Getting Started

This guide will help you set up your MuleCube and connect your first device.

What’s in the Box

Your MuleCube package includes:

• MuleCube unit — The main device with pre-installed software
• Power adapter — 5V/5A USB-C power supply
• Quick start card — WiFi credentials and basic instructions
• Battery pack — Pre-installed 50Wh UPS (4× 18650 cells)

Optional accessories (depending on your configuration):

• Meshtastic LoRa radio (Cube Sat, Ultimate)
• Hailo AI accelerator (Cube AI, Ultimate)
• Iridium satellite modem (Cube Sat, Ultimate)

First Power On

Step 1: Connect Power

1. Plug the USB-C power adapter into the port marked “PWR”
2. Connect the adapter to a wall outlet
3. The status LED will turn solid green when powered

Note: MuleCube can also run on battery. For first-time setup, we recommend using the power adapter to ensure a stable connection.

Step 2: Wait for Boot

MuleCube takes approximately 60-90 seconds to fully boot. During this time:

• The green LED will blink
• The WiFi network will not be visible yet
• This is normal — all 30+ services need to initialize

When boot is complete:

• The LED will turn solid green
• The MuleCube WiFi network will appear

Step 3: Connect to WiFi

On your phone, tablet, or laptop:

1. Open WiFi settings
2. Look for network: MuleCube
3. Enter password: mulecube (default)
4. Wait for connection

Security: Change the default password after setup! See Network Setup.

Step 4: Open the Dashboard

Once connected to MuleCube WiFi:

1. Open any web browser
2. Go to: http://192.168.42.1
3. The MuleCube dashboard will load

You can also use:

• http://mulecube.local (if your device supports mDNS)
• http://cube.local

Dashboard Overview

The dashboard is your control center for MuleCube:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  MuleCube                              [Stats Bar]          │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  CPU 12% | Memory 45% | Disk 62% | 52°C | Charging 94% | 2d 5h   │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                             │
│  ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐           │
│  │Wikipedia│ │  Maps   │ │   AI    │ │Translate│           │
│  └─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘           │
│                                                             │
│  ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐           │
│  │CryptPad │ │Passwords│ │ E-Books │ │  Files  │           │
│  └─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘           │
│                          ...                                │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Stats Bar

The top bar shows real-time system information:

Service Tiles

Click any tile to open that service in a new tab. Services are organized by category:

• Knowledge — Wikipedia, Maps, E-Books, Medical
• AI — Chat with local AI models
• Productivity — Documents, Notes, Passwords
• Communication — Meshtastic, Matrix chat
• Media — Jellyfin, PDF tools
• Control Panel — System management

Connecting Multiple Devices

MuleCube supports up to 10 simultaneous WiFi connections. Each device can:

• Access all services independently
• Have separate user accounts (where supported)
• Share files through CryptPad or Syncthing

Recommended Setup

For a family or small team:

1. Main device — Laptop for content management
2. Mobile devices — Phones/tablets for quick access
3. Dedicated terminal — Optional Raspberry Pi for always-on display

Power Management

Running on Battery

To run on battery power:

1. Disconnect the USB-C power adapter
2. MuleCube switches automatically to battery
3. The battery icon changes from Charging to battery
4. Runtime: 10-15 hours depending on usage

Charging

When connected to power:

1. The battery charges automatically
2. Charge time: 3-4 hours from empty
3. You can use MuleCube while charging

Low Battery Warning

When battery drops below 20%:

• Dashboard shows yellow warning
• Consider connecting power or reducing usage

When battery drops below 10%:

• Dashboard shows red critical warning
• MuleCube will gracefully shut down at 5%

See Battery Management for detailed information.

Shutting Down Safely

Always shut down properly to prevent data corruption:

Method 1: Dashboard Button

1. Click the ⏻ (power) button in the stats bar
2. Confirm the shutdown
3. Wait for the LED to turn off (~30 seconds)

Method 2: Physical Button (if equipped)

1. Press and hold the power button for 3 seconds
2. Release when the LED blinks rapidly
3. Wait for complete shutdown

Method 3: Terminal

If you have terminal access:

sudo shutdown -h now

Never unplug power without shutting down unless the battery can sustain the device.

Next Steps

Now that your MuleCube is running:

1. Using the Services — Learn what each service does
2. Network Setup — Change the default WiFi password
3. Adding Content — Load your own maps and books

Quick Reference