j.rieff Posted January 16, 2023 Posted January 16, 2023 I have an ISY944i which has been installed for probably 10 years. On Wednesday of last week (01/11/23) I attempted to access my ISY via an app on my phone. I was just a little too lazy to turn off a light using the switch. I received an error that indicated that the ISY was not available. So, I immediately when to my PC to logon to the ISY via the Admin Console. To make a long story short, it did not work. SO, I went to the ISY device and performed the Cable TV fix - unplug the power cable and the network cable. The power LED on the PLM was lit up. After completing this low tech fix, I went back to the Admin Console and initiated a Restore ISY from a backup I captured around Christmas. After that I was able to logon to the ISY via the Admin Console. The phone app was also working OK. I should point out that all my programs were operating correctly and all the motion sensors were doing what I expected. Tonight, again in my laziness, I needed to turn off a couple of lights. The phone app again did not find ISY. The Admin Console had the right IP address, but would not bring up the ISY network configuration. All Cable TV fixes did not work this time, When I logon to the ISY Portal it says my ISY is not online. The Ethernet cable is attached and it has power. Now, maybe the End of Life email I received today was telling me that it might be time to replace. However, I am not sure which device, eisy or Polysis, to acquire. Is the transition rather straight forward, meaning, will my backup file be able to restore everything to a state similar to an fully operational ISY. Now, as I mentioned earlier, all the programs after to be working correctly. Just cannot access via phone app or Admin Console.
tmorse305 Posted January 16, 2023 Posted January 16, 2023 So is this your current situation? All programs are working correctly Cannot access the Admin Console Portal says ISY is offline If so that sounds like a network connection problem. Can you ping ISY? Maybe try a different network cable
DennisC Posted January 16, 2023 Posted January 16, 2023 To answer your other questions, yes ISY 994 is at end of life. She Polisy was to be the replacement, it was short lived do to supply chain shortages for parts to build it. Hence eisy was born, which all that's currently available.
MrBill Posted January 16, 2023 Posted January 16, 2023 You likely didn't need to restore the backup when this happened the first time. As for today, if you're still unable to logon via the admin console what are the lights on the front of the ISY doing? https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=Main_Page#Front_Panel_LEDs/Lights
j.rieff Posted January 16, 2023 Author Posted January 16, 2023 Thanks to everyone who responded. I really appreciate the synopsis on Polysis vs eisy. When I would do the CableTV fix, all the LEDs would illuminate solid with the Memory rapidly flashing at the beginning. Most likely part of the Power On sequence. The Rx and TX would start flashing. Again, part of the Power On sequence while connecting to the home network. When I did this yesterday, the Rx and Tx eventually went dark. Fast forward to today. I replaced the Ethernet cable as suggested by on the the helpful posts and went through the Cable TV fix again. Now, the power was off to the device for a couple of minutes rather than the 30 seconds before while I unplugged the original network cable and replaced it with another cable I had in my cable drawer (Yes, I am probably a Tech pack rat). After restoring power, everything started as it did before. However, the Rx and TX LEDs periodically flashed. I went back to my laptop and fired up the Admin Console. I eventually got the logon screen, which I was not getting before. Success there. I did get an acknowledgement screen that asked me to agree to policy and guidelines (something like that) after which my network displayed. I test a couple of commands on a couple of devices. All was good. So, I am thinking I will declare success at 10:59 AM (CST) on 1/16/2023. Hopefully, that will not change in 5 minutes. I am going to try the same fix on my Docking station. I is not seeing the home network right now. Maybe I will have a great Monday, Thanks for everyone. Hopefully, this ISY944i will stay healthy.
MrBill Posted January 16, 2023 Posted January 16, 2023 2 minutes ago, j.rieff said: I did get an acknowledgement screen that asked me to agree to policy and guidelines (something like that) after which my network displayed. If you got that, I think you need to replace your microSD card, that a sign.. so are the "mysterious" offline events you're experiencing. Make certain you have a good backup.. and don't delete any old backups at this point until you're back to stable again. Order a 32gb MicroSD from your favorite retailer, watch for the A1 certification. Any size below 32gb is fine, but not above. The most econmically priced tho will likly be 32gb. Install it in the ISY, the built-in bootloader is not a full version of ISY firmware, so the first step once you've replaced the card and get back into firmware is to reload the firmware via "manually upgrade ISY"... after the restart from that then you can restore your backup.
j.rieff Posted January 16, 2023 Author Posted January 16, 2023 @MrBillThanks. That makes a lot of sense also. Just looked at one of the folks I trust in this department. They are definitely inexpensive. Have not purchased any since I replaced one in the GoPro with a much larger one. Amazing how just a few years ago 32G was large now we are looking at 512G and above. So, let me understand the sequence of events. 1. Power off the ISY 2. Remove and Replace the Micro SD card 3. Power on the ISY 4. Logon to ISY 5. Perform Manual FW update 6. Restart ISY 7. Restore ISY with latest backup Did I miss anything?
MrBill Posted January 16, 2023 Posted January 16, 2023 3 minutes ago, j.rieff said: So, let me understand the sequence of events. 1. Power off the ISY 2. Remove and Replace the Micro SD card 3. Power on the ISY 4. Logon to ISY 5. Perform Manual FW update 6. Restart ISY 7. Restore ISY with latest backup Correct. #6 should happen automatically in conjunction with #5, likewise it will also restart after #7
MrBill Posted January 16, 2023 Posted January 16, 2023 @j.rieff It's been awhile since i've done it. I never could get the SD card to pop out the slot of the front, it's much easier to open the 994... one of the 4 screws is under the label, feel for it then cut a circle with a Xacto knife. It seems like the socket on the SD card is spring loaded... i.e. push in to pop it out.
j.rieff Posted January 16, 2023 Author Posted January 16, 2023 @MrBillOK - maybe I spoke too early or I need to be checking something else. Tried to fire up the Admin Console from my laptop (which by the way is now working great again when connected to the docking station). I get a Socket Open Failed java.net Socket Timeout Exception error. I am quite sure Java is all up to date. I will check the Java Cache. Tell me if I am barking up a wrong tree.
j.rieff Posted January 17, 2023 Author Posted January 17, 2023 @MrBillOK - I think senility has finally taken over. As you may recall, I had a couple of projects that involved changing some network cables. The ISY was Project #1. So, everything was working great after the new cabling. It helps to have a spool of Cat 6 and connectors in the closet. So, onto project #2. Again, the focus of that project worked as desired. However, I forgot to follow the scientific principles and I did not go back to make sure project #1 was still working. Then I decided to see if the phone app was working again. It was not. Back to the wiring closet and the network switch which was moved several times. I decided to unplug then replug the network cable for the iSY (into a new port on the network switch). Again, back to working with the Admin Console. Just check with the phone app. All is good. I purchased the new microSD card so I now should be ready. Just need to find the four leaf clover. In the meantime, maybe I should work a little bit on cable management. Thanks again.
MrBill Posted January 17, 2023 Posted January 17, 2023 I think all of your issues are revolving around the corrupt MicroSd card. You may or may not have had a bad cable.
j.rieff Posted January 17, 2023 Author Posted January 17, 2023 @MrBillThanks for your insights. You are one of a handful of folks who give reasonable and understandable advice in this forum. I have one last dumb question before I embark on this adventure. Step #4 was Logon to ISY (after replacing the Micro SD card). Do I use the logon credentials I created for myself when I initialized the device and whenever I access it? or, is the a default admin set of credentials built into the firmware that I have completely forgotten? Thanks again. 1
MrBill Posted January 17, 2023 Posted January 17, 2023 18 minutes ago, j.rieff said: I have one last dumb question before I embark on this adventure. Step #4 was Logon to ISY (after replacing the Micro SD card). Do I use the logon credentials I created for myself when I initialized the device and whenever I access it? or, is the a default admin set of credentials built into the firmware that I have completely forgotten? admin/admin After you restore your backup it should be back to whatever you set. thanks for the compliment 😀 1
j.rieff Posted January 17, 2023 Author Posted January 17, 2023 Thanks. I was thinking admin/password like some of the routers on the market
j.rieff Posted January 17, 2023 Author Posted January 17, 2023 @MrBillInstalled the new Micro SD card. The one I pulled out was only a 4GB card. Definitely old. I noticed my firmware was 5.0.16C. I usually only updated the firmware when I received a notice under the Help toolbar menu item. When I went out to the forum, I found the system was up to 5.3.4. So, I downloaded the files. When I tried to updated the firmware somewhere around the 2% completion I received a Write Size error dialog box (did not write down the specific text). So, I left everything the way it was at 5.0.16C. Performed a restore and setup my admin password again. Everything appears to be running OK. However, whenever I logon a LIB_ERROR_403 error dialog box pops up. Everything appears to be working OK.
j.rieff Posted January 17, 2023 Author Posted January 17, 2023 Was wondering if performed a firmware updated through the ISY Portal if that would work.
MrBill Posted January 17, 2023 Posted January 17, 2023 10 minutes ago, j.rieff said: Was wondering if performed a firmware updated through the ISY Portal if that would work. no. I'm not even sure why that option exists. so did you successfully install firmware? you must do that on a new card... 5.0.16C is as far as you can go if you have 300 series z-wave, 5.3.4 for 500 series z-wave or no z-wave installed. Don't unzip the file. are you using MAC or windows? windows is easier... 1
j.rieff Posted January 17, 2023 Author Posted January 17, 2023 @MrBillNo, unable to update firmware. Kept receiver something like a Write Size error. Everything shows I am at 5.0.15 which is what it was before everything starting quitting.
MrBill Posted January 17, 2023 Posted January 17, 2023 I don't see how you could be... but if that's what it show... are you using Mac or windows? Try downloading a fresh copy of the zip file and don't open it. 1
j.rieff Posted January 17, 2023 Author Posted January 17, 2023 @MrBillPC Laptop Windows 11. I did download a a fresh copy of 5.3.4 and did not unzip Could I perform the FW update via the Portal rather than through the Admin Console. From the outside looking in it would appear to be the same.
MrBill Posted January 18, 2023 Posted January 18, 2023 16 hours ago, j.rieff said: Could I perform the FW update via the Portal rather than through the Admin Console. From the outside looking in it would appear to be the same. Try it if you like, I've never used the option. Every time I've read about it being used in the forum it's ranged from it doesn't work to how or why did you install version x.y (with x.y being specific firmware for a specific customer group) or other problems... I'm surprised you're even connected to the portal on a new SD card with no firmware loaded.
j.rieff Posted January 18, 2023 Author Posted January 18, 2023 I am just as confused as you are why this appears to be sort of working. I say sort of since I receive the LIB-ERROR_403 error when I logon to ISY through the Admin Console. When I try to perform a Web Access via the ISY Portal I receive a /config missing error. Obviously, the file structure is not complete which aligns with the LIB_ERROR_403 error. I downloaded the 5.3.4 file from a Forum discussion that had Firmware 5.3.4 in the title. You were a participant in the Forum discussion. Maybe I download the wrong file. I have a vanilla ISY944i. Nothing fancy and no Z-Wave. I do use a PLM that is connected to the ISY944i with what looks like an Ethernet cable. Probably a Serial PLM. I will go back to the Forum and do another download. Wish me luck.
MrBill Posted January 18, 2023 Posted January 18, 2023 this thread references both LIB_ERROR_403 and is one of the threads I mentioned earlier where someone tried to update via the portal: Another thread suggests your MicroSD card might not be seated correctly. and yet another suggests disabling firewalls during the firmware installation.
j.rieff Posted January 18, 2023 Author Posted January 18, 2023 thanks for all your assistance. I performed all of the above: Disabled Virus Scan. Disabled Firewall, Download a new copy of the 5.3.4 FW, and reseated the Micro SD card. Success!! Thanks again. It looks like (sample size of one) that everything is back up and operational. Now, I will need to follow the eisy developments. Not sure I need to upgrade immediately, but with a new orgganization taking over Insteon development who knows when my ISY will no longer meet the needs. I keep forgetting to tell you I like your MrBill handle and Avatar. That is my generation of SNL. 2
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