Openhab 2.5.5, raspberry pi 4 with usb boot ssd

[CraigDubya]

I've now messed about with the serial gateway thing in openhab, removed it and tried to re-add it via paperui. It was saying that /dev/ttyUSB0 was already in use when I tried to add again, so i did a openhab-cli clean-cache command.
It's now showing as uninitialized, and the openhab log shows:

16:47:18.178 [WARN ] [org.apache.felix.fileinstall         ] - Error while starting bundle: file:/usr/share/openhab2/addons/org.openhab.binding.mysensors-2.5.0-SNAPSHOT.jar
org.osgi.framework.BundleException: Could not resolve module: org.openhab.binding.mysensors [204]
  Unresolved requirement: Import-Package: gnu.io; version="[3.14.0,4.0.0)"

        at org.eclipse.osgi.container.Module.start(Module.java:444) ~[org.eclipse.osgi-3.12.100.jar:?]
        at org.eclipse.osgi.internal.framework.EquinoxBundle.start(EquinoxBundle.java:383) ~[org.eclipse.osgi-3.12.100.jar:?]
        at org.apache.felix.fileinstall.internal.DirectoryWatcher.startBundle(DirectoryWatcher.java:1260) [bundleFile:3.6.4]
        at org.apache.felix.fileinstall.internal.DirectoryWatcher.startBundles(DirectoryWatcher.java:1233) [bundleFile:3.6.4]
        at org.apache.felix.fileinstall.internal.DirectoryWatcher.startAllBundles(DirectoryWatcher.java:1221) [bundleFile:3.6.4]
        at org.apache.felix.fileinstall.internal.DirectoryWatcher.doProcess(DirectoryWatcher.java:515) [bundleFile:3.6.4]
        at org.apache.felix.fileinstall.internal.DirectoryWatcher.process(DirectoryWatcher.java:365) [bundleFile:3.6.4]
        at org.apache.felix.fileinstall.internal.DirectoryWatcher.run(DirectoryWatcher.java:316) [bundleFile:3.6.4]

Not sure what I'm missing :sob:

[TRS-80]

@CraigDubya said in Openhab 2.5.5, raspberry pi 4 with usb boot ssd:

The reason I'm using a powered USB hub [...]

I get that. It's just for diagnostic purposes. See if there is any change. I am just trying to methodically check things one by one. Once we figure out the problem you can go back to however you like (unless the hub turns out to be the problem of course).

@CraigDubya said in Openhab 2.5.5, raspberry pi 4 with usb boot ssd:

[22499.985841] usb 1-1.4: ch341-uart converter now attached to ttyUSB0

Did you see message like this when you had gateway attached to hub, or not?

[CraigDubya]

@TRS-80

I hadn't checked unfortunately

[TRS-80]

@CraigDubya said in Openhab 2.5.5, raspberry pi 4 with usb boot ssd:

I hadn't checked unfortunately

It's probably worth the effort to put it back on the hub just to eliminate that as a possibility. I'm starting to think that's not the problem, however we need to be sure.

I also vaguely remember making some udev rule to always assign the serial gateway to certain tty like ttyUSB99, that way whenever it's dis- and re-connected you always have a reliable device number to plug in to OpenHAB. May not have bearing on this issue though.

[TRS-80]

@CraigDubya said in Openhab 2.5.5, raspberry pi 4 with usb boot ssd:

Unresolved requirement: Import-Package: gnu.io; version="[3.14.0,4.0.0)"

If I recall correctly, MySensors binding for OpenHAB is still not official. Therefore I am guessing you installed it by putting jar file in addons folder?

When you install "official" bindings, they resolve dependencies automatically. However doing it this way you have to resolve them yourself.

Having said that, I don't recall having to install anything other than the MySensors plug-in when I did a serial gateway. But this was like 2 (3?) years ago IIRC. so could have changed in the meantime of course.

I experienced (and also read about others having) a lot of issues with the older version of MySensors binding for OpenHAB 2.4. It was one of contributing factors in me eventually abandoning the entire Home Automation endeavour altogether. So this time around, I decide to do an Ethernet/MQTT gateway. So far, this way has been flawless for me, and I have had others tell me their experience has been the same. Not sure if things have improved in 2.5 or not. But perhaps worth considering.

The other benefit of MQTT is you can verify it's working using simple command line tools to check everything, outside of any controller or any other parts of your infrastructure. You know, Unix philosophy. Make sure each little piece is working one by one; easier to troubleshoot IMO.

I am starting to suspect this binding actually. If you want to continue on this path, I would suggest perhaps OpenHAB forums, and/or the MySensors plug-in GitHub. Not trying to be dismissive now, I just think either of those fora may bring you more relevant eyeballs to the problem than here. You can also get a couple threads going in parallel (on additional fora I mean), I suppose no harm in that.

[CraigDubya]

@TRS-80

Yes, using the .jar file in the addons folder. I understand what you mean about going the MQTT route, I also have read that others have an easier time with it. However, the sensors I want to use will be small and battery powered, using NRF24L01 transceivers for long battery life. I believe the MQTT route needs a wifi module of some sort, which are usually more power hungry.
In any case, I have a bunch of these sensors that I had working fine with the serial gateway on my old raspberry pi 3 setup, so will try to stick with it with hopes of finding a solution ;)

[TRS-80]

@CraigDubya said in Openhab 2.5.5, raspberry pi 4 with usb boot ssd:

I believe the MQTT route needs a wifi module of some sort, which are usually more power hungry.

You can also use an Ethernet module like the WizNet W5x00, which is what I use and has been flawless. They are also only few bucks on AliExpress. I prefer wired connection anyway to Wi-Fi, especially for something like a gateway.

Being a gateway, it will be powered all the time anyway, when people say "a lot" of power they are speaking in the context of batteries, when considering mains power the milli- and micro-amps we are talking about are insignificant.

You are certainly free to do as you wish, and you already have the hardware, I just want to make sure you are making best decisions with all the facts in mind.

Keep reporting back your progress, and good luck!

[TRS-80]

@CraigDubya said in Openhab 2.5.5, raspberry pi 4 with usb boot ssd:

I have a bunch of these sensors that I had working fine with the serial gateway on my old raspberry pi 3 setup

So, what we should be asking ourselves is: What has changed in the meantime?

[CraigDubya]

@TRS-80 said in Openhab 2.5.5, raspberry pi 4 with usb boot ssd:

So, what we should be asking ourselves is: What has changed in the meantime?

Quite a lot! Now using a PI 4, now using Raspberry Pi OS, now using boot from usb for the OS, now using a powered usb hub....and I'm sure lots more. Not making it easy for myself, I know :D

I'm going to have to take a break for a while and watch a film or something....too much digging gives me headaches :D

Thanks @TRS-80 , I'll keep this thread updated with any progress I make :+1:

[TRS-80]

@CraigDubya said in Openhab 2.5.5, raspberry pi 4 with usb boot ssd:

Thanks

You are welcome.

@CraigDubya said in Openhab 2.5.5, raspberry pi 4 with usb boot ssd:

take a break

Some times it is the best thing, and actually can make progress quicker.

I tend to keep many different projects going at once, not only for this reason but also so I can order cheap parts and I'm not in a hurry for them, as there is always something else to work on. ;)

[CraigDubya]

@TRS-80

It works!
What the hell did I do? I wish I knew!!!
So, I came back after my break. I decided that I really needed to get Arduino IDE up and running so I could use the Serial Monitor. I uninstalled Arduino using - sudo apt-get remove arduino.
Then, I downloaded the Linux Arm 32-bit version of Arduino from there website and installed it from the download file which got me up and running with it.
The IDE allowed me to choose /dev/ttyUSB0 as a port, but when I opened the serial monitor the error message displayed port not found. I did a ls /dev/tty* and indeed the port was missing.
I unplugged the serial gateway, and plugged it back in
Then /dev/tty* showed it in the list, but this time it was in yellow text like all the other ports, instead of blue(?)
I then did - sudo chmod a+rw /dev/ttyUSB0 (thought we did this earlier? - can't remember)
Back to Openhab PaperUI and inbox search for my sensors and it found my sensors!

I'm confused how I got here, but at least now I know it works with all the changes I had made :upside_down_face:

[TRS-80]

That's great news! Now back to the fun part! :)

I prefer to have a repeatable, definable failure mode, and then fix that, rather than an unknown success, but that's just me. :D