In another thread, randy and zwolfpack have been helping me add a second z-wave controller, a Z-Net G3, to supplement an existing SmartStick+. The conversation branched from more specific topic and deserves its own thread. To folks who contribute here, I suggest it would be most helpful to assume the reader is seeing HS4 Z-wave configuration menus for the first time. Where there is ambiguity, unpack it. Let's include all steps, assuming no prior knowledge of any features of the HS4 user interface. But, of course, links to classic posts about 'how to configure Z-wave networks with HomeSeer' would enrich the thread.
So, here we go, with a few questions generated by a very helpful response from zwolfpack to seed the thread:
USE CASE: I've never navigated this user interface before.
REQUEST: Would you help me learn how to use this part of HomeSeer HS4, please?
Q1: Would the above procedure generate a new, separate z-wave network?
Q2: Downstream from this step, is there an option in the HS4 GUI to modify the server configuration without requiring erasures, restoration from old backups, editing of ID's, etc? In particular, does the setup process subsequently offer the option to set up the new controller as either a 'separate network' or an 'inclusion controller'?
Q3: If you wanted to make the added controller secondary, could you achieve that after this step?
-- A little bit of implementation context here: I have just now included a new Z-Net G3 with a unique HomeID and am on 'pause' at this point in the process
My view of the Plugins | Z-Wave | 'Advanced Z-wave Controller Functions' dropdown list (hs4 v.4.2.16.0, zwave plugin v.4.0.3.0) at this point does not include the option to "Make this interface an inclusion controller (secondary) on another network", which is perplexing, since rjh, himself, strongly recommended that approach and reiterated it in several posts in a related thread. Two Z-NET controllers on same Z-Wave Network
https://forums.homeseer.com/forum/ho...z-wave-network
There are second-hand reports, on the other hand, that suggest that the official HomeSeer position on the two modes (are there other modes?) may have changed. Other, highly respected experts, such as randy independently advocate the separate-server approach based on their careful evaluation and years of field-testing.
Q4: What topology do you recommend?
Q5: Why?
Q6: What is the roadmap, step-by-step, to use the HomeSeer HS4 Graphical User Interface to set up a second Z-wave controller to configure each of the following Z-wave network topologies?
1) Two separate networks
2) A primary network with an included secondary controller
Thank you for sharing your time and understanding,
Dean
So, here we go, with a few questions generated by a very helpful response from zwolfpack to seed the thread:
Originally posted by zwolfpack
View Post
USE CASE: I've never navigated this user interface before.
REQUEST: Would you help me learn how to use this part of HomeSeer HS4, please?
Q1: Would the above procedure generate a new, separate z-wave network?
Q2: Downstream from this step, is there an option in the HS4 GUI to modify the server configuration without requiring erasures, restoration from old backups, editing of ID's, etc? In particular, does the setup process subsequently offer the option to set up the new controller as either a 'separate network' or an 'inclusion controller'?
Q3: If you wanted to make the added controller secondary, could you achieve that after this step?
-- A little bit of implementation context here: I have just now included a new Z-Net G3 with a unique HomeID and am on 'pause' at this point in the process
My view of the Plugins | Z-Wave | 'Advanced Z-wave Controller Functions' dropdown list (hs4 v.4.2.16.0, zwave plugin v.4.0.3.0) at this point does not include the option to "Make this interface an inclusion controller (secondary) on another network", which is perplexing, since rjh, himself, strongly recommended that approach and reiterated it in several posts in a related thread. Two Z-NET controllers on same Z-Wave Network
https://forums.homeseer.com/forum/ho...z-wave-network
There are second-hand reports, on the other hand, that suggest that the official HomeSeer position on the two modes (are there other modes?) may have changed. Other, highly respected experts, such as randy independently advocate the separate-server approach based on their careful evaluation and years of field-testing.
Q4: What topology do you recommend?
Q5: Why?
Q6: What is the roadmap, step-by-step, to use the HomeSeer HS4 Graphical User Interface to set up a second Z-wave controller to configure each of the following Z-wave network topologies?
1) Two separate networks
2) A primary network with an included secondary controller
Thank you for sharing your time and understanding,
Dean
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