OTA Connect Release Notes

OTA Connect Release Notes

We aim to deploy regular updates to the SaaS instance of our OTA Connect Server with minimal disruption. Every month, we announce what we have added, changed, or fixed as well as known issues to keep you up to date. Some deployments are simply for performance optimization and maintenance, so there will not always be specific details.

Release notes with the Beta (Beta) label indicate that a feature is in beta and is only visible to users who are part of our beta program. If you would like to join the beta program, contact us at otaconnect.support@here.com to request access.

November 2020

Changed

  • Maximum upload size of binary files

Previously, using the garage-sign tool, you could only upload binary files of up to 3 GB.

Now, the maximum upload size is 15 GB.

For instructions, see Upload a binary file in the Developer Guide.

October 2020

Added

  • Aktualizr 2020.10

Aktualizr version 2020.10 is now available. To learn about the changes in aktualizr version 2020.10, see the corresponding changelog.

  • Manage feature access in environments

Now, you can give or restrict access to features in environments that you own, created, or have the Access Manager access rights.

For more information, see the related section in the User Guide.

August 2020

Added

  • Copy a device ID

Now, you can copy a device ID on each device details page. We have added the copy button so that you can get any device ID in just one click.

  • Find replacement information on the OTA Connect portal

Previously, to get information on a replaced control unit, you had to delete and reprovision a device.

Now, you can find a new control unit and replacement information on each device details page.

For more information, see the related section in the User Guide.

  • Quick access to the documentation on environments

Now, when you work with environments on the Environments page, you can easily access the related documentation and learn how to manage environments, as well as how to add and remove members.

  • Aktualizr 2020.9

Aktualizr version 2020.9 is now available. To learn about the changes in aktualizr version 2020.9, see the corresponding changelog.

  • Delete custom device fields on the OTA Connect portal

Previously, to remove a custom device field, you had to upload a CSV file.

Now, you can delete any custom device field on the OTA Connect portal.

For more information, the related section in the User Guide.

  • Edit values of custom device fields on the OTA Connect portal

Previously, to edit values of custom device fields, you had to upload a CSV file.

Now, you can edit any field value of any device on the OTA Connect portal.

For more information, the related section in the User Guide.

July 2020

Added

  • Aktualizr 2020.8

Aktualizr version 2020.8 is now available. Now, when you upgrade your devices that have IP/POSIX Secondaries, make sure to update the Primary ECU running aktualizr first, and then update your Secondaries.

To learn more about the changes in aktualizr version 2020.8, see the corresponding changelog.

  • Quick access to process documentation

Now, when provisioning devices, you can easily access documentation on how to configure your own device ID. You can later use this device ID to create custom device fields and group devices.

For more information, see Configure your own device IDs in the Developer Guide.

Changed

  • Rename custom device fields on the OTA Connect Portal

Previously, to rename a custom device filed, you had to create and upload a CSV file with all related device IDs and field values.

Now, you can change a field name right on the OTA Connect Portal.

For more information, see the related section in the User Guide.

June 2020

Added

  • Public release of the custom device fields functionality

The custom device fields functionality is now available to all users. You can create up to 20 custom device fields and use them as filters to target devices in your smart groups.

To learn how to create custom device fields, see the related section in the User Guide.

  • Smart groups based on filter clusters

Previously, when creating smart group filters, it was difficult to construct complex filters that used a combination of AND and OR requirements.

Now, you can set more precise targeting criteria by adding clusters of filters. The filters you create are also now visualized more clearly.

For more information, the related section in the User Guide.

  • Aktualizr 2020.7

To view the changes in aktualizr version 2020.7, please refer to the corresponding changelog.

  • API Guide Beta

Now, on the OTA Connect Portal, you can find the OTA Connect API Usage Guide. You can use the guide to learn how to integrate the over-the-air update process with a third-party campaign management system.

  • More filter options for smart groups Beta

Previously, when creating a smart group, you could only filter for devices based on their ID.

Now, you can create up to 20 custom device fields and use them as filters to target devices in your smart groups.

To learn how to create custom device fields, see the related section in the User Guide.

Changed

  • New design of the smart group creation process

Previously, when you added several new filters to a smart group, they piled up on the screen.

Now, the look and feel of the smart group creation process aligns with the HERE platform. When you add more than 2 filters to a smart group, a scroll bar appears so that filters do not take up the whole screen.

May 2020

Added

  • Software upload enhancements

Previously, you could not see the upload progress and could delete a file only after upload finished.

Now, when you select a file, the progress bar shows how much data has been processed. You can also cancel the upload at any time.

April 2020

Added

  • Aktualizr 2020.6

To view the changes in aktualizr version 2020.6, please refer to the corresponding changelog.

  • Create an environment on the Home page

Previously, to create environments, you had to go to the Environments page.

Now, you can also create an environment on your Home page: in the Manage environments section, click Create environment.

  • Quick access to the Environments list

Previously, to find environments to which you have access, you had to go to the Profile menu.

Now, all of your shared work is just one click away. To find the list of the environments to which you have access, on the top navigation menu, click the Environments tab.

  • Aktualizr 2020.5

To view the changes in aktualizr version 2020.5, please refer to the corresponding changelog.

  • Aktualizr 2020.4

To view the changes in aktualizr version 2020.4, please refer to the corresponding changelog.

  • Leave environments

Now, if you no longer need access to an environment and its resources, you can leave it, but you cannot leave your home environment. If you are the only member of an environment, after you leave it, the environment will be permanently deleted.

For instructions, see the Leave an environment section of the User guide.

Changed

  • Disabled the OTA Connect legacy system

We have completely disabled our old legacy login system. To continue using OTA Connect Portal, please sign in with a HERE Developer account.

If you have already shared the environment linked to your legacy account with your new account, you can still switch to this environment to access and manage your software update projects and environment resources.

  • File size for uploads on the portal

Previously, the maximum allowed file size for software uploads on the portal was 500 MB. Now, you can upload files of up to 1 GB. If you want to upload larger files (up to 3 GB), use the garage-sign tool on the command line.

For more information on how to upload software packages, see the related section in the User Guide.

  • Disabled the Usage tab

Previously, on the Profile page, on the Usage tab, you could find information on the number of activated devices, new devices activated each month, and devices connected each month. We have disabled that feature. Now, you can get the total count of provisioned devices on the Devices tab.

March 2020

Added

  • Aktualizr 2020.3

To view the changes in aktualizr version 2020.3, please refer to the corresponding changelog.

  • Public release of the new Home page

The Home page is now available to all users. You can perform all actions needed to get started with OTA Connect right on the Home page, as well as quickly access needed documentation or your latest work. You can follow a step-by-step workflow to provision devices and deploy software. Once you have successfully completed a step, you will access monitoring KPIs for each item. In case you get stuck at any stage of the workflow, we have provided quick links to action-related instructions. In the Examples section, you can find practical examples of how to work with OTA Connect. Also, in the Recently activity section, you can now find details on your latest work.

  • Public release of the Environment feature

The Environment feature is now available to all users. On the Home page or the Profile menu, you can now reach the Environment page that lists all the environments that you have access to. You can also access the list from anywhere in the portal. In the environments to which you have access, you can:

  • Add your colleagues to collaborate on devices, device groups, software versions, software updates, and campaigns.

  • Remove members when you need to restructure your environment team.

  • Create up to 10 additional environments using only one account.

Also, when you re-log in or re-open a page, you land on the Home page of your last visited environment.

For more information on environments and actions with them, see the Environments section of the User Guide.

Changed

  • Design improvements to the Environments page

Now, when you click any of the environments on the Environments page, you do not switch to it but get details on the selected environment. In the environment details, you can now see who created the environment, and when each of the members was added. You can also rename an environment or manage its members, even if it is not your active environment.

For more information, see the Environments section of the User Guide.

  • End-of-life for OTA Connect legacy accounts

When OTA Connect joined HERE Technologies in 2018, we began using HERE Developer accounts to log in to OTA Connect and deprecated the old login system. That legacy login system will be disabled entirely on April 15. After April 15, you will no longer be able to log in with your old account.

To access all the resources linked to your legacy account after this date:

  1. Create a new HERE Developer account using a different email address.

  2. Log in to your legacy account.

  3. In Environments, add your new account as a member.

Now, when you log in to your new account, in the list of environments, you can see the environment that is linked to your legacy account. You can switch to it to access and manage your software update projects and environment resources.

February 2020

Added

  • Aktualizr 2020.2

To view the changes in aktualizr version 2020.2, please refer to the corresponding changelog.

  • Remove members from environments Beta

Now, you can not only add members to your environments but also remove them when you need to restructure your environment team.

For instructions, see the Manage members section of the User Guide.

  • Switch environments from everywhere Beta

Previously, to switch to a different environment, you had to go to the Environment page. Now, you can also change your active environment from anywhere in the portal: under the Support and Profile menus, point to the name of the active environment, and then select the needed environment.

For more information on how to find and change environments, see the related section of the User Guide.

  • Create additional environments Beta

Previously, to get different environments for pre-production and production, you had to create multiple accounts. Now, you can create additional environments using only one account.

For instructions, see the Create an environment section of the User Guide.

Changed

  • Land on the last visited environment Beta

Previously, when you re-opened a page or re-logged in, you landed on the Home page of your home environment. Now, you land on the Home page of your last visited environment.

January 2020

Added

  • Aktualizr 2020.1

To view the changes in aktualizr version 2020.1, please refer to the corresponding changelog.

  • Home page Beta

Now, you can perform all actions needed to get started with OTA Connect right on the Home page, as well as quickly access needed documentation or your latest work. You can follow a step-by-step workflow to provision devices and deploy software. Once you have successfully completed a step, you will access monitoring KPIs for each item. In case you get stuck at any stage of the workflow, we have provided quick links to action-related instructions. In the Examples section, you can find practical examples of how to work with OTA Connect. Also, in the Recently activity section, you can now find details on your latest work.

December 2019

Added

  • Share environments Beta

On the Home page or the Profile menu, you can reach the Environment page that lists all the environments you have access to. You can now add your team members to any of these environments to collaborate on devices, device groups, software versions, software updates, and campaigns.

For instructions, see the Manage members section of the User Guide.

August 2019

Changed

Maintenance deployment — no significant changes.

July 2019

Added

  • Import a list of device IDs to a fixed group

Previously, when creating a fixed group, you had to drag and drop each device into the group. Now, you can import a CSV file that contains a list of device IDs for your provisioned devices. When you import the file, OTA Connect compares the list with the currently provisioned devices and sorts the matching devices into the fixed group. This feature works best when you configure your own device IDs, such as vehicle identification numbers (VINs).

Changed

  • Consistent terminology for menu items

The user interface had inconsistent wording for menu items related to renaming things. We have cleaned this up, and now it is more obvious when you can rename something.

Fixed

  • The incorrectly displayed a "Never seen online" error message for devices

This issue was caused by disruptions in the back end that prevented devices from being provisioned correctly. However, the user interface displayed an inaccurate "Never seen online" error message for the device. We have fixed this issue, and now the error message indicates that the device was not provisioned properly due to some latency with the back end. This latency should be a rare occurrence, and provisioning should work if you try to provision the device a few minutes later.

  • Devices that were incorrectly displayed in groups

This issue occurred when you opened a device group in the OTA Connect Portal while a device was in the process of provisioning. The newly provisioned device appeared in the group even if you did not put it there. We have fixed this issue, and now device groups contain only devices that you explicitly specify.