Backing up your 3D printer’s eMMC is an essential step to ensure you can recover your system in case of a failure or corruption. This guide will walk you through creating a reliable backup of your Qidi Q1 Pro’s eMMC and saving it to a secure location.

Why Back Up Your eMMC?

Backing up your Qidi Q1 Pro eMMC is an essential first step when setting up your new printer. This backup ensures you can recover your system if anything goes wrong. Additionally, it’s important to note that Qidi printers run custom versions of Moonraker and Klipper. Never update Moonraker or Klipper from the Fluidd web interface, as doing so can corrupt the eMMC and render the printer inoperable.

Prerequisites

  • The Printer’s IP Address: Necessary to connect via SSH. You can find it in your router’s DHCP client list or on the printer’s display if available.
  • A Qidi Q1 Pro with SSH Access: Default user: mks, Default password: makerbase
  • A Local Machine (Mac, Windows, or Linux)
  • 30GB of Free Space: Local, Network Storage or External Drive
  • Basic Familiarity with the Command Line: Recommended for running commands.

Steps to Remotely Back Up the eMMC

1. Connect to the Printer via SSH

Open a terminal on your local machine and connect to the printer:

ssh mks@printer_ip

Replace printer_ip with the IP address of your printer. Enter the password (makerbase) when prompted.

2. Identify the eMMC Device

Once connected, use the following command to list storage devices:

lsblk

You should see an output similar to this:

NAME         MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
mmcblk1      179:0    0  28.9G  0 disk 
├─mmcblk1p1  179:1    0   256M  0 part /boot
└─mmcblk1p2  179:2    0  28.4G  0 part /

The eMMC device is identified as /dev/mmcblk1.

3. Back Up the eMMC to a Local Folder

Use the following command to remotely back up the eMMC to a local folder on your computer. If the local folder does not have sufficient space, consider using a network location or an external storage device:

ssh mks@printer_ip "dd if=/dev/mmcblk1 bs=4M status=progress" > "/local/backup/folder/emmc_backup.img"

4. Verify the Backup

4.1. Check File Size

Ensure the backup file size matches the eMMC size (~28.9 GB).

4.2. Generate a Checksum

On your local machine, generate a checksum for the backup file:

sha256sum "/local/backup/folder/emmc_backup.img"

Compare this checksum to one generated directly from the eMMC:

ssh mks@printer_ip "sha256sum /dev/mmcblk1"

If the checksums match, the backup is complete and valid.

Remotely Restoring the eMMC

1. Transfer the Backup File to the Printer

Copy the backup file from your local machine back to the printer:

scp "/local/backup/folder/emmc_backup.img" mks@printer_ip:/home/mks/

2. Write the Backup to the eMMC

Run the following command on the printer to restore the eMMC:

dd if=/home/mks/emmc_backup.img of=/dev/mmcblk1 bs=4M status=progress

Local Backup and Restoration Option

If you would like to locally back up and restore an eMMC on your computer, you can use an eMMC USB adapter. This method allows you to connect the eMMC directly to your machine, making it easy to create backups or restore from an existing image. Here is a recommended eMMC USB adapter on Amazon. Follow the same steps for using the dd command, but specify the local eMMC device as the source or target.

Tips for a Smooth Backup

  • Ensure Sufficient Space: Always check available space on your local folder before starting. 
    df -h "/local/backup/folder"
  • Use Compression: If space is limited, compress the backup during creation: 
    ssh mks@printer_ip "dd if=/dev/mmcblk1 bs=4M | gzip" > "/local/backup/folder/emmc_backup.img.gz"
  • Avoid Interruptions: Use a stable network connection to prevent disconnections during the backup.

Improve Your Setup

To increase the efficiency and reliability of your Qidi Q1 Pro, consider upgrading the filament holder. The stock filament holder can be cheap and unreliable, causing print issues. Upgrade to a more reliable handy filament spool holder to enhance your 3D printing experience.

Conclusion

Backing up your Qidi Q1 Pro’s eMMC is a crucial maintenance task that ensures you can recover your printer in case of failures. By following this guide, you can create a reliable backup, save it to a secure location, and restore it whenever necessary.

For more 3D printing tips and technical guides, visit PluggedIn3D.