====== First steps ======
The Unipi Gate is delivered with Linux Debian OS that already includes the [[en:sw:03-3rd-party:nodered|Node-RED]] open-source SW platform - a programming tool for interconnecting hardware devices, various APIs or online services. This article assumes Unipi Gate is in factory settings and uses the OS with Node-RED.
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Gate
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If you cannot tell the device's current state, check the description of all possible states available in [[en:hw:025-gate:led-indication|]] category including visual demonstration.
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===== Security in Node-RED =====
Securing access to the programming and user interface in Node-RED is as important as securing the OS. If the SW is not secured, unauthorized personnel may gain access to the Unipi unit - this can lead to the same consequences as using an OS that was not secured according to [[#securing_the_os_ssh|the description mentioned above]].
It is thus crucial to **have the Node-RED SW properly secured** each time a new project is created.
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Use the **SSH** connection to access the device and continue with [[https://nodered.org/docs/user-guide/runtime/securing-node-red#editor--admin-api-security|this guide]] on the Node-RED official webpage.
===== Node-RED guides =====
Bear in mind the Node-RED is just an alternative to [[en:sw:01-mervis|Mervis]] - the officially supported software solution. The following guides were created just to complement this article and expect at least elementary knowledge of IT and programming - that said, readers should know basics of Linux shell command line and should be acquainted with flash memory, SSH and Modbus.
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As the Node-RED is distributed as an open-source platform, many other guides describing its usage are available on the internet. After reading through the above-mentioned guides we recommend to continue with [[https://nodered.org/|the Node-RED official homepage]].