# Possible to shift Z-Wave primary controller from Zipabox to openHab? **URL:** \ **Category:** Migration\ **Tags:** zipato, zwave\ **Created:** [December 25, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/possible-to-shift-z-wave-primary-controller-from-zipabox-to-openhab/130585 "2021-12-25T20:50:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/lordliverpool/32/38581_2.png) [@LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/u/LordLiverpool)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/possible-to-shift-z-wave-primary-controller-from-zipabox-to-openhab/130585/1 "2021-12-25T20:50:29Z")
The time has come to make openHab the primary Z-Wave controller (with Aeon Gen5). I don’t see any way to do the shift from the Zipabox - am I right in thinking that my only option is now to reset the Z-Wave stick, exclude all Z-Wave devices from the Zipabox, and add them again to the Gen5 stick? ---
**Author:** ![stefan.hoehn](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/stefan.hoehn/32/81928_2.png) [@stefan.hoehn](https://community.openhab.org/u/stefan.hoehn)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/possible-to-shift-z-wave-primary-controller-from-zipabox-to-openhab/130585/2 "2021-12-25T21:11:44Z")
I had a noname stick and shifted it easily to the Aeotec Gen 5+. I mentioned that here: > [@\[SOLVED\] Unresponsive Z-Wave Network: Tools and Approaches to track down the issues](https://community.openhab.org/t/solved-unresponsive-z-wave-network-tools-and-approaches-to-track-down-the-issues/122446/15): > > Were you able to use the Aeon Backup Software to backup yould old Non-Aeotec stick? ---
**Author:** ![LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/lordliverpool/32/38581_2.png) [@LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/u/LordLiverpool)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/possible-to-shift-z-wave-primary-controller-from-zipabox-to-openhab/130585/3 "2021-12-25T21:45:47Z")
But I’m not sure the Zipabox will allow me to do this. I don’t think there’s any way to carry out that procedure with a Zipato controller. I gather that you need to initiate the process from the primary controller. ---
**Author:** ![stefan.hoehn](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/stefan.hoehn/32/81928_2.png) [@stefan.hoehn](https://community.openhab.org/u/stefan.hoehn)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 7:49am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/possible-to-shift-z-wave-primary-controller-from-zipabox-to-openhab/130585/4 "2021-12-26T07:49:07Z")
You use the backup software that I mentioned to make a backup and then restore it on the new stick. It was that easy. ---
**Author:** ![LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/lordliverpool/32/38581_2.png) [@LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/u/LordLiverpool)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 1:03pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/possible-to-shift-z-wave-primary-controller-from-zipabox-to-openhab/130585/5 "2021-12-26T13:03:33Z")
But how would you do that with the Zipabox? It’s a home automation controller with Z-Wave built in, not a Z-Wave stick. ---
**Author:** ![stefan.hoehn](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/stefan.hoehn/32/81928_2.png) [@stefan.hoehn](https://community.openhab.org/u/stefan.hoehn)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 2:56pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/possible-to-shift-z-wave-primary-controller-from-zipabox-to-openhab/130585/6 "2021-12-26T14:56:29Z")
Ok, I didn’t know that. Then I am rather low on hope there. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/lordliverpool/32/38581_2.png) [@LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/u/LordLiverpool)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/possible-to-shift-z-wave-primary-controller-from-zipabox-to-openhab/130585/7 "2021-12-26T15:21:24Z")
Yeah, me too 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/lordliverpool/32/38581_2.png) [@LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/u/LordLiverpool)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 4:15pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/possible-to-shift-z-wave-primary-controller-from-zipabox-to-openhab/130585/8 "2021-12-26T16:15:18Z")
It’s looking like a long weekend of running around the house adding all the devices again and recreating the things. ---
**Author:** ![LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/lordliverpool/32/38581_2.png) [@LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/u/LordLiverpool)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 2:45pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/possible-to-shift-z-wave-primary-controller-from-zipabox-to-openhab/130585/9 "2022-01-02T14:45:54Z")
Do you know if I need to exclude all the devices from the secondary controller as well as the primary before I reset the Z-Stick and convert it into a primary controller? ---
**Author:** ![LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/lordliverpool/32/38581_2.png) [@LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/u/LordLiverpool)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/possible-to-shift-z-wave-primary-controller-from-zipabox-to-openhab/130585/10 "2022-01-02T16:58:13Z")
I did a test and it looks as if, once the device is excluded from the primary controller, it’s also excluded from the secondary. ---
**Author:** ![LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/lordliverpool/32/38581_2.png) [@LordLiverpool](https://community.openhab.org/u/LordLiverpool)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/possible-to-shift-z-wave-primary-controller-from-zipabox-to-openhab/130585/11 "2022-01-05T14:40:19Z")
I’m not sure if the above is entirely true. My SIR countdown timer certainly appears to be excluded from all Z-Wave networks after excluding it on in the Zipabox, the primary, but I’m not sure about other devices I’ve excluded. Including and excluding on secondary controllers doesn’t seem to work, but there is apparently a “request network update” function in the PC Z-Wave Controller software that should update the secondary with changes on the primary. Tonight I plan to finish excluding all the devices from the Zipabox, so I’ll try this before factory-resetting the Z-Stick. If I can’t exclude all devices from both controllers, I presume those devices will have to be factory-reset too.