This article describes how to upgrade Nova to a new version, either automatically or from a downloaded file, and how to return to the previous version if needed.
Release Rings
Nova is released every one or two weeks. To let you choose a release cadence that suits your application, each release is published in one of three rings:
| Ring | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | General Release (default) | The most conservative ring, with mature, stable features only. The right choice for long-term or unattended production. |
| 2 | Early Adopter | Fully tested features that are still new, and may be extended in coming releases. A good choice for managed deployment. |
| 1 | Beta Release / Public Preview | The latest release, with the newest features and updates. Still tested and deployable, but things may change later. |
Before You Upgrade
Communications stop while an upgrade is applied and Nova restarts, so plan the upgrade for a time when a brief interruption is acceptable. You may also wish to read the Release Notes to see what has changed.
Automatic Upgrades
By default, Nova checks for a new version once a day and asks before downloading or installing it. When a new version is found, a notice at the top of the page shows Update RX-xxxx Available. Click it to download the update. When the notice shows Update RX-xxxx Ready, click it again to install the update. Be patient while Nova restarts, as this may take a few minutes, and then log on again.
To check for a new version immediately, click the device name at the top right of the page to open the System Information page, and click Check for Update.
To change this behavior, choose Edit Security from the menu under your user name and open the Updates item. Update Mode can be set to Disabled, Prompted, Auto Download or Auto Install, Release Ring selects the ring to follow, and Check Interval sets the number of days between checks. Auto Install restarts Nova without warning once an update has downloaded, so use it only where that is acceptable.
Automatic upgrades need the device to reach the Internet, either directly or through the web proxy set in the Networking configuration. A device connected to a Vantage Device Manager is upgraded by the Device Manager instead.
Upgrading from a File
To install a specific version, or to upgrade a device that cannot reach the Internet:
- Download the image for your platform and ring from the Downloads page.
- Click the device name at the top right of the page to open the System Information page.
- Click the button to update the firmware from a file, and select the image file.
- Once the file has been uploaded and checked, confirm the upgrade.
- Be patient while Nova restarts, as this may take a few minutes, and then log on again.
Under WSL, use the Alpine VM image, or see Installing Nova Under WSL for other options.
If the web interface looks or behaves strangely after an upgrade, your browser may still be using files from the previous version. Press Ctrl+F5 to reload the page with fresh copies.
Reverting an Upgrade
Nova keeps the version it replaced, and returns to it by itself if a new version repeatedly fails to start. To return to it by hand, click Revert Firmware on the System Information page, and enter your password to confirm. Your configuration is not changed, and the version you left is kept in turn, so you can move forward again in the same way. Devices with less than 1 GB of storage do not keep the previous version.
