feat: add mqtt client version to repeater app and cli

docs/custom-cli.md

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ These commands are available on `*_repeater_mqtt` firmware targets.
 
 - `get mqtt.status`: shows WiFi, NTP, IATA, endpoint status, status publishing state, and TX state.
 - `get mqtt.statuscfg`: shows whether periodic status messages are enabled as a simple `on` or `off` value. Most users can just use `get mqtt.status`.
+- `get mqtt.client_version`: shows the MQTT `client_version` string published by the repeater.
 - `get mqtt.iata`: shows the IATA/location code used in MQTT topics.
 - `set mqtt.iata <code>`: sets the IATA/location code, for example `MEL`.
 - `set mqtt.iata UNSET`: marks MQTT IATA as not configured yet. While it is `UNSET`, enabled MQTT brokers stay disconnected until a real code is saved.
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ Legacy dotted aliases are also accepted:
 ### Web Panel Controls
 
 - `get web`
-- `get web.status`: shows whether the local HTTPS panel is available. After `start ota`, this reports `web:suspended ota` until the repeater reboots.
+- `get web.status`: shows whether the local HTTPS panel is available.
 - `get web.stats.status`: shows whether the dedicated stats page and history subsystem are enabled, whether recent history is active, whether PSRAM-backed history is available, and whether the SD-backed archive is mounted. When enabled, the history capture now covers supported environment telemetry too, not just the original battery/radio series. GPS-enabled boards also record per-minute satellites samples for the `/stats` history view.
 - `set web on|off`
 - `set.web on|off`: enables or disables the local HTTPS panel.
@@ -122,7 +123,7 @@ Notes:
 - the panel still uses the repeater admin password for access
 - commands run with the same care as if you typed them into the repeater CLI directly
 - this is intended for local admin use on a trusted network
-- `start ota` suspends the local repeater web panel until reboot so the OTA HTTP listener can take over port `80`
+- `start ota` releases the local HTTP redirect listener on port `80` so the OTA HTTP listener can take over without stopping the rest of the repeater services
 
 ## Companion WiFi Rescue Commands
 

docs/web-panel.md

@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ This section runs common read-only commands for:
 - Wi-Fi
 - MQTT
 
-These are useful for quick checks without typing into the CLI field.
+These are useful for quick checks without typing into the CLI field. The MQTT quick actions include `mqtt.status`, `mqtt.client_version`, `mqtt.iata`, `mqtt.owner`, and `mqtt.email`.
 
 ## Run CLI Command
 
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ This makes it easy to see exactly what the panel sent to the repeater.
 This section includes:
 
 - Device Name
+- Clock UTC
 - Latitude
 - Longitude
 - Guest Password
@@ -165,6 +166,14 @@ Notes:
 - the refresh buttons load the current value from the repeater
 - the save buttons send the matching CLI command immediately
 
+## Info
+
+This section shows:
+
+- `Version`: firmware version with build date
+- `Client Version`: MQTT client version string
+- `Public Key`
+
 ## Ghost Node Mode
 
 Ghost Node Mode is a convenience control on `/app` for a repeater that should stay on Wi-Fi and MQTT, but should not actively behave like another nearby repeater.
@@ -303,7 +312,7 @@ On mobile:
 
 1. Press `Start OTA`.
 2. Confirm the action.
-3. The local repeater web panel is suspended until reboot so OTA can take over HTTP on port `80`.
+3. The local HTTP redirect listener on port `80` is released so OTA can take over that port.
 4. Continue with your normal OTA workflow.
 
 ### Use Historical Stats

examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp

@@ -2056,9 +2056,6 @@ void MyMesh::clearStats() {
 }
 
 void MyMesh::prepareForOTAStart() {
-#if defined(ESP_PLATFORM) && WITH_WEB_PANEL
-  web.suspendForOTA();
-#endif
 }
 
 void MyMesh::handleCommand(uint32_t sender_timestamp, char *command, char *reply) {
@@ -2288,6 +2285,8 @@ void MyMesh::handleCommand(uint32_t sender_timestamp, char *command, char *reply
     sprintf(reply, "> %s", mqtt.isStatusEnabled() ? "on" : "off");
   } else if (strcmp(command, "get mqtt.status") == 0) {
     mqtt.formatStatusReply(reply, 160);
+  } else if (strcmp(command, "get mqtt.client_version") == 0) {
+    sprintf(reply, "> %s", mqtt.getClientVersion());
   } else if (memcmp(command, "get mqtt.iata", 13) == 0) {
     sprintf(reply, "> %s", mqtt.getIata());
   } else if (memcmp(command, "get mqtt.owner", 14) == 0) {

release-notes.yml

@@ -442,7 +442,16 @@ releases:
       - type: fixed
         area: web-panel
         text: "Corrected `/stats` packet activity and GPS satellites bar charts so restored zero values no longer draw phantom bars and the final bar uses the same spacing as the rest of the series."
+      - type: added
+        area: mqtt
+        text: "Added a `get mqtt.client_version` repeater CLI command and exposed the same value in the `/app` quick MQTT command buttons."
+      - type: changed
+        area: web-panel
+        text: "Reworked the `/app` Info panel to show `Version` and `Client Version`, and moved `Clock UTC` into Repeater Settings beside Device Name."
+      - type: fixed
+        area: web-panel
+        text: "Narrowed `start ota` handling so the repeater only releases the local HTTP redirect listener on port `80`, allowing ElegantOTA to start without unnecessarily stopping the rest of the repeater services."
       - type: docs
         area: docs
-        text: "Updated the web panel and API docs to describe the board-aware battery percentage display fields used by the repeater stats UI."
+        text: "Updated the web panel, API, and custom CLI docs to describe the board-aware battery display, the new MQTT client-version command, and the revised `/app` layout."
     breaking_changes: []

src/helpers/ESP32Board.cpp

@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@
 
 bool ESP32Board::startOTAUpdate(const char* id, char reply[]) {
   inhibit_sleep = true;   // prevent sleep during OTA
-  WiFi.softAP("MeshCore-OTA", NULL);
+  WiFi.mode(WIFI_AP_STA);
+  if (!WiFi.softAP("MeshCore-OTA", NULL)) {
+    strcpy(reply, "Error - OTA AP start failed");
+    return false;
+  }
 
   sprintf(reply, "Started: http://%s/update", WiFi.softAPIP().toString().c_str());
   MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("startOTAUpdate: %s", reply);
@@ -22,7 +26,12 @@ bool ESP32Board::startOTAUpdate(const char* id, char reply[]) {
   static char home_buf[90];
   sprintf(home_buf, "<H2>Hi! I am a MeshCore Repeater. ID: %s</H2>", id);
 
-  AsyncWebServer* server = new AsyncWebServer(80);
+  static AsyncWebServer* server = nullptr;
+  if (server != nullptr) {
+    delete server;
+    server = nullptr;
+  }
+  server = new AsyncWebServer(80);
 
   server->on("/", HTTP_GET, [](AsyncWebServerRequest *request) {
     request->send(200, "text/html", home_buf);

src/helpers/mqtt/MQTTUplink.cpp

@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ MQTTUplink::MQTTUplink(mesh::RTCClock& rtc, mesh::LocalIdentity& identity)
   MQTT_LOG("uplink init");
 }
 
+const char* MQTTUplink::getClientVersion() const {
+  return CLIENT_VERSION;
+}
+
 bool MQTTUplink::savePrefs() {
   return MQTTPrefsStore::save(_fs, _prefs);
 }

src/helpers/mqtt/MQTTUplink.h

@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ public:
   bool isTxEnabled() const { return _prefs.tx_enabled != 0; }
   bool setIata(const char* iata);
   const char* getIata() const { return _prefs.iata; }
+  const char* getClientVersion() const;
   void setNodeNameSource(const char* node_name) { _node_name = node_name; }
   bool setOwnerPublicKey(const char* owner_public_key);
   const char* getOwnerPublicKey() const { return _prefs.owner_public_key; }

src/helpers/web/WebPanelServer.cpp

@@ -576,6 +576,7 @@ const char kWebPanelAppHtml[] PROGMEM = R"HTML(
           <span class="label">MQTT</span>
           <div class="quick">
             <button data-cmd="get mqtt.status">mqtt.status</button>
+            <button data-cmd="get mqtt.client_version">mqtt.client_version</button>
             <button data-cmd="get mqtt.iata">mqtt.iata</button>
             <button data-cmd="get mqtt.owner">mqtt.owner</button>
             <button data-cmd="get mqtt.email">mqtt.email</button>
@@ -599,18 +600,15 @@ const char kWebPanelAppHtml[] PROGMEM = R"HTML(
       <div class="stack">
         <div class="row">
           <div class="field-card">
-            <label class="label" for="roleValue">Role</label>
+            <label class="label" for="versionValue">Version</label>
             <div class="fieldline">
-              <input id="roleValue" readonly disabled>
-              <span class="placeholder-slot" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+              <input id="versionValue" readonly disabled>
             </div>
           </div>
           <div class="field-card">
-            <label class="label" for="clockUtc">Clock UTC</label>
-            <div class="inline-actions">
-              <input id="clockUtc" readonly disabled>
-              <button class="iconbtn" data-load-cmd="clock" data-load-input="clockUtc" title="Refresh clock UTC">&#8635;</button>
-              <button id="syncClockBtn" class="savebtn">Sync</button>
+            <label class="label" for="clientVersionValue">Client Version</label>
+            <div class="fieldline">
+              <input id="clientVersionValue" readonly disabled>
             </div>
           </div>
         </div>
@@ -629,12 +627,22 @@ const char kWebPanelAppHtml[] PROGMEM = R"HTML(
       <div class="stack">
         <div class="section-group">
           <h3>Repeater Settings</h3>
-          <div class="field-card">
-            <label class="label" for="nodeName">Device Name</label>
-            <div class="inline-actions">
-              <input id="nodeName" placeholder="MeshCore-HOWL">
-              <button class="iconbtn" data-load-cmd="get name" data-load-input="nodeName" title="Refresh device name">&#8635;</button>
-              <button class="savebtn" data-prefix="set name " data-input="nodeName">Save</button>
+          <div class="row">
+            <div class="field-card">
+              <label class="label" for="nodeName">Device Name</label>
+              <div class="inline-actions">
+                <input id="nodeName" placeholder="MeshCore-HOWL">
+                <button class="iconbtn" data-load-cmd="get name" data-load-input="nodeName" title="Refresh device name">&#8635;</button>
+                <button class="savebtn" data-prefix="set name " data-input="nodeName">Save</button>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+            <div class="field-card">
+              <label class="label" for="clockUtc">Clock UTC</label>
+              <div class="inline-actions">
+                <input id="clockUtc" readonly disabled>
+                <button class="iconbtn" data-load-cmd="clock" data-load-input="clockUtc" title="Refresh clock UTC">&#8635;</button>
+                <button id="syncClockBtn" class="savebtn">Sync</button>
+              </div>
             </div>
           </div>
           <div class="row">
@@ -2531,7 +2539,8 @@ const char kWebPanelAppHtml[] PROGMEM = R"HTML(
       const quiet = { recordHistory:false, updateInput:false };
       try {
         await loadSection("Loading info...", [
-          () => loadField("get role", "roleValue", null, quiet),
+          () => loadField("ver", "versionValue", null, quiet),
+          () => loadField("get mqtt.client_version", "clientVersionValue", null, quiet),
           () => loadField("clock", "clockUtc", null, quiet),
           () => loadField("get public.key", "publicKey", "uppercase", quiet)
         ]);