Trigger Doorbell firmware upgrade over API

[gralin]

There are two API endpoints that should allow us to determine if there is a new firmware for a device and trigger the upgrade. The commands are CheckFirmware and UpgradeOnline. Unfortunately, it seems that regardless of what firmware version my doorbell is using, the response to these commands is always the same:

[
  {
   "cmd" : "CheckFirmware",
   "code" : 0,
   "value" : {
     "newFirmware" : 0
   }
  }
]

and

[
  {
   "cmd" : "UpgradeOnline",
   "code" : 1,
   "error" : {
     "detail" : "same version",
     "rspCode" : -30
   }
  }
]

Is there a chance this is a bug and Doorbell can support these API endpoints the same way cameras do??

[joseph_1979]

@gralin Auto update doesn't work unless Reolink push it in their respective repository.

[gralin]

@joseph_1979 so for Doorbell this respository doesn't contain any firmware versions? Because I downgraded by Doorbell firmware to multiple archive versions and the auto update functionality didn't work (the API responses are always the same, as listed in the first post).

[joseph_1979]

@gralin You need to update manually. And I suggest you that every 3/4 months or so, email support to check whether there is any newer fw for your models.

It is not advisable to upgrade once a fw is available (sometimes it is a zip file, sometimes pak file). It is not the first time that after releasing the fw, it will be removed as they discovered a bug. And if you upgrade, the camera might not come up and this means no security at all. So it is recommended that upgrades are carried out manually.

I don't know what checks are made before upgrading. I assume that this is done but I suggest you to ask Reolink support or if you have a spare camera.....you might apply a different fw.

[gralin]

@joseph_1979 Thank you. So this is only related to Doorbell, correct? For cameras the update API works and can device can download the firmware by itself?

The reason why I am asking is because Home Assistant already informs its users that a new Doorbell firmware is available, but it fails to update it (due to the reason we just discussed). We want to implement the UpgradePrepare and Update API endpoints in Home Assistant integration so that the user doesn't have to manually download and upload the firmware, but this will happen with one click of a button. Before we do that we just want to make sure there is no other, easie way. I am also trying to learn from Reolink support if the devices have any protections against a) uploading wrong firmware, b) uploading incomplete/corrupted firmware. There are over 14.000 active installations of Home Assistant which work with Reolink products, so we need to be careful.

[joseph_1979]

@gralin So far none of my cameras did ever invoke an upgrade. I keep record of their current version and every quarter I email support to check whether there has been any newer fw. Note that for battery cam, the only way is to ask Reolink support to add it to your cam profile (identified by UID) and then it will be automatically updated.