Java required for setup?

[Steve L]

I'm new to the ISY world with an ISY994+ ZW+ PRO. I have a lot of Insteon devices, and am aware of the lack of a supported/available bridge to the Insteon world - am following MrWorf's developments there. In the meantime, I got a few Z-Wave devices and I figured out how to add them to the ISY.

The part that confuses me is that, as best as I can tell, the ONLY way to fully manage the ISY (including adding devices and programs) is to use a web browser that supports Java, and for Windows 10 that means IE11. I had thought that UD Mobile could do it, but if it can, the feature is well-hidden. I thought maybe ISY Portal could do it, but no. You can't even connect the portal to the ISY without a Java-enabled browser to authorize it.

Have I missed something? I don't understand how, in 2021, Java is still a requirement for administering an ISY.

[asbril]

The Administrative Console is (still) Java based and is the most logical way to create and manage your scenes and programs. You must make sure to exactly follow the steps listed in the version of your ISY ( https://forum.universal-devices.com/forum/15-current-release-betas-and-bug-reports/  ), including the launcher and Java instructions.

Let us know if you have further questions/issues.

[MrBill]

1 hour ago, SLionel said:

is to use a web browser that supports Java

You don't need a web browser that supports java, you do need to install Java from https://java.com/en/ by clicking the download button there.  Next install the Launcher by clicking here.  This will create an ICON on your windows desktop called ISY Launcher.  Use that to start the admin console. 

(PS - there are other ways to launch the admin console, but that's the easiest for a newcomer.... It's also the method I used 99.9% of the time and I'm not new....?)

For more detailed Launcher documentation see this thread:

 

[Steve L]

OK, forget I said "web browser". Java is considered a security risk everywhere and I had removed it from my system long ago.  Clicking on that start link has my browser complain that the file type is harmful. Yes, I dismissed that and was able to open it.

How about my point about UD Mobile being very limited in functionality?

[MrBill]

3 minutes ago, SLionel said:

Java is considered a security risk everywhere

when web browsers are allowed to launch drive-by applets... You're not doing that.

UD Mobile is new... still in development.  It's actually grown rapidly.

 

[asbril]

BTW ISY is my work horse and the Administrative Console ( as mentioned by MrBill) is not browser based, I use Home Assistant in my browser to control my devices. This is even more the case now that @MrBill showed me how to control my ISY programs in Home Assistant.

So if you like to use your browser, as I do,  use the Administrative Console to create/modify your scenes and programs, and use Home Assistant to control your devices and programs.  Home Assistant is also available for your phone, but the new UD Mobile works great on the phone.

In conclusion this is my setup :

Administrative Console on my windows computers to add/remove devices; to create and modify scenes and programs.

In my browser (Chrome) : Home Assistant to control devices, scenes and programs

On my Iphone :  UD Mobile and also Home Assistant (*)

(*)  Home Assistant requires monthly subscription to use outside of your local network, so UD Mobile is right now the ideal solution. I believe that eventually UD Mobile will also work in your browser, at which time  HA becomes a secondary option.

[Javi]

2 hours ago, SLionel said:

OK, forget I said "web browser". Java is considered a security risk everywhere and I had removed it from my system long ago.  Clicking on that start link has my browser complain that the file type is harmful. Yes, I dismissed that and was able to open it.

How about my point about UD Mobile being very limited in functionality?

HI @SLionel,

UD Mobile is a recent addition (about 6 months old) and is still in development. Both iOS and Android allow adding and removing Z-Wave devices.   The most recent alpha versions of Android have more admin features than iOS.  All Admin Features on Android will be coming to iOS soon.

Current Android Admin Features:

Create folders, scenes and zwave nodes.

Move/Rename/Delete nodes, folders, and scenes.

View Polyglot (Node Servers) list (edits coming soon)

This weeks Alpha release will allow viewing of Network resources and Program data.

 

 

[Steve L]

Thanks everyone for the info. I wish this was made clearer in the "getting started". @Javi, I am happy to hear that UD Mobile will gain more features. I think what has confused me is that the short titles of options don't make it easy to discover features. For example, the UD Mobile button for Z-wave says "Include and exclude Z-Wave devices". But if you tap on that, the options (which I had not reached earlier) are Add, Remove and Stop. These mean different things from "Include and exclude", in my opinion. I think these should be consistent.

The lesson for me is that I need to just start exploring and see what's there, and not rely on the labels.

[Javi]

1 hour ago, SLionel said:

 the UD Mobile button for Z-wave says "Include and exclude Z-Wave devices". But if you tap on that, the options (which I had not reached earlier) are Add, Remove and Stop.

Changed subtitle to "Add or Edit Z-Wave network"

[danncas]

What is the best way to start the admin control. Chrome and others will not support have no matter what anyone says. 

[MrBill]

If using windows, Install the ISY launcher on your desktop. Follow the instructions in the first post of

Essentially if Java is installed go to https://isy.universal-devices.com/start.jnlp

which the first time it's used will install an icon on your desktop named "ISY Launcher"

When clicked, this takes you to Finder... which starts the admin console.