Introducing HS3-Pi

[kriz83]

Maybe the hummingboard is a valid option as well then ?

[rjh]

You are correct, the BeagleBoard is 512MB, we were working with the manufacturer to supply us with a 1GB version, which they could do. Cost turned out to be the big issue, we wanted to keep the cost as low as possible.

Thanks about the comment of the beagleboard !
But doesn't it have 512 MB iso 1GB RAM ?

[SteveMSJ]

Let me clarify some of this.

Originally, we wanted the Zee to run EXE plugins just like the Windows HS3. However, there was a problem with MONO ver 2.10 where remote calls were not reliable and it would sometimes call the wrong function. So to fix this we made a minor change to the plugin API so plugins could be a DLL instead. This fixed the problem and we released the Zee with this special build of HS3. That is what the Zee build is today. Also, MONO only worked on the soft float version of Linux so that is what we had to use.

Now, MONO is at version 3.2 on the PI, the PI OS is now hard float (means it runs a little faster) and the original remote call issue is fixed, so EXE plugins now work. Our intent was to change the Zee so it would support exe plugins. However, after much testing we decided to not do this. The reason is that each EXE plugin runs in its own MONO process and each process uses at least 30MB of memory. Add that to the mem that the plugin uses and you quickly start using up the 512MB of memory on the PI. So while it works ok with 2 or 3 plugins, it will probably run out of memory with more. So the user experience will less than optimal! So we decided to keep with the DLL plugins for now. I wish they would do a 1GB version of the PI, that would solve the problem.

Note that you can run HS3 on the BeagleBoard and it really runs fast there. That board has 1GB of RAM and much faster processor.

Now if you have a PI, you can run the Linux version of HS3 and run EXE plugins. As long as you monitor memory and know the limits, it will probably be fine. If some of you want to do this but don't know how to get it installed, I can create an SD image already configured. If you purchased HS3 or HS3PRO, the Linux version is free.

Some have asked if you can use remote plugins with the current Zee, I have not actually tried that, but there is nothing in the code to stop it from working, so I think it should work. In fact, if you run an EXE plugin on the Zee from the HS3 folder, I think that also works. You could launch the plugin from the startup script. The Zee version only initializes the DLL plugins that are included, it does not scan the folder for plugins like with EXE plugins. But EXE plugins can run straight from the command line. They have to be in the HS3 folder so they have access to the correct dll files.

Some have asked if they can create their own DLL plugins for the standard Zee, I will look into that and post back. But it might just be better to run the Linux ver of HS3, then you have access to the updater.

Rich, thanks for the clarification that explains a lot. I can see why you don't actively promote full HS3 on the PI as people's expectations soon run away with themselves and once they hit the limitations of the hardware it would come back on you. Your approach to offer the slightly restricted Zee and PI versions at reduced price must be commended.

The PI is designed to be experimented with so it's good that full HS3 can also be run and we can see how far we can push it. When I have some time I will certainly play around with more plugins and monitor memory use and see how I get on. I'm also keen on spreading the load by running HS3 on one PI and plugins on another PI or multiple PIs, which I think is possible but I haven't tried it. Feedback from people experimenting will help us all so let's hope as many people as possible are tempted to try.

Thanks again for your input.

Steve

[rjh]

I did try remote plugins with the standard Zee and it does not work. The issue is that there is a slight plugin API change and that causes and exception to be thrown. So for now, the solution is to just run the full Linux version, that does support remote plugins.

[wbmurray]

Use HS3PRO license with HS3 Linux on Pi

Your HS3PRO license will also work with the HS3PRO Linux version of the software. HS3-Pi is not the same software and uses different licensing.

Glad to hear this - I didn't see the download file in the downloads area. Is it named something different that HS3Pro Pi?

Bill

[Rupp]

Glad to hear this - I didn't see the download file in the downloads area. Is it named something different that HS3Pro Pi?

Bill

The link is available in the first post of this thread. It's a link to an image file.

[spud]

The link is available in the first post of this thread. It's a link to an image file.

Looks like Bill is looking for HS3-Linux, not HS3-Pi

HS3-Linux is available here: http://board.homeseer.com/showthread.php?t=167560

[wbmurray]

Correctamundo

Looks like Bill is looking for HS3-Linux, not HS3-Pi

HS3-Linux is available here: http://board.homeseer.com/showthread.php?t=167560

Thanks - I have HS3Pro running on Linux.

[Moskus]

Let me clarify some of this.

Originally, we wanted the Zee to run EXE plugins just like the Windows HS3. However, there was a problem with MONO ver 2.10 where remote calls were not reliable and it would sometimes call the wrong function. So to fix this we made a minor change to the plugin API so plugins could be a DLL instead. This fixed the problem and we released the Zee with this special build of HS3. That is what the Zee build is today. Also, MONO only worked on the soft float version of Linux so that is what we had to use.

Now, MONO is at version 3.2 on the PI, the PI OS is now hard float (means it runs a little faster) and the original remote call issue is fixed, so EXE plugins now work. Our intent was to change the Zee so it would support exe plugins. However, after much testing we decided to not do this. The reason is that each EXE plugin runs in its own MONO process and each process uses at least 30MB of memory. Add that to the mem that the plugin uses and you quickly start using up the 512MB of memory on the PI. So while it works ok with 2 or 3 plugins, it will probably run out of memory with more. So the user experience will less than optimal! So we decided to keep with the DLL plugins for now. I wish they would do a 1GB version of the PI, that would solve the problem.

Note that you can run HS3 on the BeagleBoard and it really runs fast there. That board has 1GB of RAM and much faster processor.

Now if you have a PI, you can run the Linux version of HS3 and run EXE plugins. As long as you monitor memory and know the limits, it will probably be fine. If some of you want to do this but don't know how to get it installed, I can create an SD image already configured. If you purchased HS3 or HS3PRO, the Linux version is free.

Some have asked if you can use remote plugins with the current Zee, I have not actually tried that, but there is nothing in the code to stop it from working, so I think it should work. In fact, if you run an EXE plugin on the Zee from the HS3 folder, I think that also works. You could launch the plugin from the startup script. The Zee version only initializes the DLL plugins that are included, it does not scan the folder for plugins like with EXE plugins. But EXE plugins can run straight from the command line. They have to be in the HS3 folder so they have access to the correct dll files.

Some have asked if they can create their own DLL plugins for the standard Zee, I will look into that and post back. But it might just be better to run the Linux ver of HS3, then you have access to the updater.

I understand the reason. You want a stream line product, allthough a limited one.

My point still stands: Even if the Pi has a limited amount of RAM, it should still be MY CHOICE what plugins I want. If I cut it to the bone, I only need Z-wave and RFXCOM (and perhaps Arduino or my Textseer), but at least I should be given the option to choose...



That said, I've been playing with the Zee during my vacation. It's still a pretty cool device.

[macromark]

My point still stands: Even if the Pi has a limited amount of RAM, it should still be MY CHOICE what plugins I want. If I cut it to the bone, I only need Z-wave and RFXCOM (and perhaps Arduino or my Textseer), but at least I should be given the option to choose...

Moskus - the Pi version is intentionally limited and, because of that, is sold at 1/2 the cost of the full HS3 version. Having said that, you can run the standard Linux version (with .exe plug-ins) on a Pi. We do not support this, but, if you know what you're doing with Linux (unlike me! ), you should be able to make this work.

[crussty]

Is Insteon Supported?

Hello, can anyone confirm if Insteon is supported on the HS3-PI version? I'm seeing conflicting data on the Hoomseer website: The "product" page says "Supports Z-Wave, Insteon and X10 devices," however on the Compare Systems page, it says that Insteaon is not supported.

Also, can anyone confirm that this does have a 30 day trial?

Thanks,
crussty

[rjh]

The HS3-PI version as well as the HomeTroller Zee support the HomeSeer HSInsteon plugin, its already installed.

Hello, can anyone confirm if Insteon is supported on the HS3-PI version? I'm seeing conflicting data on the Hoomseer website: The "product" page says "Supports Z-Wave, Insteon and X10 devices," however on the Compare Systems page, it says that Insteaon is not supported.

Also, can anyone confirm that this does have a 30 day trial?

Thanks,
crussty

[crussty]

The HS3-PI version as well as the HomeTroller Zee support the HomeSeer HSInsteon plugin, its already installed.

Rich, thanks for the quick reply. Can you (or anyone else) confirm if it is supposed to have a 30 day trial? I downloaded the image and tried to run it but it is telling my I need a license to do anything but view that I need a license...

(And sorry for the double post earlier. New to this forum and thought it didn't post correctly the first try.0

Thanks,

Chris Russell

[chas@putersolutions.net]

Hometroller zee

I have a Hometroller zee, would Ibe able to use my Zee license on the PI software?

Your HS3PRO license will also work with the HS3PRO Linux version of the software. HS3-Pi is not the same software and uses different licensing.

[Pete]

The original Zee / HS3 license software can be utilized on a RPi/RPi2 with a base configuration.

Same / similiar if you download the Pi image and replace the HomeSeer directory with the original Zee Homeseer directory.

Ask Mark relating to seeing if you can upgrade your Zee license to a Zee-2 license and how much it is to do that today.