Getting started

Installing takes a minute, and the first backup a few more.

What you need

  • Indigo 2025.2 or later.
  • A 500, 700 or 800 series Z-Wave stick plugged into the Indigo Mac by USB and already working in Indigo.
  • A few minutes when your Z-Wave devices can do without Indigo, because Z-Wave is switched off while the stick is read.

Nothing needs a password, an account or a key.

1. Install the plugin

  1. Go to the Releases page and download Z-Wave.Controller.Backup.indigoPlugin.zip
  2. Unzip the downloaded file — you will get Z-Wave Controller Backup.indigoPlugin
  3. Double-click Z-Wave Controller Backup.indigoPlugin — Indigo will install it automatically

Indigo asks whether to enable the plugin. Say yes.

2. Check the settings

Indigo opens the plugin’s Configure window the first time. You can leave every box as it is. Backups then go to a folder called Z-Wave Controller Backups in /Library/Application Support/Perceptive Automation/, beside the Indigo folder, and the plugin finds the stick from Indigo’s own Z-Wave settings.

Click Save. Save it before you use the plugin’s menu, because the menu does not open while that window is still waiting. Every setting is explained on the Settings page.

3. Add the device

The device is optional, but it shows at a glance when you last took a backup and whether it is still up to date.

  1. In Indigo, choose New Device.
  2. Set Type to Z-Wave Controller Backup and the model to Z-Wave Controller.
  3. Click Save. It has no settings to fill in.

One of these is all you need. A second one shows an error and does nothing, and the Event Log says to delete it.

4. Take your first backup

  1. Choose Plugins → Z-Wave Controller Backup → Back Up Controller Now… and click Start.
  2. In the Indigo client choose Interfaces → Z-Wave → Disable. You can do this before or after clicking Start.
  3. Watch the Event Log. When it says the backup is complete and asks you to switch Z-Wave back on, choose Interfaces → Z-Wave → Enable.

The Taking a backup page goes through each step in more detail.

5. Check it worked

The Event Log has a line starting Backup complete, with the name of the file it saved, followed by Z-Wave is back on. The Z-Wave Controller device shows something like Backed up 13 Sep 12:07, current, along with the stick’s model and the number of devices it holds.

If you want to be sure the copy matches the stick, choose Plugins → Z-Wave Controller Backup → Verify Last Backup, and switch Z-Wave off and on again the same way.

If something does not go to plan, the When something goes wrong page goes through the usual causes.