ISY and Vera or just one?

[416to305]

This might be a dumb question, but I saw in places talk of being the main controller or secondary controller etc so not sure if this is related to that.  I have the ISY now with the Z-Wave module and all works well for the most part.  I was going to sell my Vera since no use for it now, but then started debating on keeping it just because I prefer the mobile apps for Vera.

 

What I'm just wondering is can Z-Wave devices only be registered to one controller?  As in if I have a thermometer and wall switches registered to the ISY Z-Wave module, can it only be on there, or am I able to make the Vera a secondary controller and also add the devices to it?

 

It sounds like with Z Wave there can be multiple controllers, but not sure if the secondary one is more for redundancy or not?  Just trying to see what other value there might be in keeping the Vera as well.  Thanks!

[416to305]

Hey everyone, so I think I actually got this working?  Just wanted to get some feedback though to find out if this is stable or what's going on.

 

So as a test, all my switches are on the ISY Z-Wave, so I tried to add them to the Vera as well which is set to factory.  As expected it doesn't work.  So I ran exclude on Vera, and then it let me add it.  However that made it stop working on the ISY.  Adding it back to the ISY would remove it from the Vera.

 

I then noticed in the Vera it had the option "Make Vera a secondary Z-Wave controller" which said it will act as a secondary one on a Z-Wave network.  So on the ISY I went to Include device, and enabled adding secure devices.  I then clicked that button on the Vera, and the ISY immediately added a device which has a ! and says Uninitialized ZW011_1.  Querying it doesn't work.

 

However, the Vera then configured itself, and all my Z-Wave devices are now shown in the Vera as well.  I turned the fan on on my thermostat from the Vera and it came on right away.

 

Can anyone comment on what is happening here?  Is this supported? lol.  If I unplug the ISY the Vera can still control all the Z-Wave devices so it's not like it's telling the ISY what to do, it actually does seem to be a secondary controller which is pretty slick if that's the case.

[PurdueGuy]

That should work as you have seen.   Vera will know about the devices, but shouldn't update them, configure routing, etc.

 

Locks will only work from the primary controller, as the security keys aren't shared.  I think that is supposed to be supported in newer/upcoming Z-Wave firmware, but I haven't seen it yet (but then again, I haven't tried).

 

I don't think either controller will get status when you change things from the other controller.  Also, since Vera is secondary, even with switches that support instant status, I don't think Vera will be informed immediately.   You will have to wait until things are polled by Vera.  (Does Vera still poll things when it is the secondary controller?)

[416to305]

I'll have to check it out when I get home but from what I remember when testing it the Vera seemed to be updated when the ISY turned something on but will check.  The only reason I can see keeping this other than redundancy is I've seen some videos on VoxCommander with Vera that look pretty awesome but haven't tested it yet.  Was thinking if it works well it would be great to have microphones throughout, and then able to do voice control to the ISY.

 

Edit, remembered I can connect remotely lol.  You're right about the update, changing a device from either the ISY or the Vera never updates on the other one.

[ccclapp]

Hi

 

I think the other way to go about what you are trying to do (use Vera phone apps etc and include all ISY infl and have control from both ISY and Vera) is to use the ISY script/plugin for vera.  This will bring all isy devices into vera and give control and status update from both.  You could decide if you want ISY or Vera to be the primary Zwave controller.  I am not sure, but possibly you could have two Zwave networks with each a primary for its own??.  In my case I mostly use ISY but want some of the plugins and also the 2-way control/feedback offered by Vera.  The Sonos and Nest plugins are good examples.  My plan is to do lighting and many other things in ISY and so Sonos, Nest in Vera and then use the ISY script to have 100% control and status updates via Vera's iOS apps.

 

Here is the link to the script: http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php?topic=17309.0

 

I am not sure if it has now become a formal Vera plugin or not.  If so, this may be it  http://code.mios.com/trac/mios_universal_devices_isy_plugin

 

 

Have fun