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    (Last Updated: December 15, 2020)
    • Status of SMARTHOME and SwitchLinc products

      D

      Is the Smarthome company still existent? If so, are SwitchLinc switched still available?

      General Discussion
    • Smart door lock

      D

      Hi! I want to install a smart lock on my front door, but I don't know which one to choose. There are many different models available on the market. Do you have a reliable model to recommend?

      General Discussion
    • Lua - Code to encrypt / decrypt with AES 128 CBC

      parkerc

      Hi

      I’m looking to rework some code I found online so I can use it on Vera, and while I’ve managed to translate / convert a number of things, I’ve got stuck on a few things it does, around encryption/decryption etc.

      All the original Lua code is here - > (https://forum.logicmachine.net/showthread.php?tid=232&pid=16580#pid16580 )

      Plus there looks to be a python version too here - > (https://github.com/florianholzapfel/panasonic-viera/issues/9#issuecomment-476919658)

      Here’s an extract of the code where AES 128 CBC is required?

      function encrypt_soap_payload(data, key, hmac_key, iv) payload = '000000000000' n = #data payload = payload .. string.char(bit.band(bit.rshift(n, 24), 0xFF)) payload = payload .. string.char(bit.band(bit.rshift(n, 16), 0xFF)) payload = payload .. string.char(bit.band(bit.rshift(n, 8), 0xFF)) payload = payload .. string.char(bit.band(n, 0xFF)) payload = payload .. data aes_cbc, err = aes:new(key, nil, aes.cipher(128, 'cbc'), { iv = iv }, nil, 1) ciphertext = aes_cbc:encrypt(payload) sig = encdec.hmacsha256(ciphertext, hmac_key, true) encrypted_payload = encdec.base64enc(ciphertext .. sig) return encrypted_payload end function decrypt_soap_payload(data, key, hmac_key, iv) aes_cbc, err = aes:new(key, nil, aes.cipher(128, 'cbc'), { iv = iv }, nil, 0) decrypted = aes_cbc:decrypt(encdec.base64dec(data)) decrypted = string.gsub(string.sub(lmcore.strtohex(decrypted), 33), '%x%x', function(value) return string.char(tonumber(value, 16)) end) return decrypted end

      I can get to the point where I can create the parameters for the payload encrypt request (example below), it’s just the encryption/decryption I cant do..

      data="1234" key="\\S„ßÍ}/Ìa5!" hmac_key="¹jz¹2¸F\r}òcžÎ„ 臧.ª˜¹=¤µæŸ" iv=" {¬£áæ‚2žâ3ÐÞË€ú "

      I’ve found this aes.lua (https://github.com/openresty/lua-resty-string/blob/master/lib/resty/aes.lua ) module online, but that requires loads of others modules too, most notably ffi.lua. Which I’d ideally like to avoid.

      I also came across this aes128.lua (https://github.com/somesocks/lua-lockbox/blob/master/lockbox/cipher/aes128.lua ) but i’m not sure how that handles all the other parameters e.g specify the cbc aspect etc.

      Finally there’s this aes256ecb.lua script (https://github.com/idiomic/Lua_AES/blob/master/AES.lua) , could that be converted to aes 128 cbc and then used in the above?

      Any help/advice on this would be appreciated..

      General Discussion
    • Seeking experts for implementing Modbus TCP

      Crille

      I just upgraded the firmware for the inverter for my solar panels and that made it possible to enable Modbus TCP.
      At a glance that would be perfect for live production data fed into my home automation environment but my lack of knowledge about the protocol and how to put the data where I want it failed me.

      What I have:

      MSR
      openLuup
      Vera Secure
      Ezlo Plus
      Mosquitto
      Homebridge
      Windows Server
      Ubuntu Server
      Quite decent PowerShell skills
      Enough Lua knowledge to write my own functions and handlers
      The inverters Modbus interface definitions

      What I want to achive:

      Something that can be run by systemd och anything else monitoring the status and keeping the Modbus connection alive.
      Publish readings over MQTT or whatever fits my setup, the goal is to feed the data into openLuup in someway so Historian can log the data for Grafana and display current production to HomeKit (as a mqttthing light sensor, since there is no other accessory suitable at the moment).

      Anyone implemented Modbus TCP in similar projects or have any guidance on how to reach my goal?

      Open for alternative solutions as well, all suggestions are appreciated!

      General Discussion
    • http relay activate with username and password authentication

      D

      Hi to all,
      I am user of vera controller. I have a dahua door intercom with relay. Relay activates with username and password authentication. I can activate the relay http://admin:a1234567@192.168.1.111/cgi-bin/accessControl.cgi?action=openDoor&channel=1&UserID=101&Type=Remote

      As you can see intercom username admin and password is a1234567 I build a scene with luup code luup.inet.wget( "http://admin:a1234567@192.168.1.111/cgi-bin/accessControl.cgi?action=openDoor&channel=1&UserID=101&Type=Remote" ) But can not activate relay. Is there any idea?

      General Discussion
    • Vera Secure usage without mios

      D

      Hi to all, I have a bricked vera secure that is replaced with new one. Old vera secure serial numbers are deleted from vera servers so I cannot use it. Vera secure's are orginally Sercomm's NA502 model devices. Recently I install openwrt to the old vera secure unit without problem. Is there any way to use it any automation system with internal z-wave. I install domoticz but I cannot setup internal z-wave unit, it only accept usb zwave radios. Is there any ideas?

      General Discussion
    • An electricians or wiring experts here?

      cw-kid

      I ordered a Fibaro Dimmer 2 and Bypass device for my upstairs landing / hallway lights.

      I have 2 light switches one at the bottom of the stairs and another one upstairs on the landing.

      But I am struggling to make sense of my current wiring, more details / photos on the Vera forum.

      Jan 27 Anyone good at electrical wiring for light switches? Anyone good at electrical wiring for light switches?

      Hi I ordered a Fibaro Dimmer 2 and Bypass device for my upstairs landing / hallway lights. I have 2 light switches one at the bottom of the stairs and another one upstairs on the landing. I have no neutral wires in the house behind the light switches. These are photos of the light switch...

      Thanks

      General Discussion
    • Looking for ideas on how to implement an automation.

      R

      Hello,
      Looking to all the dev's and tinkerers on this community for ideas on how to implement a solution to my problem. Kind of a long intro, sorry.

      Problem statement:
      I have a geothermal heat pump that has a loop that is slightly undersized. During the cold weather months in the Pacific Northwest (one or two months of the year), the loop can get below 32 degrees. If it goes on for a few days, it can generate significant frost heaving in my yard and under the flagstone deck, Actually fixing the issue is cost prohibitive.

      Current mitigation:
      I have DS18B20 tied into Home Assistant and monitoring the temp of the fluid coming out of the loop and if it drops below 35 degrees, MSR triggers a Fibaro Implant to add a resister into the external temp circuit and fool the Venstar to think the outside temp is below 32 degrees and issue a Heat Pump lockout and switch to AUX heat. While this is working fine and the AUX heat is only coming on once or twice a day, I would like to simplify the setup so it runs on something other than HA and MSR. I think they are overkill for my issue. Also want this to be independent of anything else in the house so it can stay behind if I am not around to maintain.

      I only have two inputs and one output:
      Inputs: Loop temp, Furnace running
      Outputs: Switch relay to drop resistance to external thermostat connection on thermostat.
      Logic is super simple:
      If temp is below 36 degrees and furnace is running, turn on relay
      If furnace stops, turn off relay.
      I am sure even I can figure that out on Python.

      Trying to determine the best platform for a set it and forget it black box that works with as close to zero maintenance as possible.

      Options I have thought of are:

      Pi zero with a GPIO controlled relay ESPHome (Not very knowledgeable about that platform, but willing to explore) Arduino Anything anyone else suggests

      Any ideas are appreciated.

      General Discussion
    • Is Hubitat to HA Bridge possible?

      D

      Greetings,

      I’m researching a migration from Vera+ to Hubitat C7 and want to know if anyone has successfully connected the Hubitat to the “HA Bridge” for local Alexia calls.
      The HA Bridge does not callout Hubitat natively from what I see.

      Thanks for your assistance.

      General Discussion
    • New Developer - What I should know/do ? (Vera/OpenLuup)

      parkerc

      Hi all

      Having some time off i’ve been able to invest a chunk in creating some plug-ins for Vera/OpenLuup, and will do what I can to post them in GitHub and add links on the Vera Community and here, for anyone who is interested.

      But, being knew to any of this, I wanted to ask for any guidance on how and when I should share stuff ? How best do I share it ? Am I liable for anything I share? Is GitHub the best place ? What licenses should I associate with them ?

      The latter is a strange one, as I don’t see how I can have any claim over the content/code itself, as I’ve learnt and leveraged so much from others..

      To get the ball rolling I posted this on the ezlo/Vera site..

      Jan 4 Luup Plugin - Energenie PMS LAN Switch Luup Plugin - Energenie PMS LAN Switch

      Hi To ensure I give back to this community, which has been educating me in all things Lua and Luup over the years (12+) I wanted to share some of the plugins I’ve built recently to see if any are of use/interest to others. The first one is for the Energenie PMS LAN Switch where I have built two...

      General Discussion
    • New to Smart Home

      M

      Hey guys,

      I just registered here in the forum and honestly… I’m new to the whole topic. I‘m a web developer, so I‘ve quite a bit experience with java, js, sql and so on. But that may not help a lot in this new field.

      I‘m looking forward to develop my own smart home device and I‘m looking for starting point. In General the specs are like:

      The device should work with WiFi, I want to integrate it into my network I want to write an own app to control it, it may find the device in my network I want the device to be offline usable, if possible (without internet connection) I want the device to broadcast information in my network like „water is empty“, so I can use push messaging in the App it should be ready to as well work with Alexa or Apple Home Kit or Google Assistant as I Plan to develop a skill for them.

      Can someone provide me with some information I could start with? Like - are there microcontrollers I could go with or is it to complex and I need a raspy? Which frameworks / languages / libs could I use? I know how to do the things on the app side but not on the device side.

      General Discussion
    • Amazon Alexa hosts

      CatmanV2

      Vainly trying to get to the bottom of the 10 - 15 second delay for TTS with the Alexa plugin (still) anyone have a list of the possible Alexa hosts? Just wonder if the one I have (layla.amazon.co.uk) could just be slow.

      Any thoughts?

      C

      General Discussion
    • Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays

      toggledbits

      Just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays, if that's your preferred salutation, or...?), and also a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year 2022.

      General Discussion
    • Very newbie man looking for help

      P

      Hello. First, excuse my english, please. I bought a Vera Edge looking for some way to make a digital ambient thermostat that I could manage remotely without a phone home from the device side. I am very disappointed with that device because all the "official" help of the brand goes in the way of to sign in an account and work with their cloud. I have some computer, network and linux knowledge but all my tests with the hub and a Qubino Flush 1D Relay has been unsuccessful. I connected both and I got to make some basic functions but I see myself very far to get my target. This is my last try to get something before I log in an account in getvera.com and look if I can make some progress in my project following that way.

      Can somebody tell me some place where I can learn the basic concepts of this system? Guides, books, videos... Whatever it can help me in my project.

      Thank you.

      General Discussion
    • Help please with Node-Red "Lost connection to server"

      cw-kid

      Node-Red on my Linux Debian box seems to be having issues now. It keeps saying repeatedly "Lost connection to server, reconnecting..." in the web browser.

      I recently updated nodejs for MSR, I wonder if that might be related:

      "Bump recommended nodejs version to 16.13.0; versions 14 and 15 will continue to be supported through March 31, 2022"

      Nodejs version = v16.13.1

      I have tried updating Node-Red that is now version v2.1.4

      I also updated npm to version v8.2.0

      I am not sure how or where to look at the log file for node red?

      This is the contents of the nodered.service file in this directory:
      /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants

      # systemd service file to start Node-RED [Unit] Description=Node-RED graphical event wiring tool Wants=network.target Documentation=http://nodered.org/docs/hardware/raspberrypi.html [Service] Type=simple # Run as normal pi user - change to the user name you wish to run Node-RED as User=stuart Group=stuart WorkingDirectory=/home/stuart Environment="NODE_OPTIONS=--max_old_space_size=1024" # uncomment and edit next line if you need an http proxy #Environment="HTTP_PROXY=my.httpproxy.server.address" # uncomment the next line for a more verbose log output #Environment="NODE_RED_OPTIONS=-v" # uncomment next line if you need to wait for time sync before starting #ExecStartPre=/bin/bash -c '/bin/journalctl -b -u systemd-timesyncd | /bin/grep -q "systemd-timesyncd.* Synchronized to time server"' ExecStart=/usr/bin/env node-red-pi $NODE_OPTIONS $NODE_RED_OPTIONS #ExecStart=/usr/bin/env node $NODE_OPTIONS red.js $NODE_RED_OPTIONS # Use SIGINT to stop KillSignal=SIGINT # Auto restart on crash Restart=on-failure RestartSec=20 # Tag things in the log SyslogIdentifier=Node-RED #StandardOutput=syslog [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target

      Thanks

      General Discussion
    • Goodbye Brothers in crime!

      S

      Hi @ll, last days I migrated my last zwave device from Vera to zwave js in homeassistant. Out of 150 devices 1 did not go well initially but reinterviewing did it directly. Most work was to find the ex and inclusion procedure, 3 times, click, clack, whatever. I must admit that Vera is Lighting fast!!!!! With only 3 devices left, those were my under the floor switches I had to do last.

      Now I am totally gone from Vera, altui, luup, etc. There's nothing more left for me on this forum. And since it was one of my "routine sites" reading I will save a few minutes a day skipping it.

      I thank you all for all the kind help, warm words and laughter about the ezlo flop :-).

      I hooe you all will be safe and healthy and whish you all the best!

      I will stay on the homeassistant forum.

      Goodbye!

      General Discussion
    • Re-number on OpenLuup

      CatmanV2

      Morning all. Hope all are well. Been a bit of a trying time here, but nothing we can't deal with....
      .....apart from this!

      My coffee grinder went punk yesterday (wasn't even being used) and took out the main breakers. Once it was isolated I got everything back on line, except on TKB smart plug which was in the same double socket as the grinder.

      OpenLuup claims it's failed. Z-wave server can't see it but it responds to the button pushes physically as I'd expect. (i.e. the socket turns on and off, and the LED flashes to indicate it's in inclusion / exclusion mode)

      My plan is to see if I can exclude it then re-include it in z-wave server. If that doesn't work then I'll bin it, but if it does work can I then re-number it to match the original device ID and not have to trawl through my reactors? Any chance?
      TIA

      C

      General Discussion
    • Would you use a self-hosted geofencing solution?

      toggledbits

      Some of you may know that I took at shot at building an alternate geofencing solution for Vera. The core of it was system agnostic, using the OwnTracks application and AWS lambdas to track devices and keep a central data, then disseminate that to the Vera via a websocket-based plugin. It worked with other apps as well, including Tasker and GPSLogger, but of the dozen people that were testing it, most used OwnTracks.

      A lot was learned in the process, not the least of which is that the success of any such solution is highly dependent on the phone and its settings. Phone manufacturers love to set things up for the longest battery life, of course, but that's usually very anti-geofencing behavior. In the case of at least one brand, it was unusable and the settings could not be modified. It was also cost-prohibitive to maintain on Amazon, as AWS grabs a dime here and a dollar there and before you know it, it added $100/month to my AWS bill, which my wife deducted from my Scotch budget. Unacceptable.

      But it's quite reasonable to use OwnTracks to a local endpoint, and I could pretty easily replicate the functionality as a local application, or maybe even as an additional endpoint built into MSR's API (still separate port and process, but in the package).

      So the question really is... would you do it, or would you be too concerned about the security risks associated (e.g., dynamic DNS and NAT mapping in the firewall necessary for the phone to contact the service when not on LAN)?

      General Discussion
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    • Q
      Quixote last edited by Quixote

      Hi!
      I was tipped off about this forum while bitching about my Vera on the Vera forum, as I had grown accustomed to over the years. I know that's not very nice, but that thing brings out the worst in me (and has even driven me to drink on occasions 😉 )!
      Anyway, how about a little intro in case anyone is actually interested? I did odd jobs, saved up for and built my first PC from components by the time I was 15 (back when you had to know how to get around a DOS prompt and a 120Mb hard drive was a big deal). Within 6 months I had my own BBS up and running. The internet wasn't really a thing back then -- did AOL really count? I only really discovered home automation almost a decade later, again before it had really taken off. Back then I was using X10 because it was still one of the only consumer options and I had no electronics background. Over the years I have experimented with several home automation technologies, 90% of them ending up as useless scrap and a waste of money. Today I feel like not much has changed, but things are moving in the right direction (wide scale adoption -> more money invested in improving tech to try to get us to part with our money, am I right?). I've never really had the funds to go all out or to get the more expensive gear, but I've found some products that have been worth sticking with -- namely my Elk-M1G and one or two other obscure devices. I recently was "renovicted" during the pandemic and decided to move from my modest apartment in the city to a house out in the woods in the middle of nowhere.
      So here I am, with an almost clean slate, looking to set this place up better than ever. The internet access sucks out here, but the house is mine to do what I will with it. I envision a keyless entry system even better than the last one I devised, walls that literally talk and eventually even roboticized structure & furniture (eg. Aquarium lids that rise for maintenance, hidden doors that slide open, a table that transforms into a bar, etc.).
      For the moment, though, I'd like to figure out how to replace this *&$%ing Vera. Funds have been tight lately, but at the moment I have several pieces of hardware I can start with: The Elk (as mentioned), ~20 LIFX bulbs/strips, a handful of Amazon Echos, a few Zwave devices, some IR and audio stuff, the Vera, a few other odds and ends.
      Ultimately, I'd like to set up a low-power system like a NUC or something that will always be on, running automation as well as handling audio (most likely multi-zoned). I built my last PC as a gaming PC, but I can use it to experiment until I'm ready to purchase an HA system.
      Where do I start if I want to learn about OpenLuup? I skimmed through the forums, but they seem quite advanced and are a little beyond my abilities. I do CAD/CAM, not programming, unfortunately!
      Thanks!!

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • akbooer
        akbooer last edited by akbooer

        Welcome! The backstory is interesting, and not so far from some others here, I suspect. Your current situation sounds like a real opportunity (for many things.)

        To the question of openLuup... it should be easy to get going and proceed in small steps. Forums are, of their nature, somewhat daunting, because of the range of interests and expertise discussed.

        Most openLuup users run this under some flavour of Unix, but it does run, at least for some plugins, on Windows. It’s really easy to install, and the key one of its basic requirements is a Lua 5.1 system. Get this going first, then follow the install instructions in the openLuup user guide.

        So, for a start, are you up for Unix/Linux?

        Again, welcome.

        AK

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • Q
          Quixote last edited by

          Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can.
          I've never touched Unix in the past, though I did have a dual boot system once with Ubuntu running. It wasn't too intimidating, but as someone that has been using Microsoft OSes for almost 20 years, I found it difficult to really get used to. I have some minor experience with Lua 5.1 scripting while I was using Girder for some years a while back (not sure if you've ever heard of it, but it was fantastic. Discontinued, unfortunately). What exactly do you mean by a "Lua 5.1 system"? Do you mean just installing a binary?
          Windows would really be great for me since I only have one computer right now and it's running Windows 10. I use it a lot these days for web browsing, streaming, playing music and gaming. I suppose I could sandbox Linux so that I could jump into that system when I want to mess around with OpenLuup? The ultimate would be if I could set stuff up on this system, then transfer everything over to my HA PC once I'm able to invest in something decent. If it's better to use Linux, I'll make the effort.
          Thanks again

          akbooer 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • akbooer
            akbooer @Quixote last edited by

            @quixote said in New to the forum:

            What exactly do you mean by a "Lua 5.1 system"? Do you mean just installing a binary?

            Yes, possibly some extra libraries too.

            So let's give Windows a quick go. All the openLuup learning (and configuration) will be directly transferrable to a Unix system in future, if necessary.

            User Guide is here:

            akbooer/openLuup

            akbooer/openLuup

            a pure-Lua open-source emulation of the Vera Luup environment - akbooer/openLuup

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • rafale77
              rafale77 last edited by

              @Quixote, Welcome!

              Your story parallels indeed that of many of us here and I remember your post in the old place if (it is you).
              You should be able to setup openluup and practically anything we discuss here on windows. There could be some differences in setup and command you need to use but it should work.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • Q
                Quixote last edited by

                Thank you both! That's great! Windows it is then. I will look at the user guide tonight and get started setting everything up in the next couple of days.
                @rafale77, That was most probably me. I had a habit of addressing my Vera problems while sipping on beers, losing track of my consumption and then visiting the forum frustrated and angry. Apologies to anyone I may have offended or if I embarrassed myself. It won't happen here, I can guarantee that. For one thing, I am not being sold something that will cause more headaches than it fixes. I see this as a sort of video game, but a much more constructive use of my time.
                I noticed that you mentioned the use of (local) AI in some posts. That stuff looks super interesting. At one point (about 15 years ago, I think?) I was trying to emulate AI with a chatbot called "UltraHal". It was super primitive -- written in visual basic if I recall correctly, but it could come up with some convincing responses. I had it set up so that I could converse with it, but also control my lights and control my TV, etc.. It would "learn" from your conversations somehow. The thing is, it creeped me out sometimes and I stopped using it after it told me that I "should not buy nice things in case my house burns down" or something to that extent. Anyway, looking forward to seeing what sort of experimental projects you come up with. I have a 2070RTX, so if you need any testing done, let me know (just don't fry my card please).

                rafale77 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • rafale77
                  rafale77 @Quixote last edited by

                  @quixote

                  It does sound like you 😉

                  Yes I am very much invested in making everything work locally. It started from my video doorbell where I thought... if my phone can do face id, why can't my home automation system? So I ended up adding an RTX2070 to my NAS, forked home assistant to implement the best facial detection and recognition I could find and ended up also doing object recognition. I have an RTX3070 on the way to see if I can improve speed and lower power consumption. It's been a lot of fun and a lot of work for someone who doesn't code for a living and did not know python. Not sure what I will do next...

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • Q
                    Quixote last edited by Quixote

                    😮
                    "...see if I can improve speed and lower power consumption"
                    I'm just picturing this massive heap of discarded airconditioner heatsinks strapped together, surrounded by a network of greenhouse misting hoses and desk-fans, a Frankenstein-ish mad scientist (the doctor, not the monster) pounding a keyboard and screaming, "yes! YES! It IS A SQUIRREL!!!"
                    Joking aside, I have to say that is incredibly impressive. Over the years I've stumbled upon various similar projects that were inspirational, including one that was so good that some military (I think it was US or Israeli) swooped in and scooped it up, apparently. I wish I still had the name of it, but they were working with breakthrough image processing (including facial recognition) and then they just went completely dark. Excuse me, I just need to go check out what that noise was in the back yard... jk 😉

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • Q
                      Quixote last edited by

                      I hope it's ok if I ask a few questions while I read the documentation. Sorry if they're dumb. 😕

                      -First and foremost, I see that UPnP is not supported and never will be -- out of curiosity, why is that, and out of concern, does that rule out DLNA as well? If so, is there some other standard that may be used to control readily available media players, including apps like Plex or J River Media player?
                      -Does using port 3480 HTTP mean that no traffic is encrypted, or is that only because all communication is strictly over the LAN? Do I need to start playing with firewall rules?
                      -Would installing a more current version of Lua (above 5.1) break things?
                      -Lastly for tonight, how can I completely wipe my Vera to the point of being a drooling Z-wave zombie? I mean, I have a Zwave lock that I need secure, so not a total zombie, but maybe like a zombie that just does what it's told without fail? I'd like no responsibility to fall on the Vera except as a mindless Zwave translator (ie. dongle style). Possible?

                      akbooer 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • akbooer
                        akbooer @Quixote last edited by

                        All questions OK.

                        • UPnP – this is more a question of how you access, control, and trigger events in openLuup (or, rather, how you can't) it has nothing to do with what openLuup can do by way of interacting with other things. If there's a Vera plugin for controlling something, it probably works on openLuup (as long as it's not encrypted.)
                        • HTTP on port 3480 – openLuup's built-in server does not do HTTPS, but everything stays on your own LAN. Remote access is another topic (which has been addressed in several ways by others.)
                        • Lua 5.1 – openLuup uses Lua 5.1, because Vera does. Yes, using 5.2 or above, would break things, as it stands, because Lua changed the way that function environments were handled. However, all the dependncies arebuilt into on single function within openLuup that could be changed. I may do this in future as Vera compatibility becomes less of an issue, and to enable further developments.
                        • Vera a drooling zombie – That's exactly the goal of openLuup... and then, to eliminate that hardware entirely. A number of folk here have done just that. See, for example:

                        https://smarthome.community/topic/243/vera-or-not-vera?_=1607082180490

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • CatmanV2
                          CatmanV2 last edited by

                          My vera is stuck in a cupboard. Ready for burning.

                          C

                          The Ex-Vera abuser know as CatmanV2.....

                          Q 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • PerH
                            PerH last edited by

                            Just unplugged mine as well, i held on to it for the geofencing, but the latest "update" to the app ruined it again.
                            Living just fine without it, z-way for z-wave, Zigate for Zigbee and RFXtrx for 433mhz. No need to look back! 🙂

                            @Quixote
                            I see you're considering using Windows to run linux native SW, and mye experience says "Just don't".
                            I tried this with Grafana, and practically all help on issues i had was for linux users, with the standard: "oh, your'e running it on a windows machine? Good luck with that" replies.
                            Linux is pure pain for people growing up in the DOS/Windows world like me (and perhaps you), but once you get to a certain point, its livable. And the open-source community is huge, full of nerds (using the word with absolutely no negative connetations) eager to help!

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                            • akbooer
                              akbooer last edited by akbooer

                              That’s one of the nice things about this forum... we have a variety of opinions and experiences, and we’re happy to discuss the pros and cons. I actually think that you’ll end up with Linux too, but there’s no harm in starting in an environment you’re familiar with.

                              The PC-related issues seem initially to do with installing Lua, and then finally with specific plugins which expect to be running on Linux, rather than openLuup itself. YMMV.

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                              • Q
                                Quixote @CatmanV2 last edited by Quixote

                                @catmanv2 said in New to the forum:

                                My vera is stuck in a cupboard. Ready for burning.

                                The Vera abuser formally know as CatmanV2.....

                                The first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem. 😉
                                The last time my Vera crapped out on me, I was all set to make a video of myself, smashing the thing to little pieces with my sledge-hammer and posting the video on the Vera forum. Fortunately I'm very lazy so by the time I had it in me to get it done, logic and reason had crept in and I started thinking I might be able to find some use for it, even if just as an access point.

                                Thank you akbooer for the clear explanations. I have to say, discovering this place is very exciting -- it's the first time in a while that I've felt like I'm exploring something new that I'm keen about, like when I was a kid and I was learning how to set up my BBS.
                                I'm mostly concerned about the whole Linux thing. As PerH mentioned, it can be a little bit of a learning curve and it often had me feeling pretty helpless. I don't have any aversion to Linux, but I won't be making it my main operating system. The reason for that is not because I'm stubborn, but rather because while I don't spend an inordinate amount of time on gaming, I do enjoy it from time to time and I've spent a small fortune on my gaming rig (especially when you consider that I spent Bitcoin on this damn thing before the price exploded. This is possibly the most expensive gaming system you'll ever come across. 😢) My experience in the past is that Linux and gaming do not mix. I know it's gotten better over the years, but it still can't touch Windows on that front.

                                So I think the question I need to ponder now is, do I poke around with OpenLuup to familiarize myself with it while not getting too serious about anything, then do a proper permanent set up when I can work a HAPC into my budget, or do I just put the whole thing off until I can invest a proper amount of funds into hardware for this? I'm leaning towards playing around with it on my Windows system for now.
                                The reason I was asking about Zombifying my Vera was that I was hoping to make use of it in some way since it has the Zwave radio built in. If I could avoid shelling out another hundred bucks on a Zwave stick for the same functionality, that would be great. Otherwise, if I can gain some sort of advantage by doing so, I will.

                                My initial goals as I see them at this point would be:

                                • To have a single, low-power consumption, always on system that handles whole home audio, all home automation tasks and coordinates all HA systems, including my alarm system (this is important because it's rock solid and I will be using it for mission critical tasks in the future, such as aquarium maintenance and garden irrigation)

                                • To be able to access and control my music (Local sources) using voice commands (using Echo devices), and possibly execute other macros in the same way.

                                So the second PC will be purchased at some point and it looks like it will have to be Linux. The thing that concerns me is the transition that will need to happen when that becomes a reality.
                                I purchased J River Media Center some time ago, and I believe they have a Linux version, so that's one less thing to worry about.
                                Hopefully I won't need to print out all of the scripts, etc. I put together until then and then re-enter everything when the time comes.
                                Forgive me if I've been prattling on -- I think I'm mostly just talking to myself here. 😆

                                akbooer 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Q
                                  Quixote last edited by

                                  Sorry, one more question:
                                  It seems that the Lua for Windows that is available for download on Github incorporates Lua 5.1.5. Is that still considered Version 5.1, or do I need to search for another source?
                                  Thanks for all the help, everyone!

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                                  • therealdb
                                    therealdb last edited by

                                    If you just want to experiment, install windows subsystem for linux. My dev pc is a Windows machine but thanks to WSL I have a true Linux environment running side by side on Windows. That’s what I’m using to develop for openluup (and for my Linux dev needs in general).

                                    --
                                    Vera+MQTT+HomeAssistant+my own framework all orchestrated via MSR
                                    70+ Zwave Devices, a bunch of ZigBee light strips and a lot of code

                                    My Luup Plug-ins => https://github.com/dbochicchio/vera

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                                    • akbooer
                                      akbooer @Quixote last edited by

                                      @quixote

                                      Great introduction. The background can really help when we’re giving suggestions.

                                      It’s not the case that you need massively capable hardware to run openLuup. The most popular platform is, perhaps, Raspberry Pi, and even then it only uses a few 10s of Mbytes and ~5% cpu. But there are many options, and I’m about to follow a route that others have forged previously to run openLuup under Docker on a Synology NAS... so we’ll all be learning something new over the next few weeks.

                                      Lua 5.1.5 is, indeed, ‘Lua 5.1’, and the best choice. Necessary additional Lua modules may come with your initial installation, or need to be added. There’s a list in the User Guide.

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                                      • Q
                                        Quixote last edited by

                                        Nice,
                                        ok, well I installed the Linux subsystem, Lua 5.1 and the dependencies.
                                        @therealdb thanks for the suggestion. It seems to be running alright. Any pointers on how I can have this start with Windows? The user guide only mentions scripts for Linux systems in the appendix.

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                                        • therealdb
                                          therealdb last edited by

                                          Just search for wsl 2 and you’ll find everything you need.

                                          It’s just going to Windows Store and install your favorite distro, ie Ubuntu.

                                          --
                                          Vera+MQTT+HomeAssistant+my own framework all orchestrated via MSR
                                          70+ Zwave Devices, a bunch of ZigBee light strips and a lot of code

                                          My Luup Plug-ins => https://github.com/dbochicchio/vera

                                          Q 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • Q
                                            Quixote @therealdb last edited by

                                            @therealdb Yes, I did that already. I'm just wondering if I need to open the Bash console and start OpenLuup every time I reboot or if I can set it to start with each boot.
                                            Everything seemed to go alright, but when I open AltUI, I immediately get a message box that says "fail". The weather is showing Paris, and I can't control any of my LIFX bulbs that I imported from the Vera using VeraBridge.
                                            Also, the app store is blank. I haven't finished reading the user guide yet though.

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