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TetherBox Firmware Updates
TetherBoxes receive automatic firmware updates that add new features, improve performance, and address security issues. This article explains how updates are deployed and what to expect.
How Updates are Deployed
We use scoped rollouts rather than pushing every update to every unit. When we release new functionality - for example, an ANPR improvement - we deploy it first to units that have ANPR enabled.
This approach has two benefits:
- Faster delivery - Units with relevant hardware receive improvements sooner
- Reduced risk - Updates are validated on a smaller set of units before wider deployment
There is no advantage to pushing updates to units that cannot benefit from them. A unit without ANPR hardware does not need ANPR improvements; a unit without cloud backup enabled does not need cloud backup enhancements.
Tip: It is normal to see different TetherBoxes on different firmware versions. This does not indicate a problem - it reflects our targeted deployment approach.
Update Timing
To minimise disruption, non-critical updates are applied when the unit next reboots or reconnects to our servers. This means your TetherBox continues operating normally until a natural interruption occurs.
Critical updates - particularly those addressing security vulnerabilities - are pushed immediately to all units regardless of hardware configuration.
What to Expect During an Update
| Metric | Typical | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Total update time | 1-5 minutes | 15 minutes |
| Service disruption | 1-2 minutes | 7 minutes |
These times are for the update installation itself. On sites with slow internet connections, downloading the update to the unit may take longer - but the unit operates normally during the download. Disruption only occurs once the installation begins.
During an update, recording and live view are temporarily unavailable. Once complete, the unit resumes normal operation automatically.
Tip: While generally safe, avoid powering off a TetherBox during a firmware update where possible.
Manual Updates
You can trigger an update manually from the TetherBox page using the Push Update button.
In normal operation, you should not need to do this - updates are applied automatically based on relevance and timing. Manual updates are useful when you want a specific improvement immediately rather than waiting for the next reboot cycle.
Requesting a Fleet-Wide Update
If you need all your units updated to the latest firmware simultaneously, you can submit a support request. We will coordinate the rollout to minimise impact on your operations.