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Add the node to Panel

Once your Edge Node has Barbara OS installed, the bootup process has finished and we know the Barbara ID of your Edge Node, let's register the node to Panel. But first, we need the node to establish a network connection to the internet.

Establish a network connection​

Using an Ethernet connection with DHCP is recommended for this guide. However, if you need Wi-Fi, mobile data, or a different method, follow the instructions below to properly configure your network access.

Ethernet Connection Recommended

For the quickest and most reliable connection, use an Ethernet cable. If your network utilizes DHCP, your device will automatically configure itself.

If DHCP is enabled on your network, simply connect your Edge Node to an available Ethernet port using a cable. Your device should automatically establish a connection without further configuration.

In that case, you can directly continue registering your node in Panel.

Using USB Assistant Tool​

The Barbara USB Assistant Tool provides a convenient and reliable method to access various configuration details of your Edge Node.

USB Assistant Tool

Configure your Edge Node's network configuration using the USB Assistant tool.

Using the WIFI Hotspot​

WiFi Hotspot is a Barbara built-in solution to access your Edge Node's network configuration, which is available for nodes that meet two conditions:

  1. Unregistered with Panel: The Edge Node cannot be previously registered with Barbara Panel.
  2. WLAN Interface Available: The Edge Node must have a functional WiFi (WLAN) interface onboard.
See also...

Check this article to configure your Edge Node's network configuration using the WiFi Hotspot.

Register and activate your Edge Node​

  1. Go to Nodes List view in Barbara Panel and press the New Node Button:
Barbara Panel Node List View

You can access the Barbara Panel Node List View here.

Panel Node List View

Panel Node List View

  1. A pop-up window (New Node Modal) will appear, prompting you to enter the following information:

New Node Modal

New Node Modal

  • BARBARA ID: Paste the unique identifier for your Edge Node. You can find this ID using the methods outlined in the section.
  • NAME: Assign a descriptive name to easily identify your Edge Node.
  • GROUP: Organize your Edge Nodes into groups for easier management. If you leave this blank, the node will be placed in the default group.
  • FAMILY: Select the operating system installed on your Edge Node: Barbara OS or Yocto.
  • TAGS: Add tags to categorize your Edge Nodes for better searchability and organization within the platform.
  1. Now select the “Automatically provision this device” checkbox to activate your Edge Node automatically after registering it.
  2. Click on “CREATE”.

Once the Node is registered, it’s listed in the Node detail view. Here you can see each Node’s name, connectivity, and status. When you first register a node, it appears OFFLINE (red x mark to show it’s not connected) and its status is ACTIVATION SENT.

Node Registered

Node Registered

Did you know?

The Edge Node reboots during the activation process, so another few minutes (up to 10) are needed for the Node to appear ONLINE (connected) and ACTIVATED.

Node Activated

Node Activated