DSC-BRAIN USER GUIDE · MAINTENANCE & UPDATES
Versions explained
Surface version vs firmware stamp, what a release cut does and does not change, where to read each on the dashboard.
● verified for 9.8.9 on 1 Oct 2026
● first mirrored 2026-09-15
On this page
Two numbers, plus what the brain expects
| Number | Form | Where it lives | Moves when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface (brain + dashboard) | Three parts, e.g. 9.8.9 | The brain's version constant; Settings › System › About › Surface | A release is cut and the brain is updated |
| Firmware stamp (each device) | Four parts, e.g. 8.5.0.0 | Compiled into each device; reported per seat under Settings › Devices › Firmware | Only when that device is flashed. A release cut never changes it. |
| Expected firmware | Four parts, one per role | About card; what this brain expects each role to run (hub, pot nodes, Sonoff plugs and control panel each have their own) | When the brain is updated to a release that expects a new train |
A device behind the expected train shows as behind on Settings › Devices › Firmware; that is a prompt, not a fault. The firmware contract between the brain and the hub (1.0.2 today) and the two product libraries (DSC-KitLib 0.11.0, DSC-NuteLib 0.4.0) each carry their own version, separate from the two numbers above.
Reading it on your kit
Settings › System › About: Surface, Expected firmware, SPA bundle hash, settings manifest and the served routes. If Brain routes lists a route as missing, the dashboard bundle is newer than the brain (or a feature is off); the affected card says predates.
Release kinds
- SD image releases ship a new flashable image plus the brain and dashboard.
- Surface-only tags ship brain and dashboard only; flash the previous image and update from Settings.
- Hotfix deploys change the brain in place without a tag.
At the time of writing
Brain and dashboard 9.8.9 (1 October 2026). Firmware on the reference kit: hub 8.5.0.0, pot nodes 8.5.0.0, the four Sonoff plugs 8.3.0.0 and the control panel 8.3.0.0 (parked). A device behind the train the brain expects for its role shows as behind; the About card lists what each role is expected to run. The README and release notes have lagged the code before; the About card is the truth for your kit.
DSC-Brain user guide · Versions explained · this page is edited on the site; the Notion original was retired after the mirror