HomeWorks QSX Processor Networking and Troubleshooting Guide

1.0 Interactive Processor Activation Troubleshooting Workflow

This section outlines a workflow for common processor activation troubleshooting steps.

Workflow Steps:

• Utilize Bonjour Discovery App (iOS or Fing (Android)) to determine if your processor is on the network.
• Are you utilizing a wired connection or Wi-Fi to connect your processor to the network?
• What are your network settings (DHCP or static)?
• Is the computer being utilized for commissioning a PC or Mac?
• If Mac, Windows must be utilized as either a virtual machine or by booting the Mac up using Windows software.
• Is the correct processor configured on your computer?
• Is your processor already activated to another system?
• Are your firewalls turned off, including third party protections?
• What version of Lutron Designer are you using? (21.8 or greater, or 21.7 or below)
• Is IPv6 enabled on your network?
• If IPv6 is enabled, try a static IP. If this works, your IPv6 is not configured correctly. Check network settings and return processor network back to DHCP.
• Still not working? Contact tech support.

2.0 Connecting to HomeWorks QSX Processors

This section details the requirements and methods for connecting to HomeWorks QSX processors.

2.1 Firewall/Routing Requirements

Proper firewall and routing configurations are essential for system startup, programming, and runtime.

2.1.1 Required for System Startup and Programming

These ports are necessary for system startup and database transfer. They can be closed after startup if desired, but must be reopened for programming changes.

2.1.2 Required for System Runtime

These ports must remain open for system functionality.

2.1.3 Optional Features and Functions

2.1.4 Mobile App, Internet and Cloud Connectivity Features

These ports facilitate cloud and internet connectivity.

2.2 Activating Processors in Lutron Designer

To activate processors, connect the system to the same LAN as the processors and open Lutron Designer. Navigate to the Activate tab and select 'Activate > Processors'.

It is recommended to configure all processors to use DHCP. Unactivated processors discovered on the network will appear on the left side of the Activation screen, showing details like serial number, MAC address, IP address, firmware version, and network status. Activated processors will appear on the right side.

Example Processor Information:

• Name: Home Processor Enclosure Device 001
• Serial Number: 040BDD8B
• MAC Address: 80:f5:b5:a4:4b:e0
• IP Address: 192.168.1.44
• Firmware Version: 22.08.09f000
• Firmware Status: NoUpdate
• Network Status: InternetWorking

Activating processors sends the project configuration, including network information, to the processor. Ensure all processors are on the same network and activated correctly.

If a processor is already activated to another project, the software will indicate this and prevent re-activation.

3.0 Best Practices

This section covers best practices for ensuring smooth communication and operation of the HomeWorks system.

3.1 Firewalls and Security Programs

Firewall and security programs can restrict necessary communications between the PC and processors. Adjusting these settings is crucial.

3.1.1 Check Inbound Firewall Rules

Ensure that Lutron Designer programs are allowed through the Windows Firewall. This involves checking and potentially modifying inbound rules.

Steps to check/modify rules (Windows 10 example):

1. Open Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Firewall.
2. Click 'Advanced settings' in the left pane.
3. In the 'Windows Firewall with Advanced Security' window, click 'Inbound Rules'.
4. Locate rules named 'Lutron Designer'. Ensure they are enabled and configured to 'Allow' the connection for all profiles (Domain, Private, Public).
5. If rules are missing, create new rules by selecting 'New Rule...' from the Actions pane, choosing 'Program', browsing to the Lutron Designer executable (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Lutron\HomeWorks QSX \Lutron.Gulliver.QuantumRest.exe), selecting 'Allow the connection', and ensuring all profiles are checked. Name the rule 'Lutron Designer'.

3.1.2 Allow Lutron Programs through the Firewall

Firewall rules are typically created during software installation. If they are missing, they need to be added manually.

Follow the steps in 3.1.1 to ensure the correct rules are present and enabled.

3.1.3 Using a Work or Home Network Connection to the System

Windows may default network connections to 'Public', which has stricter firewall settings. Changing the network profile to 'Work' or 'Home' can resolve connection issues.

Steps:

1. Go to Network and Sharing Center in Control Panel.
2. Click on the current network type (e.g., 'Public network').
3. In the network type window, select 'Work network' or 'Home network'.

Note: Corporate managed PCs may restrict this setting.

3.1.4 Force TCP Software-to-Processor Communication

To bypass potential firewall blocks on broadcast/multicast traffic, you can force Lutron Designer to use TCP communication.

Steps:

1. In Lutron Designer, go to the Activate tab > Processors.
2. Activate processors, ensuring DHCP is unchecked and static IP addresses are set.
3. Under the processor list, expand 'System Communication'.
4. Change the setting from 'Use Multicast Address' to one of the processor's static IP addresses.
5. Click 'Save & Apply'.

This change affects software-to-processor communication; inter-processor communication remains multicast.

3.1.5 Disable Firewall Temporarily

As a temporary measure, disabling firewalls or security programs can help diagnose connection issues. Remember to re-enable them after troubleshooting.

Example: Right-click the security program icon in the system tray and select 'Disable'.

3.1.6 Network Hops with HomeWorks QSX Processors

For optimal performance, limit Ethernet hops between devices to a maximum of five. An Ethernet hop is a connection between two network devices.

3.2 Using Wi-Fi with Lutron Programming Software

While convenient, Wi-Fi can cause inconsistent connectivity and may be subject to router security settings that interfere with communication.

3.3 Multiple Network Adapters

When using a wired LAN connection, it is recommended to disable the PC's Wi-Fi adapter to prevent conflicts.

Steps:

1. Go to Network Connections (Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network Connections).
2. Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter and select 'Disable'.

Remember to re-enable the adapter after use.

3.4 VPN Connections

Active VPN connections can interfere with local network communications. Disconnect from VPNs when programming the Lutron system.

Example: Disconnect from Cisco AnyConnect VPN.

4.0 Troubleshooting

This section provides solutions for common pop-up messages encountered during processor activation and transfer.

4.1 Activation Tab Pop-Up Messages

4.1.1 Unable to Communicate with the Device

Remedy/Solution:

1. Ensure processors are powered on and connected to the network.
2. Verify processor status shows 'Good' in the Status column.

4.1.2 Processor Heard is Different from the One Selected in the Project

Remedy/Solution:

1. Lutron Designer prevents activation of incorrect processor types.
2. Verify the correct processor was added in the Design > Equipment tab.
3. Ensure the correct processor is selected in the Activate > Processors tab.

4.1.3 The Processor is Configured for a Static IP Address but does not have an IP Address Specified

Remedy/Solution:

1. Verify DHCP is disabled in Lutron Designer.
2. Ensure an IP address is entered in Lutron Designer for the processor.

4.1.4 The Certificate Used for Establishing Communication with Processor is Missing from your Machine

Remedy/Solution:

1. Uninstall Lutron Designer.
2. Reinstall Lutron Designer.
3. If the issue persists, download the support file (Help > Support > Create Support File).
4. Contact Lutron Tech Support.

4.1.5 Cannot Activate the Processor because your Project Contains a Mixture of Processors Using DHCP and Static IP

Remedy/Solution: Update all processors to use the same IP configuration type (either DHCP or static IP).

4.1.6 Status While Activating a Processor Shows "Not Responding"

Remedy/Solution: Check network connectivity and firewall settings.

4.1.7 Unable to Find Processor on Network

Remedy/Solution:

1. Check processor power and network connection.
2. Allow Lutron software through the firewall or disable it (See Sections 3.1.2 / 3.1.5).
3. Turn off active VPN connections (See Section 3.4).
4. If using wired LAN, disconnect from Wi-Fi, and vice versa (See Section 3.3).
5. For Macs with Parallels/VMware, ensure a bridged network connection (See Section 4.4.1).
6. Retry activation.

4.2 Transfer Tab Pop-Up Messages

4.2.1 The Current Subsystem does not Contain any Activated Processors to Allow for a Transfer

Remedy/Solution:

1. Verify processors are added in Design > Equipment.
2. Ensure processors have been activated via Activate > Processors.

4.2.2 Communication to One or More Processors Failed

Remedy/Solution:

1. Check processor power and network connection.
2. Allow Lutron software through the firewall or disable it (See Sections 3.1.2 / 3.1.5).
3. Turn off active VPN connections (See Section 3.4).
4. If using wired LAN, disconnect from Wi-Fi, and vice versa (See Section 3.3).
5. For Macs with Parallels/VMware, ensure a bridged network connection (See Section 4.4.1).
6. Retry activation.

4.2.3 The Following Processors Cannot Communicate with Each Other. If you Continue with Transfer, the System may not Work as Expected

Remedy/Solution: Start troubleshooting to resolve the issue. If unresolved, refer to Section 4.2.10 for the root cause.

4.2.4 Some Processors Cannot Communicate with Each Other. If you Continue with Transfer, the System may not Work as Expected

Remedy/Solution: Start troubleshooting to resolve the issue. If unresolved, refer to Section 4.2.10 for the root cause.

4.2.5 The Security of the System Network Communication can be Improved, but the Improvement cannot be Applied Automatically due to Processor Settings

Remedy/Solution: Start troubleshooting to resolve the issue. If unresolved, refer to Section 4.2.10 for the root cause.

4.2.6 Some Processors are not in the Same Subsystem. Would you like to Continue to Transfer or Cancel the Transfer and Fix the Issue?

Remedy/Solution: Cancel the transfer, ensure all processors are activated within the same subsystem, and attempt to transfer again.

4.2.7 Some Processors are not in the Same Subnet. Would you like to Continue to Transfer or Cancel the Transfer and Fix the Issue?

Remedy/Solution: Cancel the transfer, ensure all processors are activated within the same subnet, and attempt to transfer again.

4.2.8 To Improve the Security of the System Network Communication...

Remedy/Solution: Select 'Cancel', return to the Activation tab, ensure all processors use either DHCP or static IP, and attempt to transfer again.

4.2.9 Unable to Apply Changes because Processors are Configured with a Mixture of DHCP and Static IP

Remedy/Solution: Select 'Cancel', return to the Activation tab, ensure all processors use either DHCP or static IP, and attempt to transfer again.

4.2.10 Basic Troubleshooting did not Resolve the Issue

Remedy/Solution:

1. Deactivate and reactivate all processors.
2. Attempt to transfer again.

4.3 Using a Direct Connection to a Lutron Processor

A direct connection between the Windows computer and the Lutron processor can help isolate network issues. This method is not valid for Clear Connect Gateway-Type X.

4.3.1 Direct Connection using Static IP Address

Configure a static IP address on Windows (refer to Section 4.3.3). For Macs using virtual machines, configure static IPs on both Windows and Mac OS (refer to Section 4.4.1). Then, follow Section 3.1.4.1 to configure the HomeWorks processor's static IP and attempt discovery.

4.3.2 Direct Connection using Link Local Addressing

Link local addressing is an alternative to static IP configuration. After a direct connection, devices will negotiate link local addresses if no DHCP server is present.

Steps:

1. Connect the Lutron processor to the Windows machine.
2. Wait approximately 2 minutes for link local address negotiation.
3. Open Lutron Designer and attempt to locate processors via Activate > Processors.

4.3.3 Setting a Static IP Address on the Windows Machine

Static IP addresses are configured via the Network and Sharing Center.

Steps:

1. Open Network and Sharing Center (via Control Panel or search).
2. Click 'Change adapter settings'.
3. Right-click the active network adapter (Wi-Fi or Local Area Connection) and select 'Properties'.
4. Highlight 'Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)' and click 'Properties'.
5. Select 'Use the following IP address' and enter the IP address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway. Click OK.

Close the Network Connection Properties screen for changes to take effect.

4.4 Running Windows OS on Mac (Not Recommended)

Lutron software is designed for Windows. Running it on a Mac requires a virtual machine (Parallels, VMware Fusion) or Bootcamp.

4.4.1 Parallels and VMware Fusion

When using virtual machines, both the Windows OS and Mac OS appear as separate devices on the network. Proper network configuration is essential.

Steps:

1. Windows OS: Set a static IP address (ensure it's outside the DHCP range and unique). Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Local Area Connection > Properties > Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Properties. Enter IP and Subnet Mask.
2. Mac OS: Set a static IP address in System Preferences > Network. Ensure this IP is different from the Windows VM and other network devices.
3. Network Type: Set to 'Bridged'. In Parallels, go to Devices > Network > Bridged Network > Ethernet. In VMware Fusion, go to Virtual Machine > Network > Bridged.

Note: The bridged network option name may vary depending on the connection type (e.g., Ethernet, Wi-Fi).

4.5 Glossary

• DHCP: Options are Enabled (automatic IP assignment by router) or Disabled (manual static IP assignment).
• Enabled: Processor IP assigned by router's DHCP server.
• Disabled: Static IP assigned via Activate Processors screen. Recommended for integration and app control. Static IPs should be above the router's DHCP range and unique.
• Gateway: Router address for transmitting packets outside the network.
• IP Address: Unique address of the processor on the network.
• MAC Address: Unique processor MAC address found on the product label.
• Name: Displays the area tree breakdown of each processor.
• Preferred DNS Server: Primary DNS address for mapping hostnames to IP addresses.
• System Number (#): Identifies each processor; Processor #1 is the master.
• Secondary DNS Server: Alternate DNS address.
• Serial Number: Unique Lutron serial number found on the product label.
• Subnet Mask: Used by the router to determine network address portions (e.g., 255.255.255.0 for residential LANs).
• System Address: Multicast address for inter-processor communication; typically unchanged. Each independent system on the same network must have a unique system address.
• System Communications: Changes how the commissioning machine communicates with processors.
  • Use Multicast Address: Communicates using multicast traffic (compatible with unmanaged networks).
  • <IP Address>: Communicates using TCP traffic to the specified processor IP (often used with managed networks that don't support multicast). This setting only affects software-to-processor communication.
• Restrict Communications with Processor to Local LAN only: Security feature disallowing off-network connections. Mobile app access is not impacted.

4.6 Additional Information

For more details on VPNs and DNS, refer to Application Note #231 (P/N 048231) at www.lutron.com.

For information on setting up multiple independent systems, see Application Note #688 (P/N 048688) at www.lutron.com.

After configuring processors, activate each one by selecting it from the unactivated list and clicking 'Activate'. The status should show 'Good ✔'. Ensure the correct processor is activated to the placeholder.

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