Z-wave Network Crash

Community Playground Getting Started & Initial Setup
1

I had a bad day yesterday!

The problem started when I wanted to include a new fibaro switch module into our system. As it was going in an awkward space in the loft I thought I would include it prior to installation. However, the vera unit refused to go into include mode. After much trying I googled the problem and found discussions related to vera not being the ‘primary controller’. Sure enough, when I looked in z-wave options my Vera had become a slave rather than master. I don’t have any other controllers so I’ve no idea how or when had this happened.

I tried ‘controller shift’ but got the error “Vera is not the primary controller”.

Next step on the posting I was reading suggested there was to reset the z-wave network.

So I did.

This has lost all the other inclusions - all 30 odd devices have ‘disappeared’ :frowning:

Worse, the fibaro ones seem to need a reset before they will re-include which appears to need taking switch plates apart and holding down the recessed button and applying power. This is going to take an awfully long time. Then I’ll have to similarly read up, work out and executre reset and re-inclusion of the other types - Duwi, Vitriuum and so on.

Also, if I carry on this way all my LUA scripts will break because re-including devices is giving them new device numbers.

So, before I press on like this, I have some questions:

a) Is there any way to restore the network automatically?

b) Is there another way to restore a Vera to being the primary controller without resetting?

c) Does ‘back up z-wave network’ help me? I did do this before resetting but I haven’t found a restore option.

Hope someone can help

John Jameson

2

you should be able to restore from a backup. If you log into your MCV account, you will see that there are many backups kept on their server.

Select Setup tab then backups. Go back to before you added the device and restore. It is actually quite fast.

It will restart, reload and you should be OK.

3

Automatically? You can restore from your previous backup, or a backup form a couple of days earlier. Choose Setup → Backup. Check the Restore Z-Wave network box browse to your backup file(see note below) and click restore. This will recover your Z-Wave network, but any devices that you excluded will need to be excluded and included again as they are no longer a part of the same Z-Wave network.

Note: You can locate older backups by logging in to your cp.mios.com account. They will appear on the Backup tab only when you are logged in.

b) Is there another way to restore a Vera to being the primary controller without resetting?
If your controller is still not primary, after you have successfully restored your Z-Wave network, you can contact MCV support.

You can also effect a shift to primary by changing the Z-Wave firmware version that Vera is using from 3.20 to 2.78 and back. Click Setup → Z-Wave settings. Uncheck Use Z-Wave version 3.20 instead of 2.78 IMPORTANT: Read this first, save and go through the formware update process. When done and the controller is back to primary, changne versions again, back to 3.20

c) Does 'back up z-wave network' help me? I did do this before resetting but I haven't found a restore option.
Yes! You saved yourself with this.
4

Thanks people. I discovered the backup tab/page shortly after posting but there is clearly a fair chance that the vera will be secondary again on restore so the tip about changing z-wave version could be very handy.

I will try all this tomorrow!

5

Pleased to report that the restore worked perfectly. The Vera remained as primary controller and re-inclusion of the new fibaro switch device worked normally this time.