Unable to initialize z-stick Gen 5

After using a mostly Insteon network for the last several years, I decided to jump into Z-wave. Things have not gone well.

I followed the instructions in the wiki for installing and enabling a z-stick, but Indigo seems to get stuck in a nasty loop until I disable the interface (and a few times actually required me stopping the server altogether to get it to stop).

I did try it both in a powered USB hub, as well as directly plugged into the mac mini. I also pulled up the config dialog box while one of these cycles was going on and made sure the correct settings (local USB) were selected. Also tried rebooting the mac mini with the zstick plugged in. The stick is flashing an alternating blue/yellow/red pattern, which I understand to be the expected pattern for normal functioning.

Here's a sample of the error log:

Nov 27, 2017, 9:35:37 PM
Enabling interface "Z-Wave 2.0.68"
Starting interface "Z-Wave 2.0.68" (pid 1068)
Started interface "Z-Wave 2.0.68"
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received 00 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error serial port communication error: device reports readiness to read but returned no data (device disconnected or multiple access on port?)
Z-Wave Error Z-Wave Controller might be disconnected
Z-Wave Error silently retrying serial connection every 5.0 seconds
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Error resending previous command (busy or unexpected command)
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Interface Failure lost connection with interface
Trigger Indigo Error
Error resending previous command (busy or unexpected command)
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Email Sent to "----"; subject "Insteon Device error"
Error resending previous command (busy or unexpected command)
Error PowerLinc not responding -- attempting reset
Power Failure possible power failure
Connected to PowerLinc 2413U interface on port usbserial-AL02YDRD
PowerLinc address 44.86.DC, firmware version 9.14
Interface Failure lost connection with interface
Trigger Indigo Error
Trigger power failure
Trigger Power restored (short outage)
Email Sent to "----"; subject "Insteon Device error"
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Email Sent to "---"; subject "Indigo ALERT - Power failure"
Email Sent to "---";
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Email Sent to "----"; subject "ALERT - Power Restored"
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Disabling interface "Z-Wave 2.0.68"
Stopping interface "Z-Wave 2.0.68" (pid 1068)
Z-Wave closed connection to Z-Wave Controller
Stopped interface "Z-Wave 2.0.68"

[matt (support)]

Are you sure you have the correct serial port selected for the Z-Stick?

If it is a newer Gen5 Z-Stick then it should be a port that starts with "usbmodem*".

Are you sure you have the correct serial port selected for the Z-Stick?

If it is a newer Gen5 Z-Stick then it should be a port that starts with "usbmodem*".

I'm pretty sure, though I will try again tonight. It's a bit disconcerting to watch the log as everything seems to be stuck in bad way. I only posted one "cycle", but it keeps at it until the z-wave is re-disabled. And the whole program became somewhat less responsive until I could get the "disable z-wave" command to take.

The wiki makes mention of the config box popping up on the first initialization of the zwave communication device. I did not see that. Though I have, of course, gone to the menu items and selected the configure option, but that's while it is already misbehaving (can't config until I enable, and enabling starts the bad cycling).

When I first did it, I was managing the whole process via the client app on a separate Mac connecting to the headless mini that houses the Indigo server. I probably should have used screen sharing for something like this instead of the client connection. I eventually switched over to screen sharing to try to troubleshoot.

[matt (support)]

Based on your first log the Z-Stick is either failing or you have the wrong port selected. It appears to be sending nothing but 0xE0 value bytes over and over.

The only port I have available to choose is: usbserial-...

I don't have anything listed called "usbmodem-... to choose.

I assume you mean if I enable z-wave in Indigo while having the stick unplugged.

Yes, I get the exact same behavior. Only that USBserial option for a port, and the same types of errors:



Nov 28, 2017, 7:44:49 PM
Enabling interface "Z-Wave 2.0.68"
Starting interface "Z-Wave 2.0.68" (pid 27216)
Started interface "Z-Wave 2.0.68"
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0 E0 E0 00
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error serial port communication error: device reports readiness to read but returned no data (device disconnected or multiple access on port?)
Z-Wave Error Z-Wave Controller might be disconnected
Z-Wave Error silently retrying serial connection every 5.0 seconds
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Error resending previous command (busy or unexpected command)
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Error resending previous command (busy or unexpected command)
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Interface Failure lost connection with interface
Error resending previous command (busy or unexpected command)
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent ACK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Error resending previous command (busy or unexpected command)
Error PowerLinc not responding -- attempting reset
Power Failure possible power failure
Connected to PowerLinc 2413U interface on port usbserial-AL02YDRD
PowerLinc address 44.86.DC, firmware version 9.14
Interface Failure lost connection with interface
Disabling interface "Z-Wave 2.0.68"
Stopping interface "Z-Wave 2.0.68" (pid 27216)
Z-Wave closed connection to Z-Wave Controller
Stopped interface "Z-Wave 2.0.68"


It almost looks like it's trying to reach it on the port used by the Insteon Powerlinc modem?

yes. plugged it into a different mac. But I don't really know where it would be recognized. It is not showing up in the device section of the finder. It is flashing.

[jay (support)]

As Matt says above, when you plug a Gen5 Z-Stick into a Mac, then you open the Z-Wave config dialog, you'll see a serial port that starts with "usbmodem" (not "usbserial" which is your PowerLinc so you shouldn't select that). If you don't see it, then either the Z-Stick is bad or your Mac isn't recognizing it for some reason.

You can also open a Terminal window and paste in the following command:

Code: Select all

ls -la /dev/*usbmodem*

If it comes back with "No such file or directory" then your Mac isn't seeing the Z-Stick. If you're running High Sierra that might be the issue, though it could also be the Z-Stick is bad.

Yes, I get "no such file or directory". I guess that means I need to return it. Thanks.

I'm on El Capitan.

Did a (pysical button) factory reset on the z-stick. Plugged it back into the powered USB hub, still no luck seeing it with Jay's terminal command.

Moved it to a USB port on the Mac Mini, and the terminal command found it. Was then able to enable in indigo, then the config box allowed me to change to the now visible USBModem port, which stopped the errors and listed it in green at the bottom of the Indigo interface.

I guess that means I won't be able to use it in my powered hub, which is a bit of an issue since I'm way out of direct USB options (Powelinc modems and Apple superdrives don't like hubs either).

Thanks for the suggestions.

[jay (support)]

Ah, yes, USB hubs can certainly cause issues. In some cases, they can fix issues. Implementing USB seems to be quite tricky.

I had been using Indigo 6 on a 2012 Mac Pro (USB 2, no USB 3 ports). I switched to a 2013 Mac Pro with USB 3 ports with no other changes. The Z Wave controller is plugged into the same USB 2 hub that is now plugged into one of the new Mac Pro USB 3 ports. The Powerlink 2413U is working fine. The Z Wave results in these errors:

Code: Select all

   Connected to PowerLinc 2413U interface on port usbserial-A6004lAh
   PowerLinc address 13.AE.B0, firmware version 9.2
   Enabling interface "Z-Wave 2.0.111"
   Starting interface "Z-Wave 2.0.111" (pid 40836)
   Started interface "Z-Wave 2.0.111"
   Error                           unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
   Z-Wave Error                    serial port communication error: device reports readiness to read but returned no data (device disconnected or multiple access on port?)
   Z-Wave Error                    Z-Wave Controller might be disconnected
   Z-Wave Error                    silently retrying serial connection every 5.0 seconds
   Error                           unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
   Error                           unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
   Error                           resending previous command (busy or unexpected command)
   Interface Failure               lost connection with interface


Note that the macOS version is the same for both computers (i.e., High Sierra, 10.13.2 Beta). The only relevant difference I can see is that everything is plugged into USB 3 ports on the new system. Even though the Indigo interfaces are plugged into the same USB 2 hub the fact the hub is now plugged into a USB 3 port has apparently broken communication with the Z Wave controller. I have tried everything written elsewhere including the "yearly warning" by Jay about bleeding edge macOS releases: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19100. I upgraded to Indigo 7 on the new system in the hope that would fix the problem but it did not.

[matt (support)]

Are you positive you have the correct serial port selected for the Z-Stick? The "E0" bytes coming in is normally a sign you have the wrong serial port selected.

I'm having the same problem. My Mac Mini running Yosemite 10.10.5 Terminal reports "No such file or directory."

Macbook Pro terminal reports: [Steves-14-MacBook-Pro:~] stevework% ls -la /dev/*usbmodem*
crw-rw-rw- 1 root wheel 20, 7 Jan 27 12:05 /dev/cu.usbmodem1411
crw-rw-rw- 1 root wheel 20, 6 Jan 27 12:05 /dev/tty.usbmodem1411

Back to Mac Mini which runs Indigo, still "No such file or directory."
Aeon z stick gen 5 is plugged directly into USB port.
Restarted Indigo, Restarted mac, Factory reset z-stick, no success.

i still have my PowerLinc 2413U plugged in but that should not influence Terminal not finding the Z-stick.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Steve

[matt (support)]

You are just moving the same Gen 5 Z-Stick from your MacBook Pro to your Mac Mini, but on the mini it isn't showing up (in the Terminal)?

If that is the case the macOS USB subsystem definitely isn't finding it for some reason. The driver used is a built-in Apple driver, so it shouldn't be a problem of not having a driver installed. Try all the USB ports you have available on the Mini (including any hubs). Does it show up in the Terminal on any of them?

Also reboot the Mac if you haven't in a while.