How to plan a smooth transition from 99i to 994i ?

[simonw]

Greetings

 

My attempt to migrate from 99i to 994i hasn't gone entirely smoothly and I wondered if the strange things I've seen are normal or not. I'd like to know how the migration should be done. Apologies if I missed a thread on this topic.

 

I bought a 994i/PRO in preparation for using the secure connection to my Elk. I am looking to cut over from my 99i/PRO with as little downtime as possible.

 

My 99i and 994i are now both at firmware 3.3.10. The 99i is connected to the PLM and active. The 994i is on my local network but not connected to a PLM.

 

Onto the 994i I restored a fresh backup from the 99i which mostly looked OK in that my programs and variables were all there. No configuration tabs for my various modules (Elk, Climate, Network) but I figured this is normal since I have not yet contacted UD to transfer the modules from the 99i to the 994i.

 

What next? How far can I get with setting up the 994 while the modules aren't copied over? Does the 99i die once the 994i modules go live or is there a transition grace period? What about the PLM? Will it just unplug from the 99i and plug into the 994i?

 

Lastly, a problem with variables not being restored from the backup: Maybe this is to be expected, but although my integer variables reloaded from the backup the state variables did not, at least the init values. Typing them all in would be a pain. Is this inevitable? Or am I missing a trick or seeing a backup bug?

 

Thanks in advance for any pointers or tips,

 

Simon

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Simonw

 

My 99i and 994i are now both at firmware 3.3.10. The 99i is connected to the PLM and active. The 994i is on my local network but not connected to a PLM.

 

Onto the 994i I restored a fresh backup from the 99i which mostly looked OK in that my programs and variables were all there. No configuration tabs for my various modules (Elk, Climate, Network) but I figured this is normal since I have not yet contacted UD to transfer the modules from the 99i to the 994i.

So far so good!

 

What next?

Request to have your modules transferred

 

How far can I get with setting up the 994 while the modules aren't copied over?

You need the PLM without which you cannot do anything.

 

Does the 99i die once the 994i modules go live or is there a transition grace period?

I am not sure what this means. What you need to do is to unplug your 99, plug the PLM into your 994, and then plug your 994 into power.

 

What about the PLM? Will it just unplug from the 99i and plug into the 994i?

YES.

 

Lastly, a problem with variables not being restored from the backup: Maybe this is to be expected, but although my integer variables reloaded from the backup the state variables did not, at least the init values. Typing them all in would be a pain. Is this inevitable? Or am I missing a trick or seeing a backup bug?

Without the PLM, ISY is in Safe Mode and thus you are not going to see any of your variables/programs.

[oberkc]

simonw,

 

I have nowhere near the modules you have. My only one is the X-10. Assuming the general concept is the same, I can tell you that it was painless for me.

 

I asked for my module to be transferred. Once done, I plugged in the -994, and into the PLM and network. Updated the firmware to the latest (which you have already done), restored my system from a backup (which you have already done), and I was running. The downtime was the time it took to plug things in. I don't recall, but I may have had to reload the little icon app that finds and opens the new ISY, but that was pretty trivial.

 

I found the whole process to be the most pain free technology transfer I have ever experienced. My experience with phone, reader, tablet, operating system, routers, computers, streamers, and all that has made me a bit gun shy regarding change. If your experience is like mine, just do it.

[Xathros]

My transition from the 99 to the 994 was much like oberkc's experience. I have A10/X10, Network and Climate modules - all transferred within a few minutes of my email request to UDI. After I restored my backup from the 99, all I had to do was change my static network settings, customized location and reload a few files that I kept on the ISY's web server (not included in the backup). Like oberkc, it was quite painless and only took a few minutes to complete.

 

-Xathros

[TJF1960]

Same experience here. It took very little time from my email to the modules being ported over. The thing that took me the longest was getting my router to accept the static IP address...but that was in no way the ISY's fault.

All in all it was very painless. The only words of wisdom I can suggest is to just take your time and don't attempt it while you are in a rush.

[simonw]

Migration from 99 to 994 completed very smoothly. Thanks to all for their encouragement.

 

Simon