Linux Web Server for HomeVision

["jmj050856" <jmj050856@xxxxxxx>]

Hi folks,

I am trying to find a reliable way to present a Linux-based web
interface for HomeVision and came across a couple of issues.

Firstly, there doesn't seem to be a serial command to query the
currently provisioned macros (or other 'list' type information)
directly from the controller. For example, you can execute a macro,
and enable/disable them, but you can't actually query what macros are
available in the first place. Someone recommended to me to export the
schedule file, and parse it to extract the information that I need.

While this will certainly work, the problem I have with it is that
it's basically second-hand information. It's not what is actually
loaded in the controller but only a 'best guess' at what's in the
controller. For example, if you make changes to the schedule file and
export it but forget to load it into the controller, then you have a
problem. Likewise, if you load a changed schedule file into the
contoller but forget to export it, you again have compromised the
integrity of your data. This becomes even more of an issue with non-
Windows operating systems where the export file needs to be ftp'd or
copied in some other way to it, introducing yet another possibility
for errors to creep in.

This really has nothing to do per-se with Linux, but is a general
issue for any OS. It also highlights (to me anyway) the importance of
backing up a schedule file because it can't be reconstructed from the
information running in the controller. While we all should make
regular backups, it becomes more of a 'must do' instead of a 'should
do'.

So apart from the export method, has anyone ever come across a method
for reading list information directly from the controller via a
serial command?

Thanks and regards,
Joe