# Dashboards and the GUI side of things on multiple machines

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019>\
**Category:** Dashboard\
**Created:** [21 November 2022 21:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019 "2022-11-21T21:09:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 16\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [21 November 2022 21:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/1 "2022-11-21T21:09:11Z")

</div>

This threw me a bit.

Scenario:  
RasPi with touch screen. Being used for network diagnostics.  
It has a _flashing display_ of things happening.

I want to modify it so I use my NUC to load the GUI page and edit the `Dashboard` side of things.

ITMT, it is running along and doing it's thing, slightly out of eye line.  
To see how the new dashboard looks, I open another tab on THIS machine.  
It looks good. All the _blinky_ things are blinking.  
Then it hit me.  
I noticed the RasPi's screen. It wasn't doing anything.  
No blinking things.

Is that right?

My take:  
The Dashboard is a GUI and is viewable on any machine that addresses that IP address.  
So if I am looking at it and make things happen, shouldn't they be reflected on the local display?  
Ok, there is the _refresh_ issue.  
So..... ( 😉 ) I click the button on the RasPi's screen and make things start blinking there.  
Subsequently, the screen on THIS machine stops blinking.

As usual: _Where's the elephant_?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [21 November 2022 21:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/2 "2022-11-21T21:22:30Z")

</div>

How are you making it blink?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [21 November 2022 21:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/3 "2022-11-21T21:26:16Z")

</div>

I have a pulse that happens every 5 seconds.

That is sent to a `trigger` node that sends a `0` and `1`.  
That goes into a `LED` node and it is set that `0` is `green` and `1` is `red`. (Or the other way around. Doesn't matter)

The LED blinks every 5 seconds. 1 second on. 4 off.

```auto
[{"id":"131221ce.fe01e6","type":"trigger","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","name":"","op1":"1","op2":"0","op1type":"str","op2type":"str","duration":"1","extend":false,"overrideDelay":false,"units":"s","reset":"","bytopic":"all","topic":"topic","outputs":1,"x":965,"y":90,"wires":[["66621f2a.a02f3"]],"l":false},{"id":"66621f2a.a02f3","type":"ui_led","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","order":19,"group":"121b35ce.920f22","width":"1","height":"1","label":"","labelPlacement":"left","labelAlignment":"left","colorForValue":[{"color":"#ff0000","value":"0","valueType":"str"},{"color":"#00ff00","value":"1","valueType":"str"}],"allowColorForValueInMessage":false,"shape":"circle","showGlow":true,"name":"","x":1070,"y":90,"wires":[]},{"id":"121b35ce.920f22","type":"ui_group","name":"Network","tab":"e395ddbe.f1d86","order":1,"disp":true,"width":"14","collapse":false},{"id":"e395ddbe.f1d86","type":"ui_tab","name":"DIAGNOSTIC","icon":"dashboard","order":7,"disabled":false,"hidden":false}]

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [21 November 2022 21:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/4 "2022-11-21T21:29:31Z")

</div>

If you make one of your leds, or a new one, driven by inject nodes to change the colour do you see the same symptom then?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [21 November 2022 21:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/5 "2022-11-21T21:33:24Z")

</div>

Well, that is a bit tricky. Two screens/tabs on the one computer. (Edit and dashboard)

But, putting two `inject` nodes onto the `LED` and injecting them alternativly looking at the RasPi screen they don't change.

But that is what I sort of said originally.

I need to have _activated_ that screen before it reflects the changes.

Ok, sorry.

I stand corrected. (The scrren blanker kicked in also)

Weirdly no.

Now it does reflect the injections.  
But ONLY if I manually inject the messages.

# TWIST!

If I start the flow from the EDIT screen and get the _clock_ running from there, **BOTH** screens _blink_.

But if I start it from the GUI..... Oly one of them blinks. (Guess which one)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [21 November 2022 21:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/6 "2022-11-21T21:53:23Z")

</div>

It is difficult to know what is going on from your description. If you can create a small flow that exhibits the problem then I am sure someone will be able to sort it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [21 November 2022 22:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/7 "2022-11-21T22:02:12Z")

</div>

Yes, I get that it may be difficult to understand.

## In light of new information this is a second attempt to describe the original problem.

(oh, gee this forum is just SO MUCH better than another one I am up to my eyes in for formatting)

A remote machine (RasPi) is running NR and has one of those touch screens that connect to the pi via ribbon cable - all in a nice box/case.

A flow is set to be used from the DASHBOARD to help me find network problems.  
Every 5 seconds a pulse is sent to do things.  
That signal is also sent to a `trigger` node that sends a 1 second pulse of (text) `1` then a (text) `0` into a `LED` node.  
So it _blinks_ green for 1 second and is red for 4 seconds.  
There are buttons on the DASHBOARD to `START` and `STOP` this.  
I am connected to the RasPi over a network.  
If I press the `START` button on either machine: it's display comes to life and the _LED_ starts to blink.  
**BUT NOT ON THE OTHER MACHINE'S DISPLAY!**

However!

If I go into the flow and click the `inject` node that starts the flow from the EDIT SCREEN's point of view:  
**BOTH SCREENS FLASH.**

This to me is not critical, but for people who have a dashboard that could be accessed by multiple people: this could be very dangerous.  
Someone is watching a dashboard and it is _working_. Someone else logs in and looks a that dashboard on ANOTHER machine - else where - and the first person sees their screen _die_.

NOT good.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [21 November 2022 22:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/8 "2022-11-21T22:09:56Z")

</div>

No amount of description is going to do it, at least for me. A small exported flow is what is needed.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [21 November 2022 22:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/9 "2022-11-21T22:43:05Z")

</div>

Here's another TWIST to the problem.

Stupid me, for not thinking about it before asking.

It is the LED node that is the problem.

Proof:

```auto
[{"id":"b3a9d953.59781","type":"ui_button","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","name":"","group":"4632a740.ebbf2","order":3,"width":"2","height":"1","passthru":true,"label":"START","tooltip":"","color":"","bgcolor":"lime","icon":"","payload":"GO","payloadType":"str","topic":"topic","topicType":"msg","x":310,"y":2170,"wires":[["9c1406f9.08ad9"]]},{"id":"3050ac35.442324","type":"inject","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","name":"Start","props":[{"p":"payload"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","payload":"","payloadType":"date","x":170,"y":2170,"wires":[["b3a9d953.59781"]]},{"id":"9c1406f9.08ad9","type":"trigger","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","name":"","op1":"1","op2":"0","op1type":"str","op2type":"str","duration":"-8","extend":false,"overrideDelay":false,"units":"s","reset":"","bytopic":"all","topic":"topic","outputs":1,"x":445,"y":2130,"wires":[["2c30784d.4572a8"]],"l":false},{"id":"5ed98b39.815b14","type":"change","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","name":"","rules":[{"t":"set","p":"reset","pt":"msg","to":"true","tot":"bool"},{"t":"delete","p":"payload","pt":"msg"}],"action":"","property":"","from":"","to":"","reg":false,"x":395,"y":2130,"wires":[["9c1406f9.08ad9","2c30784d.4572a8"]],"l":false},{"id":"2c30784d.4572a8","type":"trigger","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","name":"","op1":"1","op2":"0","op1type":"str","op2type":"str","duration":"3","extend":false,"overrideDelay":false,"units":"s","reset":"","bytopic":"all","topic":"topic","outputs":1,"x":465,"y":2190,"wires":[["c7978c8.4803cf","1cccc55c.b233a3","599b458a.6bbdec"]],"l":false},{"id":"577ab9b5.5cf1d","type":"ui_button","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","name":"","group":"4632a740.ebbf2","order":5,"width":"2","height":"1","passthru":true,"label":"STOP","tooltip":"","color":"","bgcolor":"","icon":"","payload":"STOP","payloadType":"str","topic":"topic","topicType":"msg","x":300,"y":2130,"wires":[["5ed98b39.815b14"]]},{"id":"c7978c8.4803cf","type":"switch","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","name":"","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"eq","v":"0","vt":"str"},{"t":"eq","v":"1","vt":"str"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":2,"x":590,"y":2190,"wires":[["5a0c2d27.827ff4"],["1d334193.2de09e"]]},{"id":"1cccc55c.b233a3","type":"debug","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","name":"","active":false,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":true,"complete":"payload","targetType":"msg","statusVal":"payload","statusType":"auto","x":610,"y":2150,"wires":[]},{"id":"599b458a.6bbdec","type":"ui_led","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","order":19,"group":"4632a740.ebbf2","width":"1","height":"1","label":"","labelPlacement":"left","labelAlignment":"left","colorForValue":[{"color":"#ff0000","value":"0","valueType":"str"},{"color":"#00ff00","value":"1","valueType":"str"}],"allowColorForValueInMessage":false,"shape":"circle","showGlow":true,"name":"","x":760,"y":2320,"wires":[]},{"id":"d83504bf.f1a18","type":"inject","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","name":"Stop","props":[{"p":"payload"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","payload":"","payloadType":"date","x":170,"y":2130,"wires":[["577ab9b5.5cf1d"]]},{"id":"5a0c2d27.827ff4","type":"change","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","name":"","rules":[{"t":"set","p":"payload","pt":"msg","to":"<font color = \"red\" i class=\"fa fa-bullseye fa-2x\"></i></font>","tot":"str"}],"action":"","property":"","from":"","to":"","reg":false,"x":760,"y":2170,"wires":[["6442e48.ce5cc1c"]]},{"id":"1d334193.2de09e","type":"change","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","name":"","rules":[{"t":"set","p":"payload","pt":"msg","to":"<font color = \"green\" i class=\"fa fa-bullseye fa-2x\"></i></font>","tot":"str"}],"action":"","property":"","from":"","to":"","reg":false,"x":760,"y":2210,"wires":[["6442e48.ce5cc1c"]]},{"id":"6442e48.ce5cc1c","type":"ui_text","z":"650fc4d9.b1c234","group":"4632a740.ebbf2","order":3,"width":0,"height":0,"name":"","label":"text","format":"{{msg.payload}}","layout":"row-spread","x":760,"y":2280,"wires":[]},{"id":"4632a740.ebbf2","type":"ui_group","name":"Shutdown","tab":"e395ddbe.f1d86","order":2,"disp":true,"width":"2","collapse":false},{"id":"e395ddbe.f1d86","type":"ui_tab","name":"DIAGNOSTIC","icon":"dashboard","order":7,"disabled":false,"hidden":false}]

```

Well, could someone check this and prove me right or wrong?

## Scenario:

Two machines needed.  
Both looking at one of the machine's Dashboard.  
From the dashboard, press the START button.  
The BULLSEYE will blink on that machine and the remote machine.  
The LED will only blink on that machine.

Go to the EDIT screen and try there: LED will blink on both.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [22 November 2022 07:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/10 "2022-11-22T07:03:26Z")

</div>

> [@Trying\_to\_learn](#):
>
> Two machines needed

Do you also see it with two browsers on one machine?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [22 November 2022 07:04 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/11 "2022-11-22T07:04:54Z")

</div>

Also are you using latest dashboard and led nodes?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [22 November 2022 07:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/12 "2022-11-22T07:05:00Z")

</div>

Didn't think of that. Shall try to remember to test that next time I have that machine on.

Sorry, I am over my head with setting up a new network and it is not fun.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [22 November 2022 07:07 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/13 "2022-11-22T07:07:24Z")

</div>

I fear not.

It is an OLD RasPi - well 2B - but NR is OLD.  
I haven't used that machine for a long time.  
(see other post)

Next time I have the machine on, I'll check.  
I also think it is running STERTCH, so I am not sure I can update NR or not.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [22 November 2022 07:32 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/14 "2022-11-22T07:32:05Z")

</div>

No one is going to invest significant time trying to help unless it shows itself on the latest node red and dashboard nodes. There is no point trying to track down an issue that might have been fixed years ago.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [22 November 2022 07:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/15 "2022-11-22T07:45:11Z")

</div>

Yeah, fair enough.

I just wanted to check with how the dashboard works with multiple machines accessing the same one.

I guess the title is not exactly what I am asking, but it defines the scenario.

While trying to debug a new network I am building I bashed (threw) this together and was thrown when testing the dashboard.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [22 December 2022 07:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboards-and-the-gui-side-of-things-on-multiple-machines/71019/16 "2022-12-22T07:45:45Z")

</div>

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