After exploring the recent improvements in zigbee2mqtt’s HA-format support, I decided to migrate my devices from the traditional generic MQTT setup. This decision was driven by the promise of better integration and more streamlined configurations. Here’s my journey and some insights for anyone considering a similar move.
Understanding the Migration
First, I wanted to confirm whether switching to HA-format would disrupt my current setup. From what I gathered, once HA-format is enabled in zigbee2mqtt, it stops publishing data in the generic format. This means my existing items would stop receiving updates unless I update their configurations. To ensure a smooth transition, I planned to tackle the migration in stages.
The Migration Process
-
Enabling HA-Format
- I started by enabling HA-format in my zigbee2mqtt configuration. This was straightforward, just a matter of setting
ha: truein the configuration file.
- I started by enabling HA-format in my zigbee2mqtt configuration. This was straightforward, just a matter of setting
-
Discovering New Things
- After enabling HA-format, I noticed that OpenHAB automatically detected the new HA-formatted things. This was a relief; no manual setup was needed for the devices.
-
Updating Items
- The next step was to update my items to use the new channels. I found that the channel syntax had changed from
{ zwave=... }to{ channel=... }, which was a bit confusing at first. However, once I made the switch, everything started working as expected.
- The next step was to update my items to use the new channels. I found that the channel syntax had changed from
-
Preserving Item IDs
- One concern I had was whether migrating would affect my existing item IDs and scripts. To address this, I decided to delete the old items and recreate them from the new HA-formatted things. Thankfully, OpenHAB allowed me to keep the same item IDs, ensuring my scripts remained intact.
Challenges Faced
- Zero Values for Individual Outlets: I encountered an issue where individual outlet power readings were showing as zero. After some research, I realized this was a known limitation in the current implementation. While it doesn’t affect my primary use case, it’s something to be aware of.
- Negative Values for Some Channels: Channels 5 and 6 were displaying negative values. This was unexpected, but I found that ignoring these channels or setting their visibility to false in the sitemap was a practical workaround.
Documentation and Community Support
Throughout the process, I relied heavily on the OpenHAB community and documentation. A helpful user pointed out that the syntax for channel definitions had changed, which was crucial for resolving some initial issues. I also reached out to Chris, who seemed to have extensive knowledge on zwave and OpenHAB, and he provided some valuable insights.
Final Thoughts
Migrating to HA-format has been a positive experience overall. The improved integration and cleaner setup make it worth the effort. While there are a few quirks to work around, the benefits of better compatibility and future-proofing your setup are significant.
If you’re considering this migration, here are some tips:
- Backup Your Configuration: Always have a backup before making changes.
- Test Incrementally: Migrate one device at a time to identify and resolve issues early.
- Engage with the Community: Don’t hesitate to ask for help in forums or community channels.
Happy automating! 