup code is required in Phaeton 0.58.0 and later.

Your browser may warn that the connection is not private because this GX uses its own certificate. Before proceeding, open the certificate details and compare the SHA-256 fingerprint with the installer output. Continue only if they match.

Open Phaeton on my GXGX IP address

https://<gx-ip>:8088/

Use the HTTPS address printed by the installer if it differs. This button opens the address you entered; it does not test the connection.

Finding certificate details
  1. Chrome / Edge: open the site's connection or certificate details (or the browser's Security panel) and view the certificate's SHA-256 fingerprint.
  2. Firefox: on the warning page, choose Advanced → View Certificate and find the SHA-256 fingerprint.
  3. Safari: choose Show Details → View the Certificate and expand its fingerprint details. Labels can vary by browser version.
  4. If the fingerprints differ, stop and recheck the GX address before entering a password.
An older Phaeton release still asks for a setup code?

Only releases before 0.58.0 require a code. For those releases, run the command below in the same GX terminal. Use token as the Setup code and certificate_sha256 to check the browser certificate. If setup is already complete, sign in with your existing Phaeton account.

Run in your private GX terminal; do not share the output

cat /data/phaeton/setup-claim.json

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6. Finish setup

  1. Choose a local Phaeton username and password in the first-run wizard. This is separate from your GX root password.
  2. Select your charger integration and enter its connection details. Complete the GX connection settings for the intended integration, following the wizard. You can finish optional connection settings later.
  3. Save, sign in locally, and complete activation using your Phaeton portal account. That account manages the license; it is separate from the local login. Follow any restart prompt.
  4. Check the dashboard, charger connection and intended GX integration. Start a charging test only when you are ready and the charger is correctly configured.

Use Software Updates inside Phaeton for future updates. After setup works, you may turn off SSH on LAN if it is no longer needed. Keep Modifications enabled so Phaeton starts at boot.

Phaeton user guideManage licenses
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Other Linux devices and advanced downloads

The GX installer chooses its package automatically. For another Linux system, follow the Linux guide. Manual installation archives and signed .phaeton-update bundles are different files; use Software Updates for an installed Phaeton.

Other Linux installation guideRelease downloads (advanced)