If you host Patchmon on an LXC (Proxmox) and use the Proxmox Community Scripts to deploy it you may have noticed that there seems to be a breaking change to it, that can cause chaos. Here’s a cheat sheet to get things back to as they were.

First things first, you may get a Failure saying that the update command cannot CP a file (.env) in the frontend, or at least it did for me, so a quick fix for that is to copy the example over to it, just so the script does not explode.

cd /opt/patchmon/frontend

# See what’s there
ls -la

# If there is an example env file, use it:
if [ -f .env.example ]; then
  cp .env.example .env
else
  # Otherwise create an empty .env so the updater can copy it
  touch .env
fi

After that make sure that you can reach the front end of Patchmon, however annoyingly the port will now have changed to port 3000 so http://patchmonIP:3000

You should get an error saying it cannot reach the back end, or may get one, if you do then we need to get that sorted.

cd /opt/patchmon/backend

# Edit .env
nano .env

Make sure to add in (also check to make sure your CORS_ORIGINS is correct for your environment while in here)

PORT=3001
TRUST_PROXY=1

Then restart the backend

systemctl restart patchmon-server
sleep 5
ss -tulpn | grep 3001
curl -i http://127.0.0.1:3001/health || curl -i http://127.0.0.1:3001/api/health

and lets make sure we get a 200 back from curl. You should now also get your login page if you refresh your browser. All good so far, the new version, with it’s new ports are back up and running. However you client devices will now not know how to communicate with the server, as they are trying to communicate on port 3399 which is the original port before they made all these changes.

You can now go two ways, either reconfigure all your devices, or change the ports back to what they originally were setup on. I chose to revert the ports. So here’s how to do that.

cd /opt/patchmon/backend
nano .env

And change the port listed back to 3399

Then we restart the backend services

systemctl restart patchmon-server
sleep 5
ss -tulpn | grep 3399
curl -i http://127.0.0.1:3399/health

Make sure curl comes back with a 200 response

Now we need to reconfigure the frontend, so it knows how to speak to that service, and so we can communicate with it on port 80 (where your reverse proxy will be expecting it I assume)

nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/patchmon.conf

Then change

To

and find the server ports (under the /bullboard and /api/ sections)

OK, so we have now change the ports that the nginx service is hosting those things on, back to where they were originally setup. Just need to get nginx updated

nginx -t
systemctl reload nginx
ss -tulpn | grep ':80 '

Make sure the listener for the service connections is working OK

systemctl status patchmon-agent --no-pager
journalctl -u patchmon-agent -n 50 --no-pager

Make sure there’s no connection errors, and you can see ‘received heartbeat / job‘

Check then from a client that is already configured

curl -i http://<ip address of server>:3399/health

And make sure you get a nice, clean 200 response.

That should be it, all should now be functioning as expected. Hope that helps others.

The post Patchmon Upgrade to 1.4.2 (from 1.4.0 or before) first appeared on Charlesworth Services.

Upgrading the Social Club’s Network: A Journey to a Faster, Safer, and More Connected Community

In today’s digital age, a reliable and secure network is at the heart of any thriving social club. Recently, we embarked on a mission to upgrade the club’s entire network infrastructure, aiming to streamline connectivity, enhance security, and deliver a seamless experience for both staff and members. Here’s how we transformed the club’s networking setup into a modern, harmonious system.

The Challenge: Disjointed Networks and Dual Internet Providers

For years, the social club operated with two separate networks—one upstairs and one downstairs—each with its own internet provider. While this setup worked in the short term, it led to several issues:

• Inconsistent connectivity between floors
• Difficulty sharing resources (like printers and files)
• Inefficient troubleshooting and maintenance
• Unnecessary costs from paying for two internet services

It was clear that we needed a unified, robust, and secure network.

The Solution: One Network to Rule Them All

1. Consolidating Internet Providers

The first step was to review their internet usage and needs. After careful analysis, we realised that a single, high-quality provider could easily meet their demands. By removing the secondary provider, we:

• Reduced monthly costs
• Simplified network management
• Minimised points of failure

2. Wiring Up with Cat6: Future-Proofing Connectivity

To ensure fast and reliable connections throughout the building, we upgraded all network cabling to Cat6. This involved:

• Running new Cat6 cables between the downstairs and upstairs areas
• Installing new patch panels and network switches
• Testing every connection for optimal performance

Cat6 not only supports higher speeds (up to 10 Gbps) but also provides better shielding against interference, perfect for a busy club environment, and future-proof for when the club upgrades its internet speeds!

3. Unifying Upstairs and Downstairs Networks

With the new cabling in place, we merged the previously separated networks into one. This allowed:

• Seamless roaming for devices and users between floors
• Centralised management of all network resources
• Easier expansion for future upgrades
• More security as we could move the Clubs till, and door control systems out of public areas.

4. Securing and Enhancing Public WiFi

A modern social club needs reliable WiFi for members and guests. We set up a dedicated, secured public WiFi network with the following features:

• Separate VLAN for public traffic, isolating it from the club’s private systems
• Strong WPA3 encryption to protect users
• Custom captive portal with club branding and usage policies
• Bandwidth controls to ensure fair use for all

The Results: A Network Built for Community

Since the upgrade, the club has enjoyed:

• Faster and more reliable internet access
• Simplified IT management
• Lower operational costs
• Safer, more secure public WiFi for everyone

Most importantly, members and staff can now connect, share, and enjoy all that the club has to offer, without worrying about dropped connections or confusing network issues.

Final Thoughts

“Upgrading our network was an investment in the future of our community. By consolidating our internet providers, wiring up with Cat6, unifying our networks, and securing our public WiFi, we’ve created a foundation for growth, innovation, and connection.”

If your club or organisation is facing similar challenges, don’t hesitate to speak to Charlesworth Services and take the plunge—your members (and your IT team) will thank you!

The post Social Club Upgraded : New Network for all first appeared on Charlesworth Services.

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