Hi:
I’m trying to understand and document how to backup my VeraPlus to my local machine. I’ve searched the forums and believe the following is close to correct:
[size=12pt]Manual Backups:[/size]
ZWave Backup:
[ul][li]ZWave Backups are created by “Settings/Backup/Create ZWave backup” The backup file(s) are stored on the Veraplus in Linux file(s) named /etc/cmh/dongle.dump[/li]
[li]It seems the backup process stores the last 6 ZWave backups and renames them during each backup process making the last named dongle.dump.0[/li]
[li]I believe (not sure) to restore a ZWave backup: Settings/Backup/ Check Restore ZWave Backup then click on Restore. I think this will restore the backup file dongle.4.5.dump.0[/li]
[li]To restore an older ZWave backup one must rename the one you want to backup to dongle.dump.0 Search for WinSCP in these forums to learn how to connect to Vera and view/rename/download these files.[/li][/ul]
System Configuration Backup:
[ul][li]System configuration backups are created from “Settings/Backup/Create backup/ Create Backup” The file is downloaded to my PC download directory with a name like " ha-gateway-backup__1.7.2138_2016-09-05.tgz" I’m not logged into MIOS [/li]
[li]A system configuration can be restored using the file dialog box in “Settings/Backup” and pointing to or drag&drop the configuration you wish to restore.[/li][/ul]
Here’s the area I’m confused about:
It is recommended to always backup the ZWave configuration before making a system controller backup. However the best I can tell the ZWave configuration is saved with the system configuration. And by looking at the system configuration backup, if restored t will over write the ZWave files in etc/cmh/.
I hope someone with more knowledge on this subject could point out any errors I’ve made.
The last Z-Wave backup is saved in your System Backup.
The Z-Wave backup contains a definition of your Z-Wave network ID and the connected devices.
This should be saved when the following happen:
You add or remove a Z-Wave Device
You moved devices around in your network (Z-Wave routing info)
When you restore a System backup, you have the option to restore the Z-Wave backup.
You do NOT want to do this if you have changed your Z-Wave network (see 1 or 2 above) since you made the backup.
Also the Z-Wave backup is device specific, i.e. you can’t save on Vera 3 and restore on a Vera Plus.
It’s useful to restore the Z-Wave backup when your Z-Wave controller gets hosed. (A normal Power Cycle does not reset the Z-Wave chip completely).
If you factory reset your Vera, it does NOT reset the Z-Wave chip.
If you restart Vera after a factory reset, you will see all of the Z-Wave devices (at least the ones that respond right away, battery devices will show up later) in your system.
But it will not have information about them (i.e. the Name, except for a few Z-Wave devices that save the name and the room.
You need to also reset the Z-Wave network to completely reset the Vera to a factory configuration.
From here if you restore the System Backup without the Z-Wave backup, none of your Z-Wave devices will work properly. Because the Z-Wave e chip will not know about your devices.
If you restore the System Backup WITH the Z-Wave Backup, Your system should be restored to the configuration that was in effect when you created the backup, and your Z-Wave devices will work.
[quote=“RichardTSchaefer, post:2, topic:193610”]If you factory reset your Vera, it does NOT reset the Z-Wave chip.
If you restart Vera after a factory reset, you will see all of the Z-Wave devices (at least the ones that respond right away, battery devices will show up later) in your system.
But it will not have information about them (i.e. the Name, except for a few Z-Wave devices that save the name and the room.[/quote]
I recently restored a backup after a hard reset. Apparently the last z wave network backup was done before I added the last 4 devices and so they were not restored. Will these missing devices eventually show up as described above? Or do they need to be re-paired with the Vera?
Also, why isn’t the network backed up every night with the automatic backups?
This seems to be a bit outdated, I had no problems with restoring on Vera Plus a backup done on Vera Edge, for example.
As well as restoring on one Edge a backup from another Edge.
This seems to be a bit outdated, I had no problems with restoring on Vera Plus a backup done on Vera Edge, for example.
As well as restoring on one Edge a backup from another Edge.[/quote]
I know this is an old thread but I just bought a VeraSecure and wanted to understand this better before attempting the upgrade with restore.
My question relates to the Z-Wave config and the controller’s Home ID:
If I restore a backup from a VeraEdge to a VeraSecure, will all my Z-Wave config be transferred across including the Z-Wave Home ID? The reason I’m curious is because I thought this was unique and tied to each individual controller. I’m assuming this doesn’t get transferred so then I’m wondering how the restore process applies all the previous Z-Wave config (tied to the VeraEdge’s Home ID) to a brand new Home ID??
It’s not the actual hardware, but the “network” that the hardware creates.
Think of it like WiFi. You create a unique SSID. If you were to create another WiFi network somewhere with that same SSID and password, your devices would login to it automatically.
When you do the restore on the other Vera, the Z-Wave “network” on that device will have the same unique network ID that your other Vera had. You can’t see that network ID, but it exists. Likewise all the encryption keys negotiated with secure included devices will be brought across.
It’s not like a physical MAC address that can’t be transferred (which Z-Wave devices also have an equivalent of).
Of course this is assuming it all goes well… if it doesn’t go smooth you end up with a broken house like mine LOL!
[quote=“Tillsy, post:7, topic:193610”]It’s not the actual hardware, but the “network” that the hardware creates.
Think of it like WiFi. You create a unique SSID. If you were to create another WiFi network somewhere with that same SSID and password, your devices would login to it automatically.
When you do the restore on the other Vera, the Z-Wave “network” on that device will have the same unique network ID that your other Vera had. You can’t see that network ID, but it exists. Likewise all the encryption keys negotiated with secure included devices will be brought across.
It’s not like a physical MAC address that can’t be transferred (which Z-Wave devices also have an equivalent of).
Of course this is assuming it all goes well… if it doesn’t go smooth you end up with a broken house like mine LOL![/quote]
Makes sense. Thanks for the great explanation.
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