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Hello Everyone -
Can someone point me in the proper direction of doing a Vera (Secure) backup?
Specifically, I'm worried about a controller failure and unable to source a new one where I could just use the included backup facilities.
I'm considering staying on Vera a little longer to see what happens with Ezlo (especially around easy migrations).
I know I can manually run backups from the UI but wondering if there's a more "standard" method that would allow me to move to another platform if required. This would require me to pull my (important definition, I feel. This shouldn't be a secret) encryption key off of the Vera as part of the backup - so any pointers there would be helpful as well.
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Does anyone have a quick way to delete multiple devices without having to do a reload between each delete? I have about 20 child devices to get rid of and it will take forever to delete them all one by one with a reload in between.
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This is just a note for anyone who wants to delete the duplicate child devices the Vera likes to create. In my pervious experience when I would delete a child device (duplicate or not) the parent device would get deleted too.
What I now have discovered is that if you go into AltUI and clear the value set in the attribute for the child device called id_parent you can simply delete the child device without the parent device getting deleted.
I am unsure if the new FW recently added the ability to delete child devices like this, but now I went from 30+ child devices down to the expected 4. Hope this helps someone out!
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First I want to say thank you to this group. You have given me ideas and help along the HA path for a long time.
I'm an old Vera user and planning to decouple from MIOS cloud now or after 7.32 but I'm stuck at how to push messages out.
I'm using Reactor and Scenes for Vera native messaging. What's a good solution going forward?Also want to mention that after reading the Decoupling document I have built a NTP GPS server on a Pi3B and enjoyed learning more about Linux along the way. I have it stabilized after learning 100 different ways.
Thanks
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Anyone installed the new beta f/w on their Vera unit and liking it?
Read https://community.ezlo.com/t/7-32-vera-firmware-beta-release/217060
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Hello @therealdb , I have updated to the new vera FW and cant seem to get your plugin working. I keep seeing "install jq package" on the device itself and when I reset everything and got a new cookie file I see this in the device's Latest Response variable: ERROR: missing argument for -d /storage/alexa/alexa_remote_control_plain.sh [-d .
I have used the code to reset the cookies, added a new cookie file, added the OTP, updated the plugin (did this first actually) and still cant get it working.
Testing some TTS commands I see this response in my logs:
"Say", {Text="Hello from Vera Alexa", Volume=50, GroupZones="Bar Echo", Repeat = 3}, 632)) <0x6bc41520> 08 03/14/21 10:57:57.179 JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest device: 632 service: urn:bochicchio-com:serviceId:VeraAlexa1 action: Say <0x6bc41520> 08 03/14/21 10:57:57.179 JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument Repeat=3 <0x6bc41520> 08 03/14/21 10:57:57.179 JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument Text=Hello from Vera Alexa <0x6bc41520> 08 03/14/21 10:57:57.180 JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument GroupZones=Bar Echo <0x6bc41520> 08 03/14/21 10:57:57.180 JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument Volume=50 <0x6bc41520> 50 03/14/21 10:57:57.180 luup_log:632: VeraAlexa[0.9.0@632]:addToQueue: added to queue for 632 <0x6bc41520> 01 03/14/21 10:57:57.181 LuaInterface::CallFunction_Job device 632 function SVeraAlexa1_VeraAlexa1_Say_run failed /etc/cmh-ludl/L_VeraAlexa1.lua:89: bad argument #3 to 'format' (string expected, got nil) <0x6bc41520> 50 03/14/21 10:57:57.181 luup_log:0: ALTUI: Evaluation of lua code returned: nil <0x6bc41520> ``` -
I use the ROKU plug-in from Vera's app repository. It seems to constantly add Log entries every 5 seconds or so, to the point where my LuaPnP log is just littered with page-long reports about the status of my Roku TV. My Log is 75% "Roku" status!
The only pertinent setting I see under Advanced > Variables is "PollingEnabled" (default: true) which when set to false does indeed stop the logging altogether. But I fear this also completely stops the plug-in from checking TV status which otherwise would update variables that happen to trigger some of my MSR routines. (More testing needed here...)
But do you guys know of any way -- up to and including editing the D_, I_ or L_ files of the plug-in itself! -- to simply stop or slow a running plug-in from writing to the Log??
Also, is there any harm (other than mild annoyance when I have to review the Log for unrelated things) in allowing Vera to write so vigorously to the Log all day long??
THANKS!
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I regret my decision to click "Configure Node Right Now" on an otherwise working device (a Fibaro RGBW LED dimmer control) while it was "Off". Doing so seems to have caused all of its "children" devices (RGB(R), RGB(G), etc.) to disappear from my Vera UI, and I have no idea how to get them back.
Meanwhile, the parent device keeps reporting "Device Failed to Configure" (in red)** and cannot be controlled by Vera any longer. Nor do the attached LEDs go "On" in response to other Scenes.
How do I undo this innocent mistake? Restarting the Luup engine and hard-refreshing my browser/UI has not helped.
THANKS!
P.S. What does that button DO!??!
EDIT: Now the affected device reports (in light blue) "Please wait! Getting the manufacturer...", then "Setting special association", etc. Then 8 unnamed devices magically appeared in the affected room...
I am hoping these are good signs? -
Seems as though during my testing of the Vera Mobile app, I set up a couple of Scenes (now deleted) which never worked anyway.
But MSR's "Entities" tab still shows the presence of two waypoints (with Vera ID's like vera>geo_1625761_1) which I have no clue how to delete.
I've searched high and low in the app (Settings, Users, etc.), and can't think of anywhere in the Vera Plus UI to look for these - not even sure what to call 'em - to Delete them.
Any clues?
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I just peeked into my Vera Plus > User and Account Info > Other Users and much to my astonishment (and horror?) found a little surprise waiting for me, an account called "LinuxTest".
Seems it magically has the highest possible authority ("Account Administrator") within my Vera Plus, along with a contact email of linuxtest@mailinator.com
Does this appear on anyone else's 7.32 (beta firmware) Vera unit?
(In case it matters... no, I've never requested or authorized Customer Support on this unit, at least not in the past 10 years.)
Hmm. - Libra
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I have a VeraPlus and would like to purchase a second z-wave controler. Is it possible to build a second z-wave network next to an existing z-wave network? Slowly I want to move devices form Vera to the new z-wave network. Is it more advisable to install the second z-wave controller as a slave controler?
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Updated to 7.32 beta and it made all my Zooz switches act up, finally got everything back to normal except one device. Its a Zooz zen21 switch and prior to updating it had an associations group set on it (was trying to associate two switches, didn't work) and after the update I tried removing the associations but the switch is failing at purging associations.
Before I repair the switch does anyone know of a way to either force an associations purge or get rid of the error?
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Before I give up completely, and lose my entire mind, can someone please tell me I'm following the correct steps to get the LED of my NodOn Soft Remote configured through Vera?
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Dusted off my mothballed Vera 1 unit, which I thought was broken -- that's why I bought a Vera Plus a few years ago -- and she's evidently working perfectly.
Haven't attempted any Z-Wave inclusions yet (though the dongle, also surprisingly, appears functional).
ANY REQUESTS? Want any files copied, or for me to perform any experiments using Multi-System Reactor on the Vera 1?
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I have a Sensative strip that is in Vera twice. Each one has a different Device number and ID. Have tried to delete one and it will not go away. How can I remove one without loosing the other?
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So, after more than 10 years and 4 Vera's, my vera forum account is suspended.
I think the monkey of the company, called melih is not man enough te have any critic. In the topic about the "great to come app" I responded to the topic (not off topic!) that a subscription can also be seen (financially) as buying a box, run it for 2 years and come to market with a better one (in better wordings).
That means that if you as a company hast a box of 50USD cost, sell it at 250USD would give him a monthly subscription of 200/24=8.33 USD... Users that would last 5 years would pay a monthly of 3.33USD.But... the monkey on the rock has bolded his fists and said: ban him! He just can't take any criticism.
To be honest! I am not even sad! It was a very rough journey with Vera. The journey stopped when Ezlo and the monkey took over the name.
After that it quickly went downhill...
Goodluck all! (except the monkey).
Edit:
Aug 16, 2020 MiOS Application - early Beta enrollment MiOS Application - early Beta enrollment
The topic:
are you serious? would I become a cost? that is, customers who periodically replace the control unit and are happy with the service praise the Vera system and therefore also free advertising but, the new “company” decides to charge less to bind the customer with a subscription … But the genius...
The post:
The point you are missing is:If the hardware would “cost” around 50USD, and you sold it for 250USD, an average life span of 5 years would mean 200/(5×12)=3.33USD per month. Thats how Vera used to do it.
Then release a faster/better “beast” every 2 years gives you 200/(2×12)=8.33USD per month. That’s how vera used to do it.
And that’s how I did it for around 8 years and 4 veras with them untill you bought the company.
This is just a matter of how you look at it and explain it.
I dont frikking care how you do the maths, I only liked a working product and a close user community (like it was).
Now all I see on this forum is a lot of “we are going to” and “we are working on”, “keep them coming guys”. But the reason for ever considering to buy a new vera every 2 years is gone…
No clear migration path, no clear compatibility path and no clear integration path…
That’s why I started to look for alternatives…
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So ... I am trying to do the following:
Current setup:
Vera Plus (1.7.4955) Zwave only -> HASSIO VM (full control via Vera Integration)Future Target:
HASSIO VM (leveraging zwave.me UZB1 dongle via USB)I have done the following so far:
Updated UZB1 dongle (via RPi SmartHome) to latest 5.39 FirmwareI followed the following steps to try and migrate my existing Z-Wave NW (currently on Vera) onto the UZB1 dongle following the steps listed here:
Problem:
Steps 1-3: went fine (although the dumps are labeled as dongle.6.1.dump.x)
Step 4: went fine and the UZB1 was recognized as it should be (per dmesg)
Step 5: updating the port to /dev/ttyACM0 went fine, although I didn't see any indication of luup reload (or a save button for that matter when updating the port mapping)
Step 6: I did the touch for dongle.restore, but wasn't sure where to trigger a luup reload (I assumed it was Z-Wave Settings > Advanced > Reload Engine). I believe I got an error message when trying to do that step
Step 7: verify dongle.restore.go I don't recall being in the directions when I was going the test, but I rebooted
Post Reboot: None of my previous z-wave devices were listed. I also checked dmesg via ssh and noticed the following items:
[ 4.328000] Unsupported Device! [ 4.328000] Vendor=658 ProdID=200 [ 4.328000] Manufacturer= Product=I saw that item a couple times which almost seems like Vera is blocking the UZB1 or at least complaining about it.
I ended up switching the Z-Wave back to the embedded controller, and restoring configuration from backup.
Any suggestions what I did wrong??
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Anyone have a way of killing this? Delete plugin? Install files manually? Desperate to get set up on the rpi.
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Current Hardware: Vera Plus, HA in Synology Docker
Firmware: v.7.0.31
Available SW / HW: Multiple RPi's, Z-Way UZB w/lic, Z-Way Razberry board
ZWave Devices: 30-ish early gen GE/Jasco light switchesIssue: I've gotten myself into a spot that I'm not quite sure how to safely get out of, and I'm hoping someone on this forum can help me. I would ultimately like to get to a point where I'm using Home Assistant in Docker on my Synology as my UI for turning on/off lights, but I've read the "Pyramid" post and am open to other options. I can currently ssh to my Vera Plus, but cannot access the web UI (get a 403).
How I Got Here:
Back in Feb'19, I followed @rafale77's instructions to take my Vera off the grid. At the time, it looks like I was running version 7.0.26. This worked great.
I installed HA in Docker w/socat on my Synology NAS, and things were running perfectly for a long time, but I was forced to upgrade HA in tandem with an upgrade to the iOS app. So, I chose to use a Docker build that already had socat built in.
Then, I saw that there was a new version of firmware for Vera, and decided to upgrade to Firmware v.7.0.31 around Apr'20. This was a mistake in a big way, and I sought help on the new version of the Vera forums, which eventually led me here. I also re-ran @rafale77's mod files on the newer firmware version, and I think I shot myself in the foot there. I knew it was gamble, and take full responsibility. I've learned a lot and have benefitted greatly from his work.
I tried to run the Nuke Vera script, as that sounded exactly what I needed my Vera to do - take commands from HA and nothing else. This seems to be working, but I'm unable to control my network with HA.
Additional things I've done / tried / worry about:
Validated that HA is sending and receiving responses via socat from the Vera in the HA openzwave logs. I see logs that seem to indicate that a message is sent, and a message comes back from the Vera, but lights don't turn on/off. I've clicked the Heal Network, Test, Network, and Soft Reset buttons in the HA UI too.
I purchased a razberry. Then, I ordered a UZB, after seeing this post about migrating, assuming that it was best to try to follow that guide verbatim and not have to exclude / include a bunch of devices. I'm leaning towards completely divorcing myself from Vera.
I'm not 100% sure I have a valid backup of my zwave config. There are no dongle.dump files in /etc/cmh whch may make sense, as I was using after an external drive w/extroot. I do have some in ./mnt/sda2/etc/cmh/. It looks like I've got extra, actually, as it looks like I probably made backup copies some where along the way.
I shutdown the Vera and removed the extroot drive, reversed all of the changes Nuke-Vera made to the init.d start up files, and rebooted. I did this because the migration guide mentions to set the path of the z-way UZB in the UI settings, and I couldn't find how do this over ssh. I also don't know how to backup the zwave config from the CLI and was going to do this via the UI. As mentioned previously, I'm getting a 403 "Access Denied" message. Looking at logs and the config for lighthttpd, I think it is trying to follow some symbolic links that no longer exist, but I'm hoping I can get out of the mess I've made without troubleshooting and solving the HTTPD issues. I think I just need to know how to follow the steps to clone the Vera to the UZB via the CLI?
I found a command online method that allows me to view the zwave keys with hexdump. The keys on the device are different than the keys in on the drive that i was using for extroot, and that concerns me a bit.
If you've made this far, thanks for your time! Does anyone know the best way for me to get myself out of the mess I've got myself into?
All the best,
Michael -
Dear Experts!
In January 2020, I decided to get involved in automation as a complete beginner.
I purchased a Vera Plus device controller.I built the network gradually, at the cost of overcoming no small problems .....
Since I am a beginner I have had a lot of problems.For example: I had 6 multisensors that sometimes got stuck with motion detection (lights stayed on) and also created ghost devices.
I knocked everything out of the system, the system stabilized a lot after that. (many red lines disappeared from luaupnp ....)Over time and with the help of the experts (Eg: AKbooer was a great help to me in netatmo which I thank again) I managed to solve most of the errors.
I only use a reactor to control the logic and execution.
The logical composition of my reactor is not very complicated in my opinion.My DSC alarm (with plugin) controls the house modes, cameras, each room has a separate reactor sensor (18 sensors in total) which control the automatic lighting and shutters.
I tried to improve the conditions and scenes in the reactor to perfection. (don't have executions, delays and reservations at the same time, I record the states with the "time from reactor" group state, just like the motion and opening detections from another sensor.
The situation is that the system does not always work reliably.
I experience Lua recharges at completely unpredictable intervals, about 1-3 per day
times.
Because of this, unfortunately my scenes slip, (or don't happen)
For simple things (tablet charging in) there is usually no problem.However, if I am not at home for several hours and return home, the alarms will turn off, and the luup recharge(90%).
If you approach the afternoon when more times are set in the time reactor then recharging will still occur but not always.For the past 10 months, I feel tired of the constant error search and still not good. I'm starting to doubt Vera's abilities.
Therefore, I would have the following questions:
Are the conditions set in the reactor loaded on the vera without action?
Can the Vera be stable and well-functioning without an unexpected lua reload?
If so, what do I need to add? (I'm a simple user, not a programmer, I don't know lua and linux programming languages and I don't want to learn because of vera)
I don’t want to deal with this too much anymore, so I still spent more on it than I deserve.Is there another controller that works safely and well on the z-wave platform?
In what direction should I move away from the vera, which will not disappoint me?
Have you heard of a controller called comfortclick? (I was now offered this instead of vera)
Thank you in advance for your help.
Krisztian
Vera Alexa Plugin 7.32
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Hello @therealdb , I have updated to the new vera FW and cant seem to get your plugin working. I keep seeing "install jq package" on the device itself and when I reset everything and got a new cookie file I see this in the device's
Latest Responsevariable:ERROR: missing argument for -d /storage/alexa/alexa_remote_control_plain.sh [-d.I have used the code to reset the cookies, added a new cookie file, added the OTP, updated the plugin (did this first actually) and still cant get it working.
Testing some TTS commands I see this response in my logs:
"Say", {Text="Hello from Vera Alexa", Volume=50, GroupZones="Bar Echo", Repeat = 3}, 632)) <0x6bc41520> 08 03/14/21 10:57:57.179 JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest device: 632 service: urn:bochicchio-com:serviceId:VeraAlexa1 action: Say <0x6bc41520> 08 03/14/21 10:57:57.179 JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument Repeat=3 <0x6bc41520> 08 03/14/21 10:57:57.179 JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument Text=Hello from Vera Alexa <0x6bc41520> 08 03/14/21 10:57:57.180 JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument GroupZones=Bar Echo <0x6bc41520> 08 03/14/21 10:57:57.180 JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument Volume=50 <0x6bc41520> 50 03/14/21 10:57:57.180 luup_log:632: VeraAlexa[0.9.0@632]:addToQueue: added to queue for 632 <0x6bc41520> 01 03/14/21 10:57:57.181 LuaInterface::CallFunction_Job device 632 function SVeraAlexa1_VeraAlexa1_Say_run failed /etc/cmh-ludl/L_VeraAlexa1.lua:89: bad argument #3 to 'format' (string expected, got nil) <0x6bc41520> 50 03/14/21 10:57:57.181 luup_log:0: ALTUI: Evaluation of lua code returned: nil <0x6bc41520> ``` -
I’m out at the moment, but I’ll take a look tomorrow morning my time.
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Just adding some extra info that I am seeing now. Got a blue banner saying Alexa Startup Lua Failure
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It seems you're running an old version. Just get the files from GitHub and try again
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Thought I had the newest version, but I downloaded the files again and uploaded. Fixed the “Please install JQ” message but still am getting the same error with startup failure and latest response
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Could you please enable debug mode and post some more logs?
Also, look at the files in storage/ to better understand what’s going on. Maybe it can’t generate the cookie.
Thanks. -
Sorry for the delay..
Did a reload to see what comes up in the start-up logs here are some errors that I found01 03/16/21 17:34:00.191 Device_LuaUPnP::CreateServices removing incomplete service from 632 <0x77fa1320> - - - 01 03/16/21 17:34:54.915 LuaInterface::CallFunction_Startup-1 device 632 function startupPlugin failed /etc/cmh-ludl/L_VeraAlexa1.lua:89: bad argument #3 to 'format' (string expected, got nil) <0x775cb520> 01 03/16/21 17:34:54.915 LuImplementation::StartLua running startup code for 632 I_VeraAlexa1.xml failed <0x775cb520>``` -
Trying to get more logs but I keep seeing the same logs as my original post when I try to send a TTS command
Update: I SSH into my Vera and deleted all VeraAlexa files and reuploaded. That seems to have fixed any errors showing up in the logs. Unfortunately now I cannot get past the cookie issue, have tried multiple cookie files and multiple OTP but no help. I guess this parts on me to solve!
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If @toggledbits or @rafale77 still have a build environment setup, we could try to compile oath tool and I could host in a public repo, so it could support 2 factor authentication and avoid the captcha problems.
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No luck... I unfortunately deleted my ramips OpenWRT build environment shortly after migrating away from the vera.
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Please excuse my n00b questions, since I just installed the VeraAlexa plug-in for the first time on my Vera Plus (7.32) and got the device to appear in Devices just fine.
But even after entering my Amazon login credentials (specifically, email address and password), I keep seeing "cookie does not exist. logging in ... ERROR" under the "LastResponse" variable.
Questions:
*Must I also edit alexa_remote_control_plain.sh in /storage/alexa? (Lots of defaults seem different from my Amazon account)- Where can you find all the possible 'DefaultEcho' names? (So I know exactly which text to place in that variable)
- My Vera's file system does not display the file '.alexa.login' in '/storage/alexa/' (mentioned in "LastResponse")
Trust me, I really, really, really tried to follow all the setup steps as written on Github, but worry that something important was omitted.
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@librasun Have you tried getting the cookie file from Firefox outlined in the Vera forum? The link to that is in Github.
You can get the device list from your Alexa app too, its just whatever your Alexa device is called in the app (case sensitive).
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I'll go look for that now, thanks. The nearest such info I saw read as follows, which became kind of a puzzle for me to solve (unsuccessfully, it seems):
"cookie does not exist. logging in ... ERROR: Amazon Login was unsuccessful. Possibly you get a captcha login screen. Try logging in to https://alexa.amazon.com with your browser. In your browser make sure to have all Amazon related cookies deleted and Javascript disabled! (For more information have a look at /storage/alexa/.alexa.login) To avoid issues with captcha, try using Multi-Factor Authentication. To do so, first set up Two-Step Verification on your Amazon account, then configure this script (or the environment) with your MFA secret. Support for Multi-Factor Authentication requires 'oathtool' to be installed."
I did delete all browser cookies before logging into alexa.amazon.com (again, cuz I was already logged in!), but never quite disabled Javascript (nor is it clear why or when to turns these features back on).
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Per Catman's post back on MCV forum, the contents of /storage/alexa are supposed to be:
.alexa.cookie
.alexa.devicelist.all
.alexa.devicelist.json
.alexa.devicelist.txt
alexa_remote_control_plain.shBut mine only has the last file shown. Rather than re-create that long discussion HERE, I'll just keep reading back on Vera Forum to see what my next steps are. I may then recommend that all these additional steps be included somewhere on the VeraAlexa github repo for others to follow.
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I only have the .alexa.cookie.txt .alexa.login amd alexa_remote_control_plain.sh files too. I think the rest will populate when you get a successful login, which I havent been able to get. Have you tried inputting the OTP in too? From what I remember its very finicky to login this way.
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CORRECTION: Based on other Forum suggestion, I finally found "Show hidden files" (under WinSCP > Options > Panels) and turned that on, so I now see .alexa.login in that directory.
Oh, this is agonizing. About to give up... but won't.
UPDATE: Immediately after attempting to execute one of the sample Lua commands from Readme, more (hidden!) files populated the /storage/alexa folder:
.alexa.cookie
.alexa.devicelist.all
.alexa.devicelist.json
.alexa.devicelist.txt
alexa_remote_control_plain.sh -
@librasun Looks like you've logged in successfully. Were you able to find the correct plugin for Firefox to get the cookie file? I had to use a different plugin than the one listed in the steps
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No, I never even saw directions about finding such a cookie (there are still hundreds of thread replies for me to read though!), so I never tried.
It just appeared. Also, after inspecting the .TXT version of the DeviceList, I see that individual Echo devices' names are listed under 'accountName' so I can work from that.
Will help with constructing commands. LOL, I still don't expect this to work... feels very ungainly. (Certainly I could not instruct another human HOW to do all this!) -
@librasun heres the post if you need to grab the cookie https://community.getvera.com/t/alexa-tts-text-to-speech-and-more-plug-in-for-vera/211033/156
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@pabla said in Vera Alexa Plugin 7.32:
@librasun heres the post if you need to grab the cookie https://community.getvera.com/t/alexa-tts-text-to-speech-and-more-plug-in-for-vera/211033/156
Thanks. I'd like to believe that somehow the correct .alexa.cookie file has already populated my Vera automagically, as noted above, so am loathe to (a) retry creating it, much less (b) installing Firefox just to experiment.
I appreciate you having located that URL for me, which hopefully will help others. IF it's still necessary (and if it IS, I'd love to think @therealdb could augment his "README" file with all that info??).
UPDATE: HOLY SMOKES, this finally worked (I had to establish the EXACT device name to use after -d; not all of them responded)....
luup.call_action("urn:bochicchio-com:serviceId:VeraAlexa1", "RunCommand", {Command="-e weather -d 'Living Room'"}, 344)Helped to watch Vera's LuaUPnP log all the while. Somewhere along the way, I definitely had to perform another hard refresh of the browser as well, to force a Luup enging restart after the .alexa.cookie file had been created. Ugh, so many steps!
