Non-Functioning Admin Console

[saclarkdoc]

My 994i finally bit the dust, and I have now purchased a new EISY to replace it. I loaded in an old 994i backup, and I can change the state of the Insteon sensors on the Admin Console screen, but nothing happens with state of the individual sensors themselves.

When I follow the instructions in "ISY Portal Admin Console," and run start.jnlp, I am initially shown the screen at the TOP of "UUID to IOX.pptx." (Note that I am shown IoX rather than POLISY or ISY; the instructions also state that running start.jnlp will place an icon on my desktop from which I can launch the ISY Finder/Launcher; however, there is no such icon placed on my desktop). 

When I then click on the UUID, I get the screen shown at the bottom of "UUID to IOX.pptx".

Can anyone suggest troubleshooting techniques to determine why I am unable to control my Insteon sensors when I change their state in the Admin Console?

 

 

(Edited: removed PPTX files)

 

[MrBill]

A lot to unpack here.

First did you follow the migration instructions or did you just load the backup?

Second fancy power points indicate you're not getting into the admin console, but the text of your post clearly indicates that you are.

Third, usually you can't change the status of a sensor, however you should be able to change the status of a switch or dimmer.

Fourth, are you using windows or mac (with regards to the desktop icon).

Finally, to better help yourself,  simply paste your screen shots right into the post.  Not everyone has a copy of powerpoint, those that don't have to simply skip trying to help you.

 

[Geddy]

3 hours ago, saclarkdoc said:

however, there is no such icon placed on my desktop

If you're using Windows and run start.jnlp and no icon is being added to your desktop this usually means you need to clear the Java cache and try again. In the past when Java updates it will remove the icon from the desktop and many have tried to add it by just running start.jnlp again, but it won't actually add the icon because Java thinks it is already there. So clearing the cache (selecting all 3 boxes in this process) should allow you to add the icon again next time you run start.jnlp.

3 hours ago, saclarkdoc said:

Insteon sensors

What "sensors" are you trying to control? As @MrBill states above typically "sensors" aren't "controllable". 

Since the problem above (not putting icon on the desktop) might imply that you haven't cleared the Java cache I'm betting that your Firmware and UI don't match (next time you're in Admin Console use the Help -> About menu and compare "Firmware" and "UI" versions. They should match, EXACTLY (even the time stamp). 

This is from a previous version for my system:

 

3 hours ago, saclarkdoc said:

When I follow the instructions in "ISY Portal Admin Console,"

What "instructions" are there? You might need to refresh your methods with the UDI Wiki paying specific attention to the eisy User Guide. 

https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

 

After you've reviewed the migration steps that @MrBill links to and further read some of the eisy User Guide hopefully you'll be up and running with the eisy. 

Finally: Not many people would risk downloading power point files. So in the future if you're posting images please save as image file types and only post images. Typically images or text files are all that are needed to help troubleshoot most problems around here. 

[saclarkdoc]

 

MrBill – Many thanks for your response. Before I respond to your questions, allow me to explain that I used to be no Dummy (undergraduate and post graduate degrees in Engineering and Mathematics from the University of Iowa). Then a few years ago I went off to war for Uncle Sam, flying helicopters overseas; a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and 18 Combat Air Medals later, I returned home to work with NASA. Then I was hit with severe Combat PTSD and retired. For many years my 994i worked just fine, then it quit and I learned that my engineering brain isn’t functioning as well as it used to.

 

Having clarified that history, let’s address your comments…

 

First did you follow the migration instructions or did you just load the backup? The migration instructions require a working 994i. Since I did not have a working 994i (all I had was a 4-year-old backup file), so my only choice was to just load the backup.

 

 

Second fancy power points indicate you're not getting into the admin console, but the text of your post clearly indicates that you are. Well, I could make changes in the Admin Console itself, but nothing happened to my switches or dimmers.

 

 

Third, usually you can't change the status of a sensor, however you should be able to change the status of a switch or dimmer. I misspoke, all my units are switches or dimmers.

 

 

Fourth, are you using windows or mac (with regards to the desktop icon). My computer is a Windows 11 x64 machine.

 

 

Finally, to better help yourself,  simply paste your screen shots right into the post.  Not everyone has a copy of powerpoint, those that don't have to simply skip trying to help you. Many thanks for removing the .pptx files and embedding the graphics!!

 

[Techman]

@saclarkdoc

You mentioned that you loaded an old backup onto your ISY. Prior to migration did you update the ISY to 5.3.4, which is a migration requirement.

 

Preparing for Migration from ISY-994

On your ISY-994

1. Make sure the ISY-994 is upgraded to 5.3.4,
2. If you are migrating your Z-Wave network
   • You must be using a 500 Series Board in the ISY-994
   • Make a backup of your Z-Wave network (Admin Console | Z-Wave | Backup)
   • Make a backup of your ISY-994 (Admin Console | File | Backup ISY)
   • Power down your ISY-994 (very important). ISY-994 needs to be powered off because when you migrate, both your ISY-994 and Eisy / Polisy will think they are controlling the Z-Wave network.
3. If you are not migrating your Z-Wave network
   • Make a backup of your ISY-994 (Admin Console | File | Backup ISY)

[saclarkdoc]

Getty - I appreciate your suggestions. Here is where I stand relative to each of them:

NO JAVA ICON ON DESKTOP.  I have cleared my cache many times before running start.jnlp. The problem is I cannot check all three boxes (the bottom two are greyed out-see photo). So I still am unable to put the icon on my desktop.

INSTEON SENSORS. As I told MrBill, this was a typo. It should have read "Switches." I have also included a photo verifying 'Firmware' and 'UI' versions match.  However, this leads to two more questions: (1) under "PRODUCT" I do not see Insteon Modules listed. Is this normal? (2) It also shows my "Internet  Access" to be DISABLED. Any ideas why?

ISY PORTAL ADMIN CONSOLE INSTRUCTIONS. I have attached a copy of the Universal Devices document I was using that has this title. If I should not be using this document, why is it still out there?

[saclarkdoc]

Techman - Thanks for your suggestions; however, in my case they do not apply because my old 994i was DEAD (as in totally inoperable and non-responsive), so 'Migration' was not possible. The only item I had was a backup file of the 994i, so my only option was to use that file.

This leads me to another question involving the IoX LAUNCHER: The example picture has three lines, two with POLISY and one with ISY; However when I run the Launcher I only have one line, and it starts with IoX.

[DennisC]

Just now, saclarkdoc said:

Techman - Thanks for your suggestions; however, in my case they do not apply because my old 994i was DEAD (as in totally inoperable and non-responsive), so 'Migration' was not possible. The only item I had was a backup file of the 994i, so my only option was to use that file.

This leads me to another question involving the IoX LAUNCHER: The example picture has three lines, two with POLISY and one with ISY; However when I run the Launcher I only have one line, and it starts with IoX.

 

That's because you only have one device, eisy. There will be a septline for each device on the network.

This would be a lot easier if you could get in to your ISY and do a proper migration.

What exactly is wrong with your ISY994?

Have you tried a new power supply?

 

[hart2hart]

 
MrBill – Many thanks for your response. Before I respond to your questions, allow me to explain that I used to be no Dummy (undergraduate and post graduate degrees in Engineering and Mathematics from the University of Iowa). Then a few years ago I went off to war for Uncle Sam, flying helicopters overseas; a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and 18 Combat Air Medals later, I returned home to work with NASA. Then I was hit with severe Combat PTSD and retired. For many years my 994i worked just fine, then it quit and I learned that my engineering brain isn’t functioning as well as it used to.
 
Having clarified that history, let’s address your comments…
 
First did you follow the migration instructions or did you just load the backup? The migration instructions require a working 994i. Since I did not have a working 994i (all I had was a 4-year-old backup file), so my only choice was to just load the backup.
 
 
Second fancy power points indicate you're not getting into the admin console, but the text of your post clearly indicates that you are. Well, I could make changes in the Admin Console itself, but nothing happened to my switches or dimmers.
 
 
Third, usually you can't change the status of a sensor, however you should be able to change the status of a switch or dimmer. I misspoke, all my units are switches or dimmers.
 
 
Fourth, are you using windows or mac (with regards to the desktop icon). My computer is a Windows 11 x64 machine.
 
 
Finally, to better help yourself,  simply paste your screen shots right into the post.  Not everyone has a copy of powerpoint, those that don't have to simply skip trying to help you. Many thanks for removing the .pptx files and embedding the graphics!!
 

Thanks for your service to us and our country. With other here, I’d love to assist you sorting migration to the great eISY if possible. If it is ok with you I’d like to take one step at a time in the process?

As others said, it would be so much easier if we could get the ISY 994 back or at least the data on SD card. You said your ISY994 is dead. So to determine if it might be the power supply, does dead include as a symptom that none of the ISY994’s blue LED lights come on?

[saclarkdoc]

Dear hart2hart - I truly appreciate your kind offer, and hopefully I can take you up on it. I say 'hopefully' because actually I own two 994i's.  I purchased the second one but never used it.  After receiving your offer I dug through my Insteon box and found one of the 994's. Not sure which of the two it is, but (A) the blue power led works when plugged into the power supply, and (B) it still has the micro SD card plugged in.

I removed the microSD card and read the high-level directory in my Windows 11 x64 desktop. The results are as shown below:

[hart2hart]

Good. Sounds like you may have at least one working ISY994.

Can you locate the other ISY994 to see if it powers up?


If the other one does not power up, it may be the one you’ve been using most recently and hence, it’s SD card would have the most recent data.

Keep in mind if it does not power up that we need to try the power supply from the ISY that did appear to get power.

Let me know how that goes.

[Brian H]

Trying a working power supply sounds like a good test.

We have seen (including myself) the power supplies used by the ISY994i failing and a replacement correcting things.  In my case it was working poorly and when power cycled didn't have enough power to restart.

[saclarkdoc]

CURRENT STATUS:   I have continued to search for the other 994i, but so far 'No Joy.'  I will continue looking (also for the additional Power Supply).

I have investigated the micro SD card. It seems NOT to be corrupted (I can 'see' some of my individual switches).

I then tried to connect this 994i to the web, power it up (yes I made sure my eisy was disconnected), cleared the Java cache once again, and then ran IoX Launcher. It could not locate the 994i (and no lights function on the 994i other than the blue power LED). This would seem to indicate the 994i I am working with is the "bad" 994i.

Suggestions?

 

[hart2hart]

CURRENT STATUS:   I have continued to search for the other 994i, but so far 'No Joy.'  I will continue looking (also for the additional Power Supply).
I have investigated the micro SD card. It seems NOT to be corrupted (I can 'see' some of my individual switches).
I then tried to connect this 994i to the web, power it up (yes I made sure my eisy was disconnected), cleared the Java cache once again, and then ran IoX Launcher. It could not locate the 994i (and no lights function on the 994i other than the blue power LED). This would seem to indicate the 994i I am working with is the "bad" 994i.
Suggestions?
 

Are you plugging the ISY994 into same Ethernet cable that the eISY (or is eISY on wireless wifi) was plugged into from your original posting?

Is the PLM plugged into the ISY994 and the PLM plugged into an outlet?

So we are on same page., can you snap a photo of the ISY994 showing all the wires it is connected to when all plugged in?

[saclarkdoc]

STATUS REPORT:  It is just before midnight. I found another Power Supply, and suddenly my old 994i is alive again. Here is the screen after running the IoX Launcher:

However, there is still a problem. Trying to load my "Admin Console (LAN)", I receive an error message telling me that I must connect the PLM. However, I have thrown away my old PLM assuming it was bad. My new PLM is the USB variety. To use this, I believe I require an ethernet cable with a USB connector on one end. Accordingly I have ordered an "Ethernet to USB" adapter which will arrive Thursday.

What else can I accomplish in the meantime?

[saclarkdoc]

hart2hart, here are my answers to your questions:

Are you plugging the ISY994 into same Ethernet cable that the eISY (or is eISY on wireless wifi) was plugged into from your original posting?  Yes I am

Is the PLM plugged into the ISY994 and the PLM plugged into an outlet? As you can see from my previous answer, I do not yet have the cable I need (Ethernet to USB) to connect to the USB PLM.

So we are on same page., can you snap a photo of the ISY994 showing all the wires it is connected to when all plugged in? Although I am currently unable to connect to the PLM (see previous post), I will take a photo of the back of my 994I in the morning. By the way, now all lights on the 994i flicker when I apply power, then the left-most two blue LEDs remain full on.

[Brian H]

If you are trying to connect to an ISY994i and a USB 2413U PLM.

You need a USB to Serial port adapter. Probably wired strictly to only use the three serial signals on the ISY994i RJ45 style serial connector.

Edited July 18, 2023 by Brian H

[hart2hart]

STATUS REPORT:  It is just before midnight. I found another Power Supply, and suddenly my old 994i is alive again. Here is the screen after running the IoX Launcher:
However, there is still a problem. Trying to load my "Admin Console (LAN)", I receive an error message telling me that I must connect the PLM. However, I have thrown away my old PLM assuming it was bad. My new PLM is the USB variety. To use this, I believe I require an ethernet cable with a USB connector on one end. Accordingly I have ordered an "Ethernet to USB" adapter which will arrive Thursday.
What else can I accomplish in the meantime?
http://d2z8ydsemzif1x.cloudfront.net/monthly_2023_07/image.png.1eddf8c4894d78c5f6e761066a401e5f.png

Ethernet to USB is not the right adapter. As @MrBill points out it would require a serial to usb adapter and if memory serves me correctly the ISY does not support its use.

I believe the goal with the ISY994 is get it running enough to run the proper upgrade and migration steps to obtain a proper backup that can be used to migrate to the eISY.

The next step is to move further into the AC. With IoX, when you click on the ISY link do you get launch from cloud?

[saclarkdoc]

1 hour ago, Brian H said:

USB to Serial port adapter

Do you know if there are any instructions on how to construct the USB to Serial Adapter for the 994i? 

 I have been scouring the U-D website and so far no luck.

[saclarkdoc]

hart2hart - Yes, I get a launch from Admin Console (Cloud). But then I receive a warning I am in 'safe' mode, and I am not able to see my programming.

[hart2hart]

hart2hart - Yes, I get a launch from Admin Console (Cloud). But then I receive a warning I am in 'safe' mode, and I am not able to see my programming.
http://d2z8ydsemzif1x.cloudfront.net/monthly_2023_07/image.thumb.jpeg.5fc8c3dec7746dfb3202b516bcb1c84e.jpeg

Good! If I recall correctly (@MrBill or @Geddy can you confirm) the ISY will show devices in Safe Mode.

Given that no devices are showing, could this be the ISY that was never used? Maybe you could power it off and pull SD card from the other ISY and then restart to see what you get by following same steps.

[Geddy]

@hart2hart @saclarkdoc I think it should show in safe mode. I've never tested. It just means there's no PLM connected.

@saclarkdoc at this point you've gone fairly deep into digging down the ISY994 path. Your current firmware for the ISY994 that you got running is VERY old (4.2.18). It's probably not of value to continue down that path if you only have a USB PLM.

How many devices do you have? You might be better served just starting over with the eisy. This is is one of those times that not having a "current" backup huts. Also, if you had not kept up the ISY994 to the latest firmware (5.3.4) to be able to migrate there's almost nothing you could do. 

If you have anything in the eisy you should copy your programs (right click the root directory, last option on the menu will be "copy to clipboard", paste that in a TEXT editor (i.e. Notepad, not Word or other word processing program). This way you at least have a printed copy of all your programs to recreate them once you're running on the eisy.

Otherwise, your issue is much too complicated to try to handle through forum posts (IMO). You would need to be active near same time and even then some complicated steps ahead to be attempted.

Good work trying to get this far along, but after 4 days it probably would have been easier to rebuild the system using the eisy than what you've gone through. 

[Brian H]

5 hours ago, saclarkdoc said:

Do you know if there are any instructions on how to construct the USB to Serial Adapter for the 994i? 

 I have been scouring the U-D website and so far no luck.

No I have not seen such an adapter.

The connector on the 2413U is the square B style connector. Usually for devices connected to the USB A style controller as the B does not have any +5 volts needed to run a active USB electronic device. As the controller rectangular connector can supply usually up to 1A of +5v and it is negotiated by the devices at discovery.

[saclarkdoc]

To Geddy and the rest of my cadre of helpers:

My sincere thanks for all of your efforts. However, given the fact that one of my old 994i units (as well as it's associated PLM) are missing in action, we found that every time we attempted to implement a new strategy, things quickly ground to a halt.

Therefore, I must agree with Getty that the best course of action at this point is to start from scratch with my new eisy and its new PLM, manually re-entering each individual sensor with its corresponding parameters (luckily, I have a hard copy sheet with the specific settings for each of my switches and dimmers).

Although this method will require considerable additional effort on my part, it will result in a clean, crisp copy of the Admin Console for my new working eisy system.

I may have still have a few questions along the way, but I trust I can still post these questions in a new query asking for your perspective with a new system that should be unencumbered by my mistakes of the past.

Again, my sincere thanks for all of your suggestions & recommendations, and I will post my progress for your future comments and/or suggestions.

Best regards,

saclarkdoc

[Geddy]

@saclarkdoc Sounds good. Probably a good decision based on prior comments and info you were showing. Hopefully you can setup to best suit your needs these days compared to the "old" setup. I'm sure a few things will be different along the way, but it's an option to be a learning experience and even possibly a time to review just what you've got and how it's all incorporated. 

Remember Insteon has products now and even their new i3 line (from the sounds of it UDI is working with Insteon to get i3 support implemented with the latest firmware). 

This even gives you a chance to see what other options you have if you need to make further investment in automation with the support of node servers and the ZMatter option.

Good luck, and certainly post any new stumbling blocks you might run into (as new topics!) and the community is here to help out!