Westlake Ventures Posted March 20, 2022 Posted March 20, 2022 Hi, I took over a device from the prior homeowner. He did not have a backup of the system and I am not able to switch the device to my wifi, so I am unable to adjust any of the lights or other devices on my system. I've had a few Insteon switches go bad and am now having lights turn on and off randomly. Simply, I need access to the system to fix, but am locked out. UD support suggests doing a factory reset of the system, but it runs the risk of "bricking" the system. Does anyone else have any advice? Surely other people have taken over a system without having a backup.
lilyoyo1 Posted March 20, 2022 Posted March 20, 2022 (edited) 43 minutes ago, Westlake Ventures said: Hi, I took over a device from the prior homeowner. He did not have a backup of the system and I am not able to switch the device to my wifi, so I am unable to adjust any of the lights or other devices on my system. I've had a few Insteon switches go bad and am now having lights turn on and off randomly. Simply, I need access to the system to fix, but am locked out. UD support suggests doing a factory reset of the system, but it runs the risk of "bricking" the system. Does anyone else have any advice? Surely other people have taken over a system without having a backup. I'd take their advice since they did make the system. They would know best how to manage it. You can't brick the system by factory resetting. Factory resetting does just what it says....Puts it in the state it was in when it left the factory The few systems I've taken over, I've factory reset and started with a clean slate. It takes more time to figure out why someone did certain things than to simply program it from the start with your own methods. This is especially important with you being new with this. By starting clean and programming it yourself, you'll learn more about the system and how to manage it. Google isy wiki and Isy cookbook. Both are great resources to help you get started. Edited March 20, 2022 by lilyoyo1 1
Westlake Ventures Posted March 20, 2022 Author Posted March 20, 2022 Ok great, thank you. Being newer to this, how long does it take to set up various light switches and other devices? We probably have 15 light switches that are connected to the system.
Brian H Posted March 20, 2022 Posted March 20, 2022 The UDI WKI has all kinds of videos and documentation you will find interesting and helpful. Along with all the very knowledgeable members here. https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=Main_Page After a factory reset of the modules and then add them into the Administrative Console. As you write programs. The controller will do all the linking between the modules and the controller. Along with any links between module if they can control each other. After you get it running. You can get the controllers info and see if it has the PRO or other optional module in it. 1
Papa C Posted March 25, 2022 Posted March 25, 2022 I'd add to this that first thing you do is to update the system to the latest. Also check that if it's got ZWave you've upgraded the board to the 500 series.
MrBill Posted March 25, 2022 Posted March 25, 2022 (edited) On 3/25/2022 at 4:46 AM, Papa C said: I'd add to this that first thing you do is to update the system to the latest. I disagree, honestly I don't think I'd give that assignment as a first step to a new homeowner with a working system. It's a great suggestion for someone starting with an empty ISY... update it and upgrade it before you start building. But to tell someone unfamiliar with the ISY ecosystem to jump in and upgrade the system as their first step is a mistake. The first things they should do is learn about the system, how to start the admin console, learn about the devices in there device tree, study the programs in their program tree. Learn how to backup. After they have the basic understanding of how things work, then the upgrading process can begin. My fear of telling a new homeowner to jump in with a firmware upgrade is that they'll end up not understanding what's happening, then they'll end up factory resettng and won't have a good backup.....etc etc.. New homeowners with an existing system should learn to crawl, walk, and then run.... once they have then they should start the advanced topics. Edited March 26, 2022 by MrBill 1 1
Papa C Posted March 28, 2022 Posted March 28, 2022 I should have specified that I meant AFTER factory reset update before starting in rebuilding the system....
Craigb Posted April 19, 2022 Posted April 19, 2022 (edited) I'll add that the password can be reset to the known default admin/admin without doing a full factory reset on the ISY. Procedure here: https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY-99i/ISY-26_INSTEON:Resetting_Your_Userid/Password I'd do the following: - Download launcher and locate the ISY on their network. If an issue with wifi use a direct Ethernet cable from the ISY to the router or the laptop to connect initially. - See if previous owner set the user/password to admin/admin. Reset password if they did not. - Log into the Admin Console and make a backup of the system - Then start working with the system to determine how/what needs to be changed. Edited April 19, 2022 by Craigb 1
MrBill Posted April 19, 2022 Posted April 19, 2022 1 minute ago, Craigb said: I'll add that the password can be reset to the known default admin/admin without doing a full factory reset on the ISY. Procedure here: https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY-99i/ISY-26_INSTEON:Resetting_Your_Userid/Password A word of caution... read the factory reset instructions as well and understand that they are similar. Holding the button too long graduates a password reset into a full factory reset. 1
Craigb Posted April 19, 2022 Posted April 19, 2022 Yes, timing is important! Read twice, execute once. 1
Westlake Ventures Posted April 19, 2022 Author Posted April 19, 2022 The prior homeowner provided me the password to the system, so can log-in. But, because it is now on my new wifi, it is not "online". Is this potentially a different issue? Or is it more simple to solve than a factory reset because I have the login info?
MrBill Posted April 19, 2022 Posted April 19, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Westlake Ventures said: The prior homeowner provided me the password to the system, so can log-in. But, because it is now on my new wifi, it is not "online". Is this potentially a different issue? Or is it more simple to solve than a factory reset because I have the login info? Is it plugged into an ethernet jack? The ISY 994 doesn't have wifi. Have you restarted it? Don't factory reset at this point. Edited April 19, 2022 by MrBill
Westlake Ventures Posted April 19, 2022 Author Posted April 19, 2022 Yes, it's plugged into an ethernet jack. All of the programs still work - the lights turn on and off at certain times, the keypads control various scenes, I am just unable to edit those scenes. I have restarted it in the sense of unplugging and re-plugging it in, is there something else I should do?
MrBill Posted April 19, 2022 Posted April 19, 2022 20 minutes ago, Westlake Ventures said: Yes, it's plugged into an ethernet jack. All of the programs still work - the lights turn on and off at certain times, the keypads control various scenes, I am just unable to edit those scenes. I have restarted it in the sense of unplugging and re-plugging it in, is there something else I should do? What type of router? internet connection? Are you saying you can't access it locally? do you know the IP address?
elvisimprsntr Posted April 19, 2022 Posted April 19, 2022 (edited) @Westlake Ventures Sounds like the previous owner hard coded the ISY IP address, or new router is on a different subnet and was assigned a different IP address. https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=Resetting_Your_ISY Edited April 19, 2022 by elvisimprsntr
MrBill Posted April 19, 2022 Posted April 19, 2022 57 minutes ago, elvisimprsntr said: @Westlake Ventures Sounds like the previous owner hard coded the ISY IP address, or new router is on a different subnet and was assigned a different IP address. https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=Resetting_Your_ISY We can solve that without a factory reset tho. A factory reset is going to leave him with no clue what to do next....
Westlake Ventures Posted April 19, 2022 Author Posted April 19, 2022 Yes, I will be very lost if I have to reset everything, which is why I have been delaying a factory reset. I can't read the IP address on the back of the system, looks like it has worn off. Is there another way to find it? I can access both the system and my router (they're right next to each other). My router is just whatever one I have from AT&T. How do I access the ISY locally?
MrBill Posted April 19, 2022 Posted April 19, 2022 2 minutes ago, Westlake Ventures said: Yes, I will be very lost if I have to reset everything, which is why I have been delaying a factory reset. I can't read the IP address on the back of the system, looks like it has worn off. Is there another way to find it? I can access both the system and my router (they're right next to each other). My router is just whatever one I have from AT&T. How do I access the ISY locally? Are there lights blinking on the ISY? Or is it just the Steady Blue power light. Can you log into the AT&T router and see IP addresses that have been assigned?
oberkc Posted April 19, 2022 Posted April 19, 2022 Accessing the ISY may depend on version of software the ISY is running. It may also require downloading Java on your computer. As MrBill suggests, log onto your router and find your list of connected devices. One of those should be your ISY. That list should also include the IP address (the IP address is probably not something that is printed on some label that is worn). You could also take a shot in the dark and hope that it is a relatively recent software version on the ISY. If so, you could try the ISY launcher. See step 2 of: https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=Main_Page#Installing_the_Admin_Console_Icon_on_Your_Desktop Put the launcher on your desktop and open it. It may find your ISY. I don't think there is any harm in trying this.
Westlake Ventures Posted April 20, 2022 Author Posted April 20, 2022 I just have a steady blue light on the front. The error in the my.isy portal says "ISY is not online". What steps should I take from there? I can find the IP addresses from the AT&T router.
MrBill Posted April 20, 2022 Posted April 20, 2022 11 hours ago, Westlake Ventures said: I can find the IP addresses from the AT&T router. 1) Find the IP address via the router. 2) Download and install the latest Java from https://www.java.com (it must be that java, not some other version of java). 3) try using the launcher... on Windows this step will work, on Mac you may or may not have success with launcher), to use the ISY Launcher you basically download the start.jnlp file from https://isy.universal-devices.com/start.jnlp The first time you run start.jnlp it will install an icon on your desktop called ISY Launcher which you will use going forward. 4) the next thing you should see is an ISY Finder window. Finder may or may not Find your ISY on your network. If it did click the row and pick Admin Console (cloud). If it didn't use the Add button in the finder window to add an entry in this format: http://<IP address from step 1>/desc (don't include the <>, your entry should look something like http://192.168.1.33/desc) 5) report back your issues or status and we will go from there..... 1
Westlake Ventures Posted April 21, 2022 Author Posted April 21, 2022 Ok, so I have about 5 "unknown devices" listed on my network. I tried the IP Address for each of those and none of them worked, it said "Not found". I originally had the ISY hooked up to my network switch, I moved to the router, but still no luck. Any other suggestions? Appreciate the help.
kzboray Posted April 21, 2022 Posted April 21, 2022 (edited) @Westlake Ventures There is a free, ad driven application called "Fing - Network Tools" available for Android phones. Install it then scan your network. It will list the ISY and it's IP. Edited April 21, 2022 by kzboray 1
Westlake Ventures Posted April 21, 2022 Author Posted April 21, 2022 Thanks, I just tried downloading this and scanning but don't see anything listed as ISY. There are still a number of items that are listed as unknown. Would it always show up as ISY or would it possibly be one of the unknowns?
kzboray Posted April 21, 2022 Posted April 21, 2022 @Westlake Ventures It will be ID'ed as an ISY. It sounds like your ISY isn't on the network. Do you see the error light and memory light on the front of the ISY blinking? This would indicate the ISY isn't connected to a network. If they are not blinking then, do you have multiple networks? Wifi 2.4MHz and 5MHz. You need your phone to be on the same network to use Fing. Error light and Memory light blinking simultaneously: ISY is not able to get on the network.Please ensure: The Network jack on the back of ISY is connected to your router The lights on the Network jack have one steady on and the other one blinking. If not, check cable and connectivity to the router Your router provides DHCP There are no other devices on the network with the same IP address (IP Conflict) If you have configured your ISY to use DHCP, then you will have to search your network for devices that might be in the same DHCP range as your router is providing If you have configured your ISY with a static IP address, and as long as you have a good backup, you can Factory Reset your ISY and then restore a good backup (File | Restore ISY). Once prompted to change the network settings, choose No 1
Recommended Posts