After spending considerable time researching and experimenting, I successfully implemented Over-The-Air (OTA) firmware updates for my ESP8266 devices. This has been a game-changer for maintaining and upgrading my smart home setup without physically accessing each device, which is especially useful for those installed in hard-to-reach locations.My journey began with the challenge of updating firmware remotely. Initially, I faced issues with the update process, particularly the need for a physical connection on the first update. Through trial and error, I discovered that resetting the device after the first update resolved the subsequent OTA connectivity problems. This insight was crucial and saved me from repeatedly having to access each device physically.Here’s a concise overview of my solution:1. Setup: I configured my Raspberry Pi with OpenHAB and Mosquitto to act as the central hub. Each ESP8266 device subscribes to its own dedicated MQTT topic for OTA updates.2. Firmware Distribution: I store compiled firmware binaries on the OpenHAB server under a designated folder. This allows me to easily manage and distribute updates.3. Update Process: Through the OpenHAB UI, I trigger updates by sending a command to the relevant MQTT topic. The ESP8266 devices then fetch the new firmware from the server and restart automatically upon completion.4. Challenges and Solutions: The biggest hurdle was ensuring reliable OTA connections post-update. Resetting the device after the first update proved to be the solution, enabling seamless subsequent updates.This setup has significantly streamlined my device management, allowing me to push updates and improvements effortlessly. I’m grateful for the resources and community support that guided me through this process. If anyone has questions or suggestions to further optimize this setup, I’d love to hear them!