Z-Way the Gold-Standard Z-Wave Controller
Every Smart Home in general and every Z-Wave Network in particular is controlled by a central controller and regardless whether this is a large PC or a small router box, there is a software that implements the communication and control function.
Z-Wave.Me's flagship software to control Z-Wave networks is called Z-Way. Z-Way was the very first Z-Wave control software certified by the Z-Wave Alliance back in March 2011 (ZC08-11040003). A recertification according the Z-Wave Plus rules was accomplished in November 2014 (ZC08-14110009).
Z-Way comes in three parts:
- An optimized firmware that runs right on the Z-Wave transceiver chip.
- The communication stack that runs on different host Operating Systems. This stack included
- An automation engine and optionally a web server to implement the User Interface. The User Interfaces running either on the users web browser or mobile phone.
Z-Way comes with a couple of very useful features that make the software the gold standard of Z-Wave stacks in the market.
- Its physically tested against over 450 different Z-Wave devices, among them virtually all devices available in Europe plus the better part of US devices including all Door locks.
- It offers a platform neutral backup and restore function. A network created by one instance of Z-Way (e.g. running on Windows) can be saved and restored on a different Z-Way instance.
- Z-Way visualizes all communication between the devices and is therefore a perfect debug and test tool too
- Z-Way comes with an open REST API implemented in JSON. This allows third parties to write their own Z-Wave Network Application and User Interface completely hiding the use of Z-Way but still enjoying the robustness and flexibility of the solution.
Z-Way can run on different operating systems and host hardware but it will always require a Z-Wave.Me Z-Wave transceiver hardware connected to it and this hardware must be a valid license key to run Z-Way.
- RaZberry: A little daughterboard turns the raspberry pi into a fully operational Z-Wave controller running Z-Way. The hardware already contains a valid licensing key inside the transceiver chip.
- UZB Stick on Windows or Linux: Z-Way can run on a Windows or Linux Operating System (i86 platform). You may want to download the latest software from http://razberry.zwave.me/z-way-server. You will need a UZB Transceiver Stick with valid Z-Way licensing code inside. You can either purchase a stick that has the license already included or you can upgrade any available UZB stick to run Z-Way using a Z-Way Licensing key. The UZB stick must have a firmware version >= 5.2. Please refer to this document how to upgrade the UZB Stick in case you own an older version. Please be aware, that Z-Way will not run with a third party Z-Wave transceiver hardware.