newcomer, flashing actual asus wl500gp router

First of hi everyone !

I’ve had a few Zwave devices for a few years: front porch switch + malibu lighting, same in the backyard, switch + 3 dimmer lamp module and I’ve just added a kwikset deadbolt.

Now looking into HA, and vera is the way to go. So here’s my first two questions:

  • I have an asus wl-500gp V2, I can just flash "wl500gP_Luup_ui4-1.1.1062-1.trx " to get myself a vera1 controller, right ?
  • then I need a usb controller; I have the old intermatic HA22 which won’t work, plus I need zwave 5.02 for the kwikset; Aeon zstick will work, but what about thinkstick now that they have the 5.02 firmware ?

That’s it for now,
V

Welcome Vince

Firstoff, if you have Vera 2 hardware, you cannot load vera1 firmwares (trx).

You need to upgrade as described on the wiki (wiki.mios.com).
Id drop you the exact link if i wasnt mobile atm.

Update should go automatically, but manual upgrades are also described in the how to section of the wiki.

Why would you need a dongle? Vera2 has an internal zwave controller that supports EU and US frequencies. Only AUS users currently need a special dongle with special frequencies AFAIK.

When upgraded to version 1245 (which has some bugs/quirks, Be warned!) you run zwave 2.78 (=502) automatically.

I would not recommend the upgrade to 3.20 yet (is optionally available in 1245)

Hope that helps

[quote=“Vince, post:1, topic:168843”]First of hi everyone !

I’ve had a few Zwave devices for a few years: front porch switch + malibu lighting, same in the backyard, switch + 3 dimmer lamp module and I’ve just added a kwikset deadbolt.

Now looking into HA, and vera is the way to go. So here’s my first two questions:

  • I have an asus wl-500gp V2, I can just flash "wl500gP_Luup_ui4-1.1.1062-1.trx " to get myself a vera1 controller, right ?
  • then I need a usb controller; I have the old intermatic HA22 which won’t work, plus I need zwave 5.02 for the kwikset; Aeon ztick will work, but what about thinkstick now that they have the 5.02 firmware ?

That’s it for now,
V[/quote]

Henk

I don’t have any vera hardware but I have an actual Asus router.
SO what I was asking is, instead of buying vera hardware, can I use this router and flash the mios/mcv firmware and turn it into a vera1. Then I would still need a dongle.

I was indeed reading the wiki page
http://wiki.micasaverde.com/index.php/Firmware_Flash

Thanks

V

@Vince,

Welcome!

Nope, AFAIK. You wouldn’t have any administrative data required by MCV, such as a serial number.

Actually, I’ve just flashed it and it seems to be working just fine.
Maybe the web services won’t be available ?

At any rate, next question was which Zwave dongle should I use for support of a kwikset deadbolt ?
Aeon ztick or thinkstick (which is a little cheaper but no battery)

Vince

Welcome to the Journey - I would use the Aeon Labs Z-Stick rather than the ControlThink Stick as the 5.02 firmware is more stable on the Z-Stick IMHO than the ControlThink Stick. The Vera1 was not meant to walk around with to include nodes as the Vera2 is.

[quote=“Vince, post:5, topic:168843”]Actually, I’ve just flashed it and it seems to be working just fine.
Maybe the web services won’t be available ?[/quote]

What you’ll be missing is some settings in the NVRAM.

# nvram show  
boardnum=8
tri2g=78
vera_fwd_srv_main=fwd1.mios.com
pa0b2=...
pa0b1=...
pa0b0=...
landevs=wl0 vlan0
vera_logs_srv_bck=logs2.mios.com
sdram_ncdl=...
vera_evt_srv_bck=evt2.mios.com
pa0maxpwr=0x50
rssisav2g=2
vera_hw_key2=...
pa0itssit=62
rssismc2g=2
vera_logs_srv_main=logs1.mios.com
wl0gpio3=0
wl0gpio2=0
wl0gpio1=0
wl0gpio0=0
vera_firm_sh_md5=...
ag0=2
vera_zw_locale=us
vera_ssid=...
vlan0ports=0 1 2 3 5*
vera_firmware_md5=...
bxa2g=1
il0macaddr=...
config.sku=...
vera_st_srv_main=sta1.mios.com
vera_raserver=ra2.findvera.com
vera_download_srv_bck=download2.mios.com
rssismf2g=0
sdram_config=0x0032
aa0=3
vlan1hwname=et0
vera_serial=...
vera_st_srv_bck=sta2.mios.com
vera_wifipass=...
vera_hw_key=...
vera_ts_srv_main=ts1.mios.com
wl0id=...
backupid=done
lan_netmask=255.255.255.0
sromrev=3
reset_gpio=6
et0macaddr=...
et1phyaddr=0x1f
sdram_init=0x000b
vera_storage_srv_bck=storage2.mios.com
vera_fwd_srv_bck=fwd2.mios.com
vera_storage_srv_main=storage1.mios.com
et0phyaddr=30
StartUpgID=
wandevs=et0
boardflags=0x750
clkfreq=240
lan_ipaddr=...
fresh_install=
backup=
boardtype=0x048e
vera_firmware_size=3088384
vera_provision_srv=provision.mios.com
pmon_ver=CFE 4.131.31.0
ZW.homeId=...
boot_wait=on
boardrev=0x11
opo=0x0
vlan0hwname=et0
sdram_refresh=0
ccode=0
vlan1ports=4 5u
cctl=0
rxpo2g=0xfff8
xtalfreq=25000
vera_evt_srv_main=evt1.mios.com
vera_ts_srv_bck=ts2.mios.com
vera_download_srv_main=download1.mios.com
et0mdcport=0
watchdog=3000

Some of these keys have unique values that MCV has copies of at its end. Without those, you’ll find that some things (like remote access) probably won’t work. I don’t know how well the local shell scripts cope with those nvram values being absent, so you may come across other quirks too.

Please post your experiences here. I’m very interested in how this works out for you.

Will do.
But I first need to get a new zwave dongle to replace my intermatic ha22

V

Hi Vince, as futzle already stated some values (keys) will be missing from your router so I’m afraid that not only the connection to our servers will be missing but also the z-wave part. Of course you are free to try and share your experience with others.

Status update:

  • got my aeon labs Zstick zwave adapter
  • no problem to get the web interface by connecting vera directly to a pc
  • transferred zwave network info from my intermatic HA09 to the ztick and I have control over the few zwave switches and dimmers that I have. It screwed up my switch association though and I didn’t try my kwikset deadbolt yet, I’ll deal with this later
  • I read somewhere that telnet server is now disable by default. When I try I get an SSH-2.0-dropbear echo. so I should SSH instead, but where do I set the SSH root password ? there is a password entry in the webif interface, should I use this ? then what is the recovery method ?
  • what didn’t work is putting vera on my LAN. I can see the router did provide an IP to vera (actually it served two requests) and I can ping this IP from a pc on the LAN but no web server at this IP… what gives ?

btw, I changed the post title to make it more explicit
V

The password is probably pulled from NVRAM, so probably it is missing.

Try this, following the normal OpenWrt instructions:

  1. Boot the router in failsafe mode.
  2. Telnet to 192.168.1.1. No password.
  3. Mount the JFFS partition.
    4a. Add your prepared SSH public key to /etc/dropbear/authorized_keys.
    4b. Run passwd to set root’s password.

Thanks for the update.

awesome!

used the webif interface (in dashboard, advanced, net & wifi tab, advanced configuration) to set a password and now I can SSH (using putty)

Still doing this with PC attached to vera LAN port, WAN port attached to my router as I mentioned vera got an IP from it but I can’t see Vera from other PC attached to my router, any idea why ?
btw what’s the local http adress if I don’t want to use vera IP ?

V

Vince,

Probably the router thinks it needs to be a DHCP server. In the Advanced > Net & Wifi dialog, set the network mode to “Through another gateway on my network. MiOS is a switch”, and it should get its IP from the DHCP server you already run on your LAN.

Failing that, hack /etc/config/network, but IIRC there are some shenanigans going on between Vera startup files that may undo your efforts editing this file.

Edit: named the exact UI entries; didn’t have them at the original reply time.

yep I did this
How does MiOS connect to the Internet? “Through another gateway on my network. MiOS is a switch”
and used a static IP, with gateway and dns IP from my upstream router plug in the WAN port of vera1

Now I can see:

  • internet from dowstream vera1 (pc plugged in vera1 lan)
  • see vera1 by typing IP in browser from either downstream PC or PC in upstream router

Moving on: kwikset lock and vera1 firmware

  • paired the lock but can’t get security code. Drain lock battery in the process as I suppose vera kept on trying and trying
  • vera reports zwave dongle version 1.78 so I upgrade dongle firmware but still no joy. Vera still reports 1.78 so II’m not sure upgrade worked
  • installed homeseer and pair/operate lock, no problem so dongle firmware is fine
  • upgrade from vera1 won’t work (I guess because I don’t have a vera official ID) so I flash wl500gP_Luup_ui4-1.1.1245-1.trx and now: Zwave failed to start…

poking around forum no clear answer about this one. Should I try wl500gP_Luup_ui4-1.1.1047-1.trx ?
or even go back to wl500gP_Luup_ui4-1.1.1062-1.trx ?

But I’m tired… I give up for tonite

V

OK so I’m stuck here.

  • when I go back to wl500gP_Luup_ui4-1.1.1062-1.trx dongle gets detected as 1.78 and I can’t get security codes for my kwikset lock (though, again, same dongle/lock from same location works fine with homeseer)
  • with either wl500gP_Luup_ui4-1.1.1245-1.trx or beta wl500gP_Luup_ui4-1.1.1338-1.trx
    I get a zwave failed to start error

Any suggestion ?

V

Vince,

The only thing I can think of is to check that the /dev path to the dongle is correct. Even on a real Vera2, you have to edit the device path if you want to use an external dongle. Maybe the default on Vera1 is to look for the nonexistent internal Wifi chip.

I’m really clutching at straws. I think it’s time to delve into the logs and startup scripts.

switched back to 1245

  • first off I can’t upgrade because I can’t backup to server nor file, so I need to flash
    - I can’t back up to file because I don’t have a “HW_Key” set
    just create /etc/cmh/HW_Key with a dummy string in it as /usr/bin/backup-store.sh checks for content of this file to be non empty to create a backup file
  • demsg shows that the silab usb/uart driver is installed OK
    usbserial.c: CP210X converter detected
    usbserial.c: CP210X converter now attached to ttyUSB0 (or usb/tts/0 for devfs)
  • Zwave port in zwave devices/options is set correctly to /dev/usb/tts/0

but “LuaUPnP.log” still reports failure:
01 09/19/11 21:28:30.735 e[31;1mZWaveJobHandler::FindAlternatePorts /dev/usb/tts/0e[0m <0xc04>
02 09/19/11 21:28:30.736 e[33;1mZWaveJobHandler::Run connect to 0 failed alt2: /dev/usb/tts/0e[0m <0xc04>
02 09/19/11 21:28:30.738 e[33;1mZWaveJobHandler::Run connect to /dev/usb/tts/0 -1 lock 0e[0m <0xc04>
02 09/19/11 21:28:30.941 e[33;1mZWaveJobHandler::Run connected to /dev/usb/tts/0=1 i=1e[0m <0xc04>
06 09/19/11 21:28:30.942 Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 1 service: urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1 variable: e[35;1mComPorte[0m was: EMPTY now: /dev/usb/tts/0 #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:(nil)/NONE duplicate:0 <0xc04>
03 09/19/11 21:28:30.944 JobHandler_LuaUPnP::Reload: ZWave new connect Critical 0 m_bCriticalOnly 0 dirty data 1 <0xc04>
06 09/19/11 21:28:31.115 Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 1 service: urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1 variable: e[35;1mNetStatusIDe[0m was: 7 now: 2 #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:0x7860c8/NONE duplicate:0 <0xc04>
06 09/19/11 21:28:31.117 Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 1 service: urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1 variable: e[35;1mNetStatusTexte[0m was: Starting ZWave Network now: Resetting ZWave Network #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:0x78bcf8/NONE duplicate:0 <0xc04>
01 09/19/11 21:28:31.322 e[31;1mJobHandler_LuaUPnP::StartPlugins ZWave failed to starte[0m <0x400>
02 09/19/11 21:28:31.474 e[33;1mJobHandler_LuaUPnP::Run Lua initiated a quite[0m <0x400>

and for comparison here’s an extract of the same log, but running 1062 which gets the zwave dongle running
02 09/19/11 23:51:07.413 e[33;1mZWaveJobHandler::Run connect to /dev/usb/tts/0 -0 lock 0e[0m <0xc04>
02 09/19/11 23:51:07.565 e[33;1mZWaveJobHandler::Run connected to /dev/usb/tts/0=1 i=0e[0m <0xc04>
01 09/19/11 23:51:07.690 e[31;1mZWaveSerial::ConfirmSecurity cannot generate keyse[0m <0xc04>
06 09/19/11 23:51:07.693 Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 1 service: urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1 variable: e[35;1mNetStatusIDe[0m was: 7 now: 7 #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:0x7a2bc8/NONE duplicate:1 <0xc04>
06 09/19/11 23:51:07.694 Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 1 service: urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1 variable: e[35;1mNetStatusTexte[0m was: Starting ZWave Network now: Starting ZWave Network #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:0x7a3c60/NONE duplicate:1 <0xc04>

Zwave issues:

  • with 1062
    Zwave works but not Kwikset lock, LuaUPnP.log (/tmp/log/cmh/LuaUPnP.log) says “ConfirmSecurity cannot generate keys”
    This is not a range issue since from the same location I get the same dongle and lock to work with homeseer.
    Does the host (vera) need some kind of key that would be in nvram ? I thought the ecnryption was at the RF level not the RS232.
    02 09/19/11 23:51:07.565 e[33;1mZWaveJobHandler::Run connected to /dev/usb/tts/0=1 i=0e[0m <0xc04>
    01 09/19/11 23:51:07.690 e[31;1mZWaveSerial::ConfirmSecurity cannot generate keyse[0m <0xc04>

  • with 1245
    zwave failed to start error… here’s another log where the dongle gets connected but then dropped
    it also has the same cannot generate keys message

02 09/24/11 17:02:12.195 e[33;1mZWaveJobHandler::Run connect to /dev/usb/tts/0 -0 lock 0e[0m <0xc04>
02 09/24/11 17:02:12.252 e[33;1mZWaveJobHandler::Run connected to /dev/usb/tts/0=1 i=0e[0m <0xc04>
01 09/24/11 17:02:12.297 e[31;1mZWaveSerial::ConfirmSecurity cannot generate keyse[0m <0xc04>
06 09/24/11 17:02:12.303 Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 1 service: urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1 variable: e[35;1mNetStatusIDe[0m was: 7 now: 7 #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:0x7decd8/NONE duplicate:1 <0xc04>
06 09/24/11 17:02:12.304 Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 1 service: urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1 variable: e[35;1mNetStatusTexte[0m was: Starting ZWave Network now: Starting ZWave Network #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:0x7f5f68/NONE duplicate:1 <0xc04>
03 09/24/11 17:02:16.757 ZWJob_Initialize::JobDone version 2.78 type 1 role is 2 house id 14ce04f node id 1 suc 1 IsSecondary 0 bOnOtherNetwork 0 NodeIdServerPresent 1 IsRealPrimary 1 IsSuc 1 <0xc04>
06 09/24/11 17:02:16.766 Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 1 service: urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1 variable: e[35;1mVersionInfoe[0m was: 2.78 L:1 now: 2.78 L:1 #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:(nil)/NONE duplicate:1 <0xc04>
06 09/24/11 17:02:16.767 Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 1 service: urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1 variable: e[35;1mHomeIDe[0m was: House: 14ce04f Node 1 Suc 1 now: House: 14ce04f Node 1 Suc 1 #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:(nil)/NONE duplicate:1 <0xc04>
06 09/24/11 17:02:16.768 Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 1 service: urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1 variable: e[35;1mRolee[0m was: Suc SIS:YES PRI:YES now: Suc SIS:YES PRI:YES #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:(nil)/NONE duplicate:1 <0xc04>
04 09/24/11 17:02:16.771 <0xc04>
01 09/24/11 17:02:16.913 e[31;1mZWave::Start Initialize unrecognized Z-Wave module 1e[0m <0x400>
06 09/24/11 17:02:16.914 Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 1 service: urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1 variable: e[35;1mNetStatusIDe[0m was: 7 now: 6 #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:0x7decd8/NONE duplicate:0 <0x400>
06 09/24/11 17:02:16.916 Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 1 service: urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1 variable: e[35;1mNetStatusTexte[0m was: Starting ZWave Network now: Failure #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:0x7f5f68/NONE duplicate:0 <0x400>
06 09/24/11 17:02:16.918 Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 1 service: urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1 variable: e[35;1mLastErrore[0m was: Unrecognized Z-Wave module now: Unrecognized Z-Wave module #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:0x7f6040/NONE duplicate:1 <0x400>
01 09/24/11 17:02:16.919 e[31;1mJobHandler_LuaUPnP::StartPlugins ZWave failed to starte[0m <0x400>

Not in nvram, I don’t think. Only three Z-wave-related keys are in nvram on my Vera2:

vera_zw_locale=us vera_firmware_size=3088384 ZW.homeId=0123abcd

The ConfirmSecurity function coincidentally appears close to the string /etc/cmh/HW_Key2 in the binary LuaUPnP, so perhaps there’s a relationship there. My HW_Key2 file contains a 32-character hexadecimal string. What’s in yours? (Maybe this is a Vera2 thing. I also have a HW_Key file.)