Installing and starting

LoDi-Aura is the program you use to set up, draw and drive your model railway. It runs on the computer your layout is connected to – the layout computer. This page shows how to install LoDi-Aura, start it for the first time, update it and shut it down again, and how to tell that everything is running.

Before you start

Export a backup of your project before you make bigger changes (Project and backup). If something doesn't work as expected, look in the log first (Log and diagnostics). It often tells you in one sentence why a train has stopped.

Requirements

LoDi-Aura has two parts: the program on a computer, which talks to the devices and keeps the layout, and the user interface. The user interface runs on the same computer or on any other device on the network, for example a tablet, where you open it with a web browser. One computer per layout, as many operating devices as you like.

Computer for the program

• Windows on ARM (Surface Pro X, Snapdragon laptops): coming later as a separate package. Until then, these devices can only be used as operating devices via a web browser.
• Raspberry Pi: There is an aarch64 Flatpak for the Pi 4 and Pi 5 with a 64-bit system. We haven't tested it on a Pi yet and don't recommend one as the computer for the program today. It works as an operating device via a web browser. As soon as we have tested it on a Pi, you'll find it here.

Operating devices

Any web browser from 2022 onwards: Safari 15.5 or later (iPad and iPhone from iOS 15.5), Chrome and Edge 102 or later, Firefox 112 or later. Tablets and phones show the same interface as the computer. Several devices at once all see the same state.

As of version 0.9.19

You will also need

• Your command station and the other devices on the same network as the layout computer, such as the LoDi-Rektor, LoDi-S88-Commander LX and LoDi-Shift-Commander. Instead of the LoDi-Rektor, a third-party command station can drive, see Devices and command stations.
• Without devices you can practise in dry run, see Trying it without a layout.
• The LoDi-Aura installation package for your operating system: a .dmg file on the Mac, a setup on Windows, a Flatpak on Linux.

Installing

The installation package is ready to use. You don't need to compile or install anything else.

macOS

1. Open the packageDouble-click the .dmg file.
2. Drag it into ApplicationsDrag LoDi-Aura into the “Applications” folder.

Windows

1. Start the setupRun the setup.
2. Follow the stepsFollow the steps of the setup to the end.

The first start

The first time you start it, your operating system shows a warning. This isn't because of an error: LoDi-Aura currently carries neither a certificate from Apple nor one from Microsoft. You only need to allow it the first time.

macOS

The message reads: “LoDi-Aura can't be opened because it is from an unidentified developer.” Double-clicking alone won't help here.

1. Open with a right-clickIn the Finder, right-click LoDi-Aura and choose “Open”.
2. ConfirmIn the dialog that follows, choose “Open” again.

Windows

The message reads: “Windows protected your PC.”

1. More infoClick “More info”.
2. Run anywayClick “Run anyway”.

What happens at startup

LoDi-Aura has two parts: the program, which runs the layout in the background, and the user interface you work with. What that means day to day is explained in The interface.

• First, the LoDi-Aura start window appears. It is small, shows the line “Connection to the layout” under the name and only displays the status. It is not the user interface.
• The user interface also opens, in a separate window. If you prefer, it opens in the computer's default web browser instead (see “The advanced view”).
• When the program starts, a device search runs automatically. If your devices are on the network, they are ready before you click anything.
• Only one LoDi-Aura runs at a time. If you start the program a second time, the second start brings the window of the running program to the front and closes itself again.

The start window

The start window stays open as long as LoDi-Aura is running. From top to bottom it shows:

• the status of the program and the version number,
• the name of the open project with “Open Aura” (opens the user interface if you have closed it) and “Network link” (copies the address for tablets on your home network),
• network access: “AURA local only”, “AURA network active” or “AURA network waiting”, plus the number of network browsers,
• the connected browsers – one click expands the list, where you can disconnect individual network clients and allow them again,
• the devices under “THIS LAYOUT” and “OTHERS ON THE NETWORK”,
• at the bottom, how many layout interfaces are online, plus “Advanced” and ⏻.

“Network link” is only active when network access is switched on. How to allow tablets and assign permissions is described under Settings.

Choosing the network adapter

If the layout computer has several network adapters – Wi-Fi and a USB network adapter, say – and network access is switched on, a selection appears in the start window. It sets which address counts as the main address.

• “Automatic” takes the adapter on the same network as the layout's devices, otherwise the adapter with the route to the internet. The recommended adapter is marked “recommended”.
• If you pick a fixed adapter, LoDi-Aura remembers your choice for this computer (“Fixed choice — remembered on this computer”).
• If the remembered adapter isn't there at the moment, it appears in the list as “not connected”. Until it comes back, the automatic address applies.

The advanced view

“Advanced” at the bottom of the start window switches to the advanced view, “Compact” switches back. For each device, the advanced view also shows the device ID, status source, last seen and capabilities, plus four sections:

The interface at a glance

Three things are enough for your first steps. Everything else is explained in The interface.

Updating

Under “System” › “Update”, LoDi-Aura checks whether a newer version is available and shows what's new – including the changes in the version you are running. Device firmware, on the other hand, is updated on each device.

1. CheckClick “Check for update”. This only asks for the version number.
2. UpdateIf it says “Version … is available”, click “Update now” and confirm.
3. Wait for the restartLoDi-Aura downloads the new version, checks it, replaces itself and restarts. The user interface then reconnects by itself.

Also, without you having to think about it: updates only happen on an explicit click and only by an administrator at the layout computer, not from a tablet. Only versions with a valid signature and the announced checksum are downloaded. If LoDi-Aura can't install a version itself, you'll see “Download”; then install the package as described above.

With the Professional and Pionier licences together, “System” › “Update” also offers new versions before they are generally released (Signing in and licences).

Quitting

The ⏻ button on the right of the header quits LoDi-Aura. It only appears in the window on the layout computer, not on a tablet on the network.

After asking you to confirm, LoDi-Aura saves any unsaved changes and closes all hardware connections and the user interface. Its windows close too. The only thing a program isn't allowed to close is an ordinary browser tab – that stays open.

The ⏻ button and the close button in the start window also quit, but without asking.

What applies after a restart

Speed steps don't survive a restart – that's intentional. Every time you switch the layout online, every loco that belongs to a train placed in the track plan gets speed step 0. Otherwise a train could simply carry on after the restart without anyone touching a throttle. The direction is kept: LoDi-Aura remembers it and restores it.

When LoDi-Aura reconnects by itself after a lost connection, it doesn't set 0. Nothing is sent when quitting: the command station keeps the last speed step it was sent.

When connecting, LoDi-Aura sets a command station's turnouts as specified by the setting “Turnouts when the command station connects” under “System” › “Track plan” – the default is “Set last known position” (Project and backup).

Problems?