Firmware Update

Important

Updating could lead to data loss, so make sure you have proper backup login methods enabled and/or ensure that the Nitrokey Start is not the only way to authenticate/2FA for your applications/services.

Important

Never disconnect the Nitrokey Start or abort the process while updating, this will likely render your device useless

To update the firmware of your Nitrokey Start, proceed as follows.

1. Install pip3.

   $ sudo apt install python3-pip
   

2. Install pynitrokey. For this you need an Internet connection.

   $ pip3 install --user pynitrokey
   

3. Connect your Nitrokey Start and verify its recognition.

   $ nitropy start list
         *** Nitrokey tool for Nitrokey FIDO2 & Nitrokey Start
         :: 'Nitrokey Start' keys:
         FSIJ-1.2.15-87042524: Nitrokey Nitrokey Start (RTM.8)
   

4. Start the update process. For this you need an Internet connection.

   $ nitropy start update
   

5. You will then be asked to enter the Admin PIN of your Nitrokey Start. (Default PIN: 12345678)

   *** Nitrokey tool for Nitrokey FIDO2 & Nitrokey Start
   Nitrokey Start firmware update tool
   Platform: Linux-5.3.0-59-generic-x86_64-with-Ubuntu-18 04-bionic
   System: Linux, is_linux: True
   Python: 3.6.9
   Saving run log to: /tmp/nitropy.log.d4erqux4
   Admin password: "your admin PIN"
   

6. Under “Device” you will find information about the current version of your Nitrokey Start. In the first item under “Please note” you can see the latest firmware version available. Now you have to confirm the update with “yes”.

   Firmware data to be used:
   
   - FirmwareType.REGNUAL: 4504, hash: ...b'65ac82a1' valid (from ...built/RTM.10/regnual.bin)
   
   - FirmwareType.GNUK: 131072, hash: ...b'f85da8f7' valid (from ...prebuilt/RTM.10/gnuk.bin)
   Currently connected device strings:
   Device:
      Vendor: Nitrokey
   Product: Nitrokey Start
      Serial: FSIJ-1.2.15-43100927
   Revision: RTM.9
      Config: NITROKEY_START:dfu=no:debug=no:pinpad=no:certdo=yes:factory_reset=yes
         Sys: 3.0
   Please note:
   
   - Latest firmware available is: RTM.10 (published: 2020-06-04T12:34:14Z),
   provided firmware: None
   
   - All data will be removed from the device
   
   - Do not interrupt the update process, or the device will not run properly
   
   - Whole process should not take more than 1 minute
   Do you want to continue? [yes/no]: yes
   

7. You can check the firmware version after the upgrade process has completed.

   $ nitropy start list
   *** Nitrokey tool for Nitrokey FIDO2 & Nitrokey Start
   :: 'Nitrokey Start' keys:
   FSIJ-1.2.15-87042524: Nitrokey Nitrokey Start (RTM.10)