Node management
This article refers to Platform v2.9.0. The current Platform version is v3.2.0.
Overview
Barbara Panel lets you remotely manage the lifecycle of every edge node in your organization: register, activate, deactivate, delete, reboot, shut down, or wipe a node when a physical threat compromises it. All of these actions live behind the Manage Node button on the Node Details page.
Edge node lifecycle
Edge node lifecycle diagram
A node moves through three states:
- Unregistered — the node is not (yet) known to Barbara Panel.
- Deactivated — the node is listed in Panel but keeps its factory configuration and stores no data; it does not send telemetry and does not accept commands.
- Activated — the node is fully operational, sends telemetry, and accepts commands.
Manage Node side menu
Open the Manage Node side menu from the power-icon button at the top-right of the Node Details page.
Manage Node button
The side menu exposes the following actions, with slight variations depending on whether the node is currently activated or deactivated.
Manage Node options for an activated node
Activate
Available only for nodes in the Deactivated state. Moves the node to Activated, so it starts sending telemetry and accepting commands.
Deactivate
Performs a factory reset of the node, including its network configuration. The node remains in the list and can be re-activated later, provided the factory default still includes a valid network configuration.
Delete
Deactivates the node and removes it from Panel. All information associated with the node is deleted. The node can be added back later — but if its factory default does not include a valid network configuration, it will not be reachable.
Reboot
Restarts the node. It disconnects briefly while it reboots; running applications respawn automatically once the node is back up.
Shut Down
Powers the node off remotely.
A node that has been shut down can only be brought back online with a physical manual action on the device.
Wipe & Brick
Erases all information stored on the node. Use this when you need to block a node that may be physically compromised.
A node that has been wiped requires a physical manual re-installation before it can be used again.
Summary
Use the Manage Node side menu to drive each edge node through its lifecycle: activate it once it is reachable, deactivate or delete it when it leaves service, reboot it for maintenance, and reserve Shut Down and Wipe & Brick for the irreversible cases that require physical intervention.