Remote reboot

[MarkJames]

So after having had my ISY hang on me while out of the country with nobody at home to reboot it I started looking at different options for being able to reboot from remote should the need arise.

 

I tossed around the notion of an Arduino connected via WiFi or a Raspberry Pi using the GPIO pins.  Both of these ideas have merit but I stumbled upon a pretty cool looking toy and wonder if anybody has any experience with it.

 

This is it here http://www.digital-loggers.com/lpcfaqs.html .  It's an 8 port 15A rated device that looks like a power bar but you can power on/off/cycle each of the outlets via TCP.  So long as my router doesn't crap out and destroy the port forward I would be able to reboot my ISY, cameras, IP encoders, or any of the other devices that occasionally act up.  Even PC's that can be set to reboot after power recovery would theoretically work

 

Anybody use one of these?  I've ordered one to try out but it's on backorder at the moment.  Looks like they make both a single-phase and also a 3-phase unit for those of you lucky enough to have 3 phase power.

 

mark

Edited July 31, 2016 by MarkJames

[MWareman]

I think a few on here have one of these! (I don't have one, yet. It's on my shopping list though...)

[MarkJames]

I wish I would have seen it before I bought this http://www.netreset.com/

 

I have 3 Axis video encoders that stop encoding when they feel the urge.  I plugged them into the Netreset and it reboots them every day.  It's done the job but it's kinda using a bulldozer to do the job of a garden tractor. 

 

Now all I have to do is figure out how to get my laptop to stop singing all the time.  I guess if I didn't like singing I shouldn't have bought Adele.

[larryllix]

I always though there should be a way to modify or purchase an Insteon module / watchdog that would contain a monostable watchdog circuit to power cycle anything plugged into it.

 

To use this would take an ISY program to hit on it every say 1 - 5 minutes, maybe user programmable, and if no "hit" is experienced it would switch the load off, wait 30 seconds and then power it back on. 

 

This could be used for routers and ISY itself for catastrophic failures, should one ever occur.

 

This would be really cool of somebody could find a simple capacitor addition  mod for an OnOff module. A charged cap to hold the relay on and an ISY program t flash the module on and then off every 3 minutes keeping the cap charged. May take some cutting of PCB lines before the relay driver transistor.

 

Please note I never mentioned Brian at all.  

Edited July 31, 2016 by larryllix

[MarkJames]

I'd like that just to know if a circuit has blown.

 

My sprinkler pump is 1.5HP  single phase that will run in either 110V or 220V configurations.  I've got it wired as 110 (more convenient)  and I've hooked it to a 20A breaker.  The tables say this should be adequate but it still blows the breaker from time to time. If I don't catch it the sprinkler merrily ticks along opening and closing zones but with no pump running no water moves.  It'd be great to have a module that returns a heartbeat every n seconds and when no heartbeat is returned a message is generated.

 

I wonder if that couldn't be accomplished simply using a program that queries the device on a repeat every n seconds and sends a notification if no response is received....

 

Of course your idea, Larry, would be more complicated and require a  unit that could measure current flow. No flow = message sent.  It's a pretty simple idea, really - it's been available from ChannelVision for their whole home audio/video systems for years.  They use it with their GateIRKeeper so that when you turn your system ON it can detect which devices ARE on for those devices that don't have discrete on and off.

 

mark

Edited July 31, 2016 by MarkJames

[larryllix]

SynchroLinc detect and report loads over a certain programmable level.

 

The trouble there is when the circuit is dead it can't report in but there should be ways to detect that if the turn on event is known and it doesn't confirm it.

 

The usual way is a IOLinc and a 120vac relay to get a dry contact to feed the IOLinc.

[MarkJames]

 

The usual way is a IOLinc and a 120vac relay to get a dry contact to feed the IOLinc.

That would certainly work - but too many parts.  

[larryllix]

That would certainly work - but too many parts.  

Yeah and it's always a case of where do you mount the silly relay, get an expensive box and clamps, terminal block etc... It all adds up project wi$e.

 

Never tried it but, ISY cyclic query an OnOff Module, used to control the device?

[MarkJames]

That's what I was just looking at.  

 

One of the program If conditions is 'is responding'

 

I've never used it before.  LeeG would know what that's all about.  Maybe if he sees this he'll chime in.

 

mark

[Scottmichaelj]

So after having had my ISY hang on me while out of the country with nobody at home to reboot it I started looking at different options for being able to reboot from remote should the need arise.

 

I tossed around the notion of an Arduino connected via WiFi or a Raspberry Pi using the GPIO pins. Both of these ideas have merit but I stumbled upon a pretty cool looking toy and wonder if anybody has any experience with it.

 

This is it here http://www.digital-loggers.com/lpcfaqs.html . It's an 8 port 15A rated device that looks like a power bar but you can power on/off/cycle each of the outlets via TCP. So long as my router doesn't crap out and destroy the port forward I would be able to reboot my ISY, cameras, IP encoders, or any of the other devices that occasionally act up. Even PC's that can be set to reboot after power recovery would theoretically work

 

Anybody use one of these? I've ordered one to try out but it's on backorder at the moment. Looks like they make both a single-phase and also a 3-phase unit for those of you lucky enough to have 3 phase power.

 

mark

I use DLI as well as WATTBOX in my installs, both work well. I lean towards DLI but OVRC is nice on the Wattbox.

[MarkJames]

Thanks Scott,

 

I'll have a look at that as well.  It's tough to get some of these items up here in the Great White North.  While the cost is the same here as there the shipping to get stuff here is outrageous.  While you guys get 'free shipping to the contiguous 48' the same item will cost me over $120 by the time UPS finishes raping me.  That can be pretty painful on an item that costs $100 or so.  

 

My son recently bought a Boosted Board to the tune of $1500 out of Cali.  The shipping is free anywhere in the US.  It was $140USD to get it shipped to Canada and then Fedex charged another $80 in brokerage fees plus GST and PST.  Total FedEx fees (though much was tax) was in excess of $400!

 

mark

[G W]

Web Power Switch v.7 by Digital Loggers LCD Screen 10 Outlets Surge Protection - NEWEST MODEL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EZWD146/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_jhyNxbE9WC4NQ

 

I bought one from Amazon. It's cheaper if you have Prime.

 

I set it up to reboot cable modem, router, and switch at 2 am everyday. That has solved many problems.

 

I'll add the ISY next.

 

Best regards,

Gary Funk

[KeviNH]

This is it here http://www.digital-loggers.com/lpcfaqs.html .  It's an 8 port 15A rated device that looks like a power bar but you can power on/off/cycle each of the outlets via TCP. 

 

Anybody use one of these?

I use these professionally all the time, have a few at home.  Models by APC, Cyberpower, and Web Power Switch are all good products, prices vary, but none are cheap.   They are also good for controlling the startup order after a power outage, you can set the order of startup and delay so you can have the cablemodem come up first, then your firewall, then the ISY.

 

I like using these for remote recovery of crashed devices (including my ISY) because they have a 'Cycle Outlet' option, which will turn off the selected outlet, wait X seconds ,then turn it back on.   This way I can remotely force the ISY to reset with a single click.

 

For around a hundred bucks you can find older Digital Loggers brand "Web Power Switches" on eBay.   Most can be easily controlled by sending a HTTP request as a Network Resource, so you can use the ISY to control other devices, or even have the ISY reboot itself using 'Cycle'!

[larryllix]

I use these professionally all the time, have a few at home. Models by APC, Cyberpower, and Web Power Switch are all good products, prices vary, but none are cheap. They are also good for controlling the startup order after a power outage, you can set the order of startup and delay so you can have the cablemodem come up first, then your firewall, then the ISY.

 

I like using these for remote recovery of crashed devices (including my ISY) because they have a 'Cycle Outlet' option, which will turn off the selected outlet, wait X seconds ,then turn it back on. This way I can remotely force the ISY to reset with a single click.

 

For around a hundred bucks you can find older Digital Loggers brand "Web Power Switches" on eBay. Most can be easily controlled by sending a HTTP request as a Network Resource, so you can use the ISY to control other devices, or even have the ISY reboot itself using 'Cycle'!

Sounds like it fits the bill perfectly!

 

So you can trigger the thing with a Network resource from ISY and have the power cycle to ISY, then?

 

hmmmmmmm... trouble with that logic is if you can remotely cycle ISY or have ISY cycle itself then ISY and router, or just ISY, is functioning reliably enough to do it. I have to assume it can do this on other stimuli, also.

 

The sequencing sounds good. I find the Echo doesn't sync up with my router and gives up.

Edited July 31, 2016 by larryllix

[MarkJames]

I bought one from Amazon. It's cheaper if you have Prime.

 

I set it up to reboot cable modem, router, and switch at 2 am everyday. That has solved many problems.

 

I'll add the ISY next.

 

Best regards,

Gary Funk

Sadly not on Amazon.ca (well - there IS one but they want $70 to ship it).

 

The only drawback to adding the ISY is that your variables will all reset to their initial values.  I depend on a lot of variables so that wouldn't work for me.  If I reboot I'd possibly have to go back and change a few things to after the boot.

 

mark

[KeviNH]

Remotely power-cycling the ISY994 every day at 2AM seems excessive, mine very rarely actually "freezes", and I use the above-mentioned web-controlled power if it happens.
 

The only drawback to adding the ISY is that your variables will all reset to their initial values. I depend on a lot of variables so that wouldn't work for me. If I reboot I'd possibly have to go back and change a few things to after the boot.

 

You can take measures to ensure that initial values are appropriate values, for example I have this program, and also I manually save certain variables current value as the Init value when important changes to variables are made (as this requires a write to SD, I try not to do it too often):

SaveState
If
   Time is 1:55 AM
Then
        $s.Home Init To $s.Home
        $s.GuestCount Init To $s.GuestCount
              (etc, etc)
        $i.FanRuntime Init To $i.FanRunTime

Edited July 31, 2016 by KeviNH

[MarkJames]

Thanks for that, Kevin.  I hadn't noticed the 'Init to' variable assignment before.  I can already think of quite a number of uses for it.  That will make rebooting less problematic for sure.

 

My experience has been the same as yours - I very, very seldom have to reboot my ISY.  It's the Windows XP SP3 of devices - it just doesn't crash.

 

mark

[stusviews]

Here's a few choices for a web controllable power switch.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello everyone,

 

I would urge all those who experience freezes with 4.5.1 to send us your error log to support@universal-devices.com. ISY should NOT freeze, ever.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[larryllix]

Thanks for that, Kevin.  I hadn't noticed the 'Init to' variable assignment before.  I can already think of quite a number of uses for it.  That will make rebooting less problematic for sure.

 

My experience has been the same as yours - I very, very seldom have to reboot my ISY.  It's the Windows XP SP3 of devices - it just doesn't crash.

 

mark

Along with that I keep one variable $sISY.initialised as a Boolean. I set it True  but init it to False

 

Wen ISY boots up and copies the value (False) from init,  I run a test of it and initialise some items then set it true again.

This way I know the program lines will only be run on first power up.

This also help control the order of boot up procedures.

 

This idea was stolen from the Leak detection program repertoire.

[MarkJames]

I do a similar thing - a state variable that starts as false and after setting things up the way I want I switch it to true.

 

 I've also repurposed a motion detector recently to act as an 'is it light out' detector instead.  I just put one facing out the window.  When it's light enough to trip the motion detector 'dark' sensor I set a dark=false flag.  Conversely at night when the detector decides it's dark enough to need lights I wait half an hour (they trip a bit early I find) and then set the dark=true flag.  I never found the sunrise/sunset thing to work very well at my latitude.

 

mark

[Teken]

For around a hundred bucks you can find older Digital Loggers brand "Web Power Switches" on eBay.   Most can be easily controlled by sending a HTTP request as a Network Resource, so you can use the ISY to control other devices, or even have the ISY reboot itself using 'Cycle'!

 

Do not entertain the idea of purchasing any of the older DLI products that have the fan and look almost square. Also, don't purchase any of the units below version 4.

 

DLI remote switches from 5 and above are over all pretty solid . . .

 

Having said that the companies warranty, service after the sale is completely sh^t and not worth the paper its written on. We have / had over 6500 of these units in various flavors and model years so I know what I am talking about. I supported every model for more than 15 years.

 

Tech support is brutal on the first order . . . Warranty support is even below that . . .

 

From personal experience DLI is one of the worst American companies I have ever had to deal with!

Edited August 1, 2016 by Teken

[MarkJames]

Any experience with the Ubiquiti line of these devices?  MFI?  

 

They seem to have a lot of sensors available - and the intent of the device seems more for tracking than just remote reboot - but the pricepoint is lower and the Ubiquiti products that I have installed have been of excellent quality - perhaps not 'commercial' but definitely 'prosumer'

 

mark

[larryllix]

I do a similar thing - a state variable that starts as false and after setting things up the way I want I switch it to true.

 

 I've also repurposed a motion detector recently to act as an 'is it light out' detector instead.  I just put one facing out the window.  When it's light enough to trip the motion detector 'dark' sensor I set a dark=false flag.  Conversely at night when the detector decides it's dark enough to need lights I wait half an hour (they trip a bit early I find) and then set the dark=true flag.  I never found the sunrise/sunset thing to work very well at my latitude.

 

mark

Really off  topic but I though you may get a kick out of this one.

I count the darks and subtract the lights with overlap so it always self-corrects.

Programs can use as many counts as they want.

Darker Detect - [ID 0045][Parent 0036]

If
        (
             'Afternoon Bedroom / Motion.AftBR / Dark.AftBR' is switched On
          Or 'Evening Bedroom / Motion.EveBR / Dark.EveBR' is switched On
          Or 'Dining Room / Motion.DinRm / Dark.DinRm' is switched On
          Or 'Library / Motion.Libr / Dark.Libr' is switched On
          Or 'Lower Landing / Motion.LLand / Dark.LLand' is switched On
          Or 'Master Bedroom / Motion.MBR / Dark.MBR' is switched On
          Or 'Mudroom / Motion.MudRm / Dark.MudRm' is switched On
          Or 'Rec Room / Motion.RecRm / Dark.RecRm' is switched On
          Or 'Utility Room / Motion.Util / Dark.Util' is switched On
          Or 'Workshop / Motion.Shop / Dark.Shop' is switched On
        )
    And $sHouse.darkCount <= 8
 
Then
        $sHouse.darkCount += 1
        $sHouse.darkCount Init To $sHouse.darkCount
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

[Teken]

Any experience with the Ubiquiti line of these devices?  MFI?  

 

They seem to have a lot of sensors available - and the intent of the device seems more for tracking than just remote reboot - but the pricepoint is lower and the Ubiquiti products that I have installed have been of excellent quality - perhaps not 'commercial' but definitely 'prosumer'

 

mark

 

I have used quite a few of the Ubiquiti hardware but most were geared toward their POE routers, WiFi, Repeaters, and long range AP's.

 

Never tried their remote power switch but based on personal & business dealings with the company. I would have no issue considering or entertaining buying one for home use.

 

As an aside for those interested in knowing some basic information about the older units. The square shaped DLI unit had a continuous loud annoying fan which also sucked power doing nothing 24.7.365. The units pre hardware (5) release units always had a Ethernet card failure very similar to Smartlabs famous Smartlinc HUB.

 

They would always automagically just stop working . . .