Understand the fundamentals
A family name is only the beginning
Manufacturers group their machines into families. One family can include machines with different performance levels, different cooling (air or liquid) and different hardware revisions. A revision is an updated version of the same hardware design. A variant is one specific version of a model. A case that looks familiar does not tell you what is inside. The exact model and variant decide which specifications and procedures apply.
A serial number is the manufacturer’s number for one individual machine. A site asset tag identifies the machine in your site’s records. A rack location says where it is installed. Each of these answers a different question. Moving a miner changes its location, but not its serial number. Replacing a control board can change some network details, but the miner is still the same machine.
See how it works
Resolve disagreements before acting
Compare three sources: the manufacturer label you can see without opening anything, the site asset record, and what the miner’s software reports. They may not agree. Maybe a part was replaced or a record is out of date. Maybe a location is labeled wrong, or the machine was built from mixed parts. Write down the mismatch. Do not quietly pick the value you expected.
A barcode scanner only reads the text stored in the barcode. It does not prove that the database matched that text to the right machine. Check the manufacturer, model and serial it returns against the machine in front of you and the current records. A scanner is a faster way to read an identifier. It does not confirm which parts fit the machine or what condition the machine is in.
| Identifier | What it tells you | What can change |
|---|---|---|
| Serial number | Which individual machine it is | Normally stays with that machine |
| Asset tag | Which machine it is in site records | Depends on the site’s tracking rules |
| Rack position | Where it is installed | Changes when equipment moves |
| IP address | Where to reach it on the site network | Can change if the network assigns a new one or if settings change |
| Worker name | Where the pool credits its work | Changes if someone edits the miner’s pool settings |
Connect it to the field
Example: the right document for the wrong variant
Suppose a search finds a maintenance guide for the air-cooled version of a family. The installed unit is hydro-cooled, which means it is cooled by liquid. The shared family name does not mean the airflow instructions or power connections apply. Start again from the full identity and find the right version of the manual.
A useful identity record lists the manufacturer, full model name, cooling type, serial number, asset tag, location and any confirmed revision. Do not open equipment just to collect details you are not authorized to access. Note what is still unconfirmed and involve the responsible team.
Terms used in this lesson
- Model
- The specific product within a family. One model can have variants with different requirements.
- Serial number
- The manufacturer’s identifier for an individual unit.
- Asset and location
- Your site’s tracking number (the asset tag) and where the machine is installed right now.
Optional references & further reading
Use current manufacturer instructions for the exact equipment and your site’s approved procedures. Course levels do not grant task authorization.