Frequently asked questions
How does JelinaOS differ from general-purpose Linux distributions such as Debian and Ubuntu?
Section titled “How does JelinaOS differ from general-purpose Linux distributions such as Debian and Ubuntu?”JelinaOS uses mainstream distributions such as Debian and Ubuntu as its user-space foundation, with systematic enhancements for industrial edge environments:
- Disaster recovery architecture: A/B systems, a read-only system, and watchdog protection that ordinary distributions do not provide.
- Update mechanisms: System-level OTA and incremental updates, with automatic rollback on failure.
- Cloud-edge coordination: Built-in device agent for cloud onboarding upon registration and remote maintenance.
- Hardware adaptation: Extensive tuning for industrial hardware, ready to use.
- Long-term support: 10 years of support for major versions to match industrial project lifecycles.
Simply put, general-purpose distributions provide a system, while JelinaOS provides a complete industrial edge solution.
Which devices are supported?
Section titled “Which devices are supported?”JelinaOS currently supports 24 Advantech industrial products across Allwinner, Rockchip, NXP i.MX, and x86, including computer-on-modules, single-board computers, embedded industrial computers, and edge computing platforms. See supported devices.
Must applications be deployed through Releases?
Section titled “Must applications be deployed through Releases?”This is the recommended JelinaOS deployment method. All containerized and native applications can be defined in releases for centralized agent deployment, supervision, updates, and rollback. Use the release workflow for production. Applications run manually on devices, such as through docker run, are outside the release system and do not receive unified management.
How should I choose between containerized and native applications?
Section titled “How should I choose between containerized and native applications?”Both receive equally comprehensive support in JelinaOS:
- Containerized applications suit modern software requiring consistent cross-platform delivery, multiple services, and rapid iteration.
- Native applications suit projects needing deep hardware access, stringent real-time behavior, or reuse of existing traditional programs.
Most projects can combine both: native applications for core control and containers for business logic. JelinaOS does not require choosing only one.
How can I obtain JelinaOS?
Section titled “How can I obtain JelinaOS?”- Advantech industrial devices can ship with JelinaOS preinstalled; specify it when purchasing.
- Obtain images for existing devices through Advantech sales or technical support.
- For cloud management, download matching system images and configuration from JelinaCloud.
How can I evaluate JelinaOS?
Section titled “How can I evaluate JelinaOS?”- Contact Advantech sales or technical support for an evaluation device or system image.
- Complete installation and initial configuration on the evaluation device to explore the full capabilities.
- Validate key features such as application deployment, system updates, and rollback in a test environment before planning production deployment.
Can I use JelinaOS without the cloud?
Section titled “Can I use JelinaOS without the cloud?”Yes. All local capabilities, including disaster recovery, containers, watchdog protection, and local updates, work without the cloud. The device agent supports locally managed and standalone modes with full local functionality. Connect to JelinaCloud whenever remote maintenance and batch management are needed.
What happens if a system update fails?
Section titled “What happens if a system update fails?”The device does not become “bricked.” The A/B mechanism ensures:
- Updates write only to the inactive system partition, leaving the current system unaffected.
- Failed boot validation after an update automatically restores the original system.
- A usable system remains available.
Where is device data stored, and does a factory reset erase it?
Section titled “Where is device data stored, and does a factory reset erase it?”All user data is stored in a separate data partition, physically isolated from system partitions:
- System updates do not affect data.
- A factory reset restores the system and user-written data to their factory state; back up important data first.
- Back up critical data regularly.
Does cloud management cost extra, and what capabilities does it provide?
Section titled “Does cloud management cost extra, and what capabilities does it provide?”JelinaCloud provides device registration, fleet management, batch updates, remote maintenance, and other cloud-edge capabilities. Contact Advantech sales or consult the JelinaCloud documentation for service models and pricing.
What security measures are required in production?
Section titled “What security measures are required in production?”- Change factory default passwords.
- Enable production mode so devices communicate with the cloud only through secure channels.
- Configure the firewall as needed and open only necessary ports.
- Regularly update the system and security patches through the cloud.
Which languages and desktop environments are supported?
Section titled “Which languages and desktop environments are supported?”JelinaOS supports mainstream distributions and multilingual environments, with command-line, X11 desktop (XFCE4), Wayland desktop, and other variants selected by device type and project requirements.
What is Jelinvisor, and can I leave it without updates?
Section titled “What is Jelinvisor, and can I leave it without updates?”Jelinvisor is the management component between devices and the cloud, handling registration, reporting, and updates. Keep it current: agent updates are centrally orchestrated just like system updates, with configurable policies. See Jelinvisor device agent.