HubTool

HubTool is a utility that lets users view detailed information and control settings of Acroname devices. Users can operate HubTool either on the USB host computer or a computer linked to the Acroname device’s Control port.

What can it do?

HubTool provides a simple GUI to:

• Enable and disable ports (virtually plug and unplug)

  • Selectively toggle port data and power connections such as USB 3, USB 2, and VBus independently

• View connection speed

• Visualize per-port current and voltage

• Select automatic and manual upstream host port switching

• Set PD power rules (USBHub3c) and port power modes

• Control Acroname devices over the local network

Which Acroname devices work with HubTool?

USB hubs and switches	USBHub3c
	USBHub3p
	USBHub2x4
	USB-C-Switch
MTM manufacturing test modules	MTM-Load-1
	MTM-DAQ-2
	MTM-PM-1
	MTM-IO-Serial
	MTM-Relay
	MTM-EtherStem
	MTM-USBStem

Host system requirements

HubTool binaries are available for these platforms:

• Windows 10 and higher

• Intel and Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 10.15 or higher

• Linux:

  • x86_64 Ubuntu LTS 16.04, 18.04, 20.04, 22.04, 24.04 - Required dependencies: apt install xcb*

  • x86_64 Red Hat 8 - Required dependencies: dnf install qt5-qtbase-gui

  • x86_64 Red Hat 9 - Required dependencies: dnf install qt6-qtbase-gui

  • arm64v8 Ubuntu LTS 16.04, 18.04, 20.04, 22.04, 24.04 - Required dependencies: apt install xcb*

  • i686 Ubuntu LTS 16.04 - Required dependencies: apt install xcb*

Installation

1. Download HubTool and BrainStem Development Kit (BDK)

2. Open the .dmg / .zip / .tgz

3. Move the contents to a folder, or move just the HubTool application to your preferred location.

Note

Linux users will need run the script labeled “udev.sh” located in the “BrainStem_linux_Driverless” folder before they will be able communicate with a BrainStem device.

Usage

Click on the HubTool app to launch it. The lower right panel shows any Acroname devices that are connected. The lower left panel is the console. On launch, HubTool writes default settings to the console.

Startup messages in HubTool Console

Startup messages

Console message	Meaning
BrainStem I2C discovery: Disabled	Discover Acroname devices connected to a USB-connected MTM module’s I2C bus
USB discovery: Enabled	Discover local USB-connected Acroname devices
BrainStem aEther discovery: Enabled	Discover Acroname devices connected through other applications (e.g. BrainD), local only by default
TCPIP discovery: Disabled	Discover MTM-EtherStem modules connected to the host by ethernet
Port Mapping: Enabled	Get USB descriptors for each downstream device, E.G. vendor ID, serial number

Discovery methods (USB, aEther, TCP/IP, and Brainstem I2C) are enabled and disabled using the Discovery menubar dropdown. Port mapping is enabled in the options menu. Both settings reset to default values with every launch of HubTool.

Discovery menu

Connecting devices

When an Acroname device is connected, the device type, serial number, and an icon indicating the connection type will appear in the lower right pane. If the device is connected by USB to the local host, the USB icon will appear (). If the device is connected to a remote host, the aEther icon will be shown instead (). Click on the device serial number to view the device interface. Right-click to bring up a contextual menu to disconnect, set sample rate, and perform a factory reset.

Device context menu

Control devices on remote hosts

HubTool can also view and control shared Acroname devices connected to other hosts on the same network (WiFi or ethernet). To enable remote control of devices, follow these steps:

Controlling remote devices over the local network

On the remote host:

• Connect the device via USB

• Launch HubTool

• Click the device serial number to connect

• Enable aEther and deselect “Local only” in Options > aEther Config

  

On the local host:

• Launch HubTool

• Enable aEther and deselect “Local only” in Options > aEther Config

The serial number of the remote device and the aEther icon should appear in the local host’s device list. Click to view the remote device’s interface.

aEther-connected remote device

Updating device firmware

Firmware update panel

To update the firmware of a connected Acroname device, in the lower-right panel, click “Firmware Management” to bring up the firmware update panel. A list of connected devices with serial number, currently installed firmware version, target version, and an update button should appear. Select target firmware version, and click update to update the firmware. If the device isn’t visible, check that it is connected and click discover.

Firmware update is required to enable newly purchased software add-on features, even if the installed version is current.

See the Firmware Management documentation for more information on updating device firmware.

Device-specific interfaces

Each Acroname product has a distinct interface in HubTool. Select your product below:

• USBHub3c
• USBHub3p
• USBHub2x4
• USB-C-Switch