Windows GUI/Controller for MySensors

[tekka]

@jkandasa Please read about NRWW and RWW flash memory sections of Atmel MCUs. The trick is (in summary) to have RWW section code calling NRWW flash updating procedures in order to same-section code...

[petewill]

I have decided it is time for me to finally learn how to do OTA uploading so I read though all the posts to learn how to do it. As I was reading through the posts I was thinking how this tool would be also be useful for troubleshooting. I'm not at home so I can't do any testing right now but I was wondering if it's possible to have the MYSController accessing my Ethernet gateway at the same time my controller (Vera) is? It seems like there could be problems with ACK messages but maybe I'm not fully understanding something? What I'd like to do is have this controller running to watch messagew but not have it interfere with normal communications with Vera. Is that possible? Thanks in advance!

[rvendrame]

@petewill , I have Vera (lite) + Ethernet GW, and eventually I fire the MYSController in my computer in order to debug / update FW etc. They all live together and in peace ;-) Thanks to @tekka for producing such great tool!

[mvader]

@petewill yeah i 2nd that.
i keep it up to make sure the sensors are sending and then watch the change in vera.
so no problems running both at the same time for however long you want.

[petewill]

@rvendrame & @mvader Great, thanks!

[Anticimex]

@tekka Do you have any plan of supporting DualOptiboot in the MYSController (not a request, just an inquiry). I believe (at least for myself) that your excellent tool is the best option to instrument OTA and since I have included external flash in my boards I would like to use DualOptiboot for OTA since it provides some "safety" in case RF transmission is shaky.
I am not saying MYSBootloader is bad in any way, but since it does not need an external flash (which is a good thing), it is more sensitive to RF interference and sometimes I suppose boards will be "soft bricked" in that case.

[Anticimex]

@petewill I can also confirm that MYSController can coexist with Vera.
I use node-red to abstract things. In my case, I want the Vera (and MYSController) to be left in the dark on how my controller is actually implemented and node-red is the ideal tool to do this.

This is my "flow"

Using it, I can have either a serial or an ethernet gw without the controllers knowing.
Instead, I create network serial pipes using socat that the controllers connect to.
I can also filter out the debug prints from the gw if I want to examine something and also prevent them from "disturbing" the controllers (if they do not explicitly support the debug messages or gets bogged down by them).

I still need to see if the node-red nodes support OTA since they key packets on '\n' currently which is not really "binary friendly" though, but for normal MySensors operation not involving binary streams, it works just fine :)

[tekka]

@Anticimex The latest MYSController release supports DualOptiboot, simply check the sensebender board option (node tree, right click). Besides that, MYSBootloader will not leave you with a "soft-bricked" node but rather with a slower OTA update time in the case of RF interferences. If the OTA update fails for whatever reasons (loss of connection, power issues, etc.) MYSBootloader will re-request the FW during the next power-up. Since many community members do not have an external flash option, a slightly longer down-time for the direct update should not cause any problems. Importantly, a faulty sketch with the DualOptiboot update (e.g. no regular gw.process() calls) will result in a real "soft-bricked" node. In the end, both OTA update options have their (dis)advantages, a hardware configuration w/o external flash will only work with offline OTA updates.

[petewill]

@Anticimex Thanks! Looks like I have some more reading to add to the list. Node-Red looks cool but well beyond my current knowledge...

[mvader]

@mvader said:

quite a few post. so apologies if this has been asked before.
I'm trying to upload a sketch(hex) to one of my nano's
it's going but froze at 70%
i had to reboot the gateway.
this time it got to 87% and seems froze again.
any thoughts/suggestions on why the gateway is freezing up?

edit: i can't seem to get a sketch to upload. it gets to some random % and then the gateway freezes.
a push of the gateway reset button seems to start it over. but then freezes at random.

edit 2: must have been a distance thing.. i put the bridge right next to the gateway and the code uploaded quickly without freezing.
however, i still am curious as to why the gateway fails to respond/freezes if the firmware is not able to be uploaded.

I thought this may have been a fluke or something. but tonight i tried to OTA a mysensors sensebender board and ran into the same issue basically.
i get to some random point 60 or 70 % and then it just stops.
i moved my sensor right next to the gateway and reset it.
took off again.. but then stopped at a certain point.
and i see "firmware 130" a few times but nothing else about firmware.
the board and gateway continue to function, the sensor sends back temp and humidity etc. but nothing else about firmware. on the left in the gui, it says FW updating. but that never changes.
i won't post the entire debug log, but just the last part of it so you can see what i'm talking about

9/29/2015 21:34:44	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100DA04
9/29/2015 21:34:44	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100D90421503109410951095695479537952795
9/29/2015 21:34:44	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100D904
9/29/2015 21:34:44	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100D80460E874E88EE190E0A70196010E945F2C
9/29/2015 21:34:44	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100D804
9/29/2015 21:34:44	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100D704EF92FF92CF93DF93EC016A017B01B22E
9/29/2015 21:34:44	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100D704
9/29/2015 21:34:44	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100D6040F91FF90DF90CF900895BF92CF92DF92
9/29/2015 21:34:44	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100D604
9/29/2015 21:34:45	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100D5048064808381E090E00F90DF91CF911F91
9/29/2015 21:34:45	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100D504
9/29/2015 21:34:45	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100D404FC91579760835096ED91FC9151978081
9/29/2015 21:34:45	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100D404
9/29/2015 21:34:45	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100D304FC915397808180620CC0D6015696ED91
9/29/2015 21:34:45	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100D304
9/29/2015 21:34:45	RX	3;1;1;0;0;75.5
9/29/2015 21:34:45	RX	3;2;1;0;1;56
9/29/2015 21:34:45	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100D204FF4F6083D6015B960C935B975296ED91
9/29/2015 21:34:45	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100D204
9/29/2015 21:34:45	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100D1040E940D266981EBCF838DE80FF11DE35A
9/29/2015 21:34:45	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100D104
9/29/2015 21:34:45	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100D004ED91FC915197808185FFF1CFC6016983
9/29/2015 21:34:45	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100D004
9/29/2015 21:34:45	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100CF04848DF81211C00FB607FCF9CFD6015096
9/29/2015 21:34:45	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100CF04
9/29/2015 21:34:45	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100CE04038D10E00F5F1F4F0F731127F02EF601
9/29/2015 21:34:45	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100CE04
9/29/2015 21:34:45	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100CD045096ED91FC915197808185FD2EC0F601
9/29/2015 21:34:45	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100CD04
9/29/2015 21:34:46	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100CC045B969C915B975C968C915C97981307C0
9/29/2015 21:34:46	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100CC04
9/29/2015 21:34:46	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100CB04CDB7DEB76C0181E0D60158968C935897
9/29/2015 21:34:46	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100CB04
9/29/2015 21:34:46	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100CA04CF92DF92FF920F931F93CF93DF931F92
9/29/2015 21:34:46	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100CA04
9/29/2015 21:34:46	RX	3;255;3;0;0;59
9/29/2015 21:34:46	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100C904EDCFCE010E940D26E7CFDF91CF910895
9/29/2015 21:34:46	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100C904
9/29/2015 21:34:46	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100C804F5CF808185FFF2CFA889B9898C9185FF
9/29/2015 21:34:46	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100C804
9/29/2015 21:34:46	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100C70405C0A889B9898C9186FD0FC00FB607FC
9/29/2015 21:34:46	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100C704
9/29/2015 21:34:47	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100C604EC01888D8823C9F0EA89FB89808185FD
9/29/2015 21:34:47	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100C604
9/29/2015 21:34:47	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100C504F389E02D80818F7D80830895CF93DF93
9/29/2015 21:34:47	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100C504
9/29/2015 21:34:47	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100C4048C9180648C93938D848D981306C00288
9/29/2015 21:34:47	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100C404
9/29/2015 21:34:47	RX	3;1;1;0;0;75.5
9/29/2015 21:34:47	RX	3;2;1;0;1;56
9/29/2015 21:34:47	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100C3048F739927848FA689B7892C93A089B189
9/29/2015 21:34:48	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100C304
9/29/2015 21:34:48	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100C204A80FB11DA35ABF4F2C91848D90E00196
9/29/2015 21:34:48	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100C204
9/29/2015 21:34:48	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100C104692781110C9400000895FC01848DDF01
9/29/2015 21:34:48	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100C104
9/29/2015 21:34:48	RX	3;1;1;0;0;75.5
9/29/2015 21:34:48	RX	3;2;1;0;1;56
9/29/2015 21:34:48	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100C00497E2892B49F080E090E0892B29F00E94
9/29/2015 21:34:48	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100C004
9/29/2015 21:34:48	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100BF049F73928F90E008958FEF9FEF089589E6
9/29/2015 21:34:48	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100BF04
9/29/2015 21:34:48	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100BE04828DDF01A80FB11D5D968C91928D9F5F
9/29/2015 21:34:48	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100BE04
9/29/2015 21:34:48	TX	3;255;4;0;3;82000100BD048FEF9FEF0895FC01918D828D981761F0
9/29/2015 21:34:48	RX	3;255;4;0;2;82000100BD04
9/29/2015 21:34:49	RX	3;255;3;0;0;60
9/29/2015 21:34:49	RX	3;255;4;0;2;130
9/29/2015 21:34:49	RX	3;1;1;0;0;75.6
9/29/2015 21:34:49	RX	3;2;1;0;1;56
9/29/2015 21:34:49	RX	3;255;4;0;2;130
9/29/2015 21:34:49	RX	3;1;1;0;0;75.5
9/29/2015 21:34:49	RX	3;2;1;0;1;56
9/29/2015 21:34:50	RX	3;255;4;0;2;130
9/29/2015 21:34:50	RX	3;255;4;0;2;130
9/29/2015 21:34:50	RX	3;1;1;0;0;75.6
9/29/2015 21:34:50	RX	3;2;1;0;1;56
9/29/2015 21:34:51	RX	3;1;1;0;0;75.5
9/29/2015 21:34:51	RX	3;2;1;0;1;56
9/29/2015 21:34:51	RX	3;255;4;0;2;130
9/29/2015 21:34:51	RX	3;1;1;0;0;75.5
9/29/2015 21:34:51	RX	3;2;1;0;1;56
9/29/2015 21:34:58	RX	1;1;1;0;0;72.8
9/29/2015 21:34:58	RX	1;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:35:55	RX	3;1;1;0;0;75.3
9/29/2015 21:35:55	RX	3;2;1;0;1;56
9/29/2015 21:36:02	RX	1;1;1;0;0;72.8
9/29/2015 21:36:02	RX	1;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:37:06	RX	1;1;1;0;0;72.9
9/29/2015 21:37:06	RX	1;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:38:03	RX	3;1;1;0;0;75.0
9/29/2015 21:38:03	RX	3;2;1;0;1;57
9/29/2015 21:38:10	RX	1;1;1;0;0;72.9
9/29/2015 21:38:10	RX	1;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:38:58	RX	2;1;1;0;0;72.1
9/29/2015 21:39:07	RX	3;1;1;0;0;74.9
9/29/2015 21:39:07	RX	3;2;1;0;1;57
9/29/2015 21:39:14	RX	1;1;1;0;0;72.9
9/29/2015 21:39:14	RX	1;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:40:03	RX	2;1;1;0;0;72.2
9/29/2015 21:40:03	RX	2;2;1;0;1;55
9/29/2015 21:40:11	RX	3;1;1;0;0;74.8
9/29/2015 21:40:11	RX	3;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:40:17	RX	1;1;1;0;0;72.9
9/29/2015 21:40:17	RX	1;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:41:15	RX	3;1;1;0;0;74.7
9/29/2015 21:41:15	RX	3;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:41:21	RX	1;1;1;0;0;72.8
9/29/2015 21:41:21	RX	1;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:42:18	RX	3;1;1;0;0;74.6
9/29/2015 21:42:19	RX	3;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:42:25	RX	1;1;1;0;0;72.9
9/29/2015 21:42:25	RX	1;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:43:22	RX	3;1;1;0;0;74.6
9/29/2015 21:43:22	RX	3;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:43:29	RX	1;1;1;0;0;72.9
9/29/2015 21:43:29	RX	1;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:44:26	RX	3;1;1;0;0;74.4
9/29/2015 21:44:26	RX	3;2;1;0;1;56
9/29/2015 21:44:33	RX	1;1;1;0;0;72.9
9/29/2015 21:44:33	RX	1;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:45:23	RX	2;1;1;0;0;72.1
9/29/2015 21:45:23	RX	2;2;1;0;1;54
9/29/2015 21:45:30	RX	3;1;1;0;0;74.2
9/29/2015 21:45:30	RX	3;2;1;0;1;54
9/29/2015 21:45:37	RX	1;1;1;0;0;72.9
9/29/2015 21:45:37	RX	1;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:46:27	RX	2;1;1;0;0;72.2
9/29/2015 21:46:28	RX	2;2;1;0;1;54
9/29/2015 21:46:41	RX	1;1;1;0;0;72.9
9/29/2015 21:46:41	RX	1;2;1;0;1;58
9/29/2015 21:47:38	RX	3;1;1;0;0;73.9
9/29/2015 21:47:38	RX	3;2;1;0;1;53
9/29/2015 21:47:45	RX	1;1;1;0;0;72.9
9/29/2015 21:47:45	RX	1;2;1;0;1;58

[Anticimex]

@tekka ok, cool! But I installed from the link in the top post last night and I could not find DualOptiboot mentioned anywhere. Is it only by picking a Sensbender board type that option appears? Are there other settings also affected by that? My board(s) are not Sensbenders per se although they should have the same hw features.

[tekka]

@Anticimex Yes, use Sensebender board for the DualOptiboot option. MYSController will simply initiate the FW upload (assuming that OTA update is uncommented...)

[tekka]

@mvader please upload the entire log file to check a few things. Also, if the node is next to (or too close) you will get RF interferences (this has been observed for the large antenna and max tx power).

EDIT: before I forget, also upload the log from the node - this will help to elicit the problem...

[mvader]

@tekka I tried from the basement.
moved up to the fireplace mantel and then finally put it about 1 foot away from the gateway. still the same thing.
tonight after work i will pull the complete logs and post for your review.
thanks!

[Anticimex]

@tekka I think I might have found a bug (or perhaps this is considered a feature request):
The GW "version" (1.5) is not shown in the node info although it has sent a response to a version request as shown here:

Also, I am not sure what the "signing" field is intended for. Showing signing request status? It says "Unknown" for both my GW and my "secure" node. The node require signing and the gw is signing messages sent to it. Perhaps reserved for future functionality?

Still a great and very useful tool!

[mvader]

@mvader said:
i'm not sure how to grab the log from the node, please advise.
here is the MYSController debug log in full.
MySensors_20150930-203313.log

[jkandasa]

@tekka MYSBootloader is a great gift for us. With zero touch we can upgrade our firmware in to target board.

In some cases I want to recompile the source code for 8 MHz or lesser frequency or different boards. As this is not a Arduino code, I do not know how to recompile this software. I hope many people facing issue with recompiling. Could you please add some document how to recompile this source code under https://github.com/mysensors/Arduino/tree/master/MYSBootloader

Also can you post source code of MYSBootloader 1.5 version?

Thank you!

[tekka]

@jkandasa The source code for 1.5 will be available upon release (mid-end October if time allows).

[tekka]

@mvader For the node log: simply connect a serial adapter to the sensebender node and retrieve the serial output.

[tekka]

@Anticimex No, not a bug and in the feature request list (I_VERSION handling). The signing field is updated once the node sends its signing preferences.