Bobcat 300 Custom Debian Distribution

A custom Debian 11 Bullseye distribution specifically built for Bobcat 300 miners with optimized kernel and configuration.

📋 Overview

This distribution provides a stable, lightweight Debian environment for Bobcat 300 miners with pre-configured settings and optimizations for mining operations. This can be ran via SD Card, keeping your stock firmware still available that is flashed to EMMC.

DO NOT flash these to EMMC. The bootloaders are configured for SD Card boot and will not function properly if flashed to the internal EMMC.

System Specifications

• Base OS: Debian 11 Bullseye
• Kernel: Linux 4.19.232
• Architecture: Compatible with ARM-based Bobcat 300 hardware

Supported Models and Download Links

• Bobcat 300 G280
• Bobcat 300 G285
• Bobcat 300 G290
• Bobcat 300 G295

Feature Compatibility

✅ Preinstalled

• ✅ Docker
• ✅ Helium Miner Container
• ✅ Packet Forwarder

✅ What Works

• ✅ WiFi

⚠️ Partially Working

• ⚠️ Bluetooth (limited functionality)

❌ What Doesn't Work

• ❌ Onboarding

🔐 Default Credentials

System Access

• Username: root
• Password: bobcat

Web Dashboard (Source Code)

• URL: https://[device-ip]
• Username: admin
• Password: admin

⚠️ Security Notice: Change default passwords immediately after installation for production use.

📦 Installation Instructions

Prerequisites

• Bobcat 300 miner (G280, G285, G290, or G295)
• MicroSD card (16GB or larger recommended)
• SD card reader
• Computer with Etcher or DD utility

Installation Steps

1. Download the Image

   • Download the .xz compressed image file
   • Verify the download integrity if checksums are provided

2. Prepare the SD Card

   # Using Etcher (Recommended - GUI method)
   # 1. Open Etcher
   # 2. Select the downloaded .xz file
   # 3. Select your SD card
   # 4. Click "Flash"
   
   # Using DD (Command line method)
   # First, extract the image
   xz -d bobcat-debian-image.xz
   
   # Then write to SD card (replace /dev/sdX with your SD card device)
   sudo dd if=bobcat-debian-image.img of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress
   sudo sync

3. Install on Bobcat Miner

   • Power off your Bobcat 300 miner
   • Insert the prepared SD card into the miner
   • Power on the device
   • Wait for the system to boot (first boot may take longer)

🌐 Network Configuration

Finding Your Device IP

The device will obtain an IP address via DHCP. Check your router's admin panel or use network scanning tools:

Accessing the Web Dashboard

1. Open a web browser
2. Navigate to https://[your-device-ip]
3. Accept the self-signed certificate warning
4. Login with credentials: admin / admin
5. Navigate to Tools -> Set Region to set your Region (US915,etc)

🛠️ Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Device won't boot:

• Verify SD card is properly inserted
• Check if image was written correctly
• Try re-flashing the SD card

Can't access web dashboard:

• Verify device IP address
• Check if device is connected to network
• Ensure firewall isn't blocking HTTPS traffic

⚡ Performance Optimization

Recommended Settings

• Use Class 10 or better SD card for optimal performance
• Ensure adequate cooling for continuous operation
• Regular system updates and maintenance

System Monitoring

# Monitor system temperature
sensors

# Check memory usage
free -h

# Monitor disk I/O
iotop

🔒 Security Recommendations

1. Change Default Passwords

   # Change root password
   passwd root
   
   # Change web admin password via dashboard settings

2. Regular Updates

   apt update && apt upgrade

📄 License and Disclaimer

This custom Debian distribution is provided as-is. Users are responsible for:

• Backing up important data before installation
• Ensuring compatibility with their specific hardware
• Following proper security practices
• Compliance with local regulations regarding mining operations