# Very slow ZWave network **URL:** \ **Category:** Migration\ **Tags:** zwave\ **Created:** [December 26, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403 "2020-12-26T15:59:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Andrew\_Rowe](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/andrew_rowe/32/37075_2.png) [@Andrew\_Rowe](https://community.openhab.org/u/Andrew_Rowe)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 1:42am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/62 "2021-01-04T01:42:05Z")
> [@rbergen](#): > > allows you to perform zwave packet captures and see how nodes are routing in real-time, amongst other things woah… cool… > [@rbergen](#): > > At one point I had a node that was trying to route through a node that no longer existed and was the cause of timeouts. right… so that is what I’m trying to say, one zombie node buggers things $hiTless op has some cleaning house to do you know ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Osborne](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/bruce_osborne/32/38531_2.png) [@Bruce\_Osborne](https://community.openhab.org/u/Bruce_Osborne)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 11:00am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/63 "2021-01-04T11:00:50Z")
> [@Andrew\_Rowe](#): > > woah… cool… There is zniffer software used by some here to do that. I have a he stick but have not really used it. ---
**Author:** ![NCO](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/nco/32/55938_2.png) [@NCO](https://community.openhab.org/u/NCO)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 10:15am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/64 "2021-03-22T10:15:21Z")
> [@rbergen](#): > > In the end, I did perform a reset on the zwave controller USB stick and re-add everything and also has been fine since Is this possible with OH3 tools or do I need Silabs for it? ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Osborne](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/bruce_osborne/32/38531_2.png) [@Bruce\_Osborne](https://community.openhab.org/u/Bruce_Osborne)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 11:35am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/65 "2021-03-22T11:35:22Z")
You need the Silabs software or some other means of resetting the controller. It cannot be done from openHAB. ---
**Author:** ![FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/funmiles/32/37386_2.png) [@FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/u/FunMiles)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 2:25am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/66 "2023-05-15T02:25:48Z")
This problem has reappeared. I upgraded to the latest OpenHAB (3.4.4). I had 2 dead Z-Wave switches and replaced them with Zigbee switches. At first all went well but less than 24h the whole ZWave network is back into a slower than a snail… I really do not want to reset everything again and start over. Does anyone have a better idea? For those not wanting to read the whole thread again: - I have an Aeotec Gen 5 Z-Wave stick - When all goes well, the light on the stick changes red/blue/yellow/off at a regular rate of about 1Hz. - When the network is slow, the color changes are only once every 20s or longer. ---
**Author:** ![Andrew\_Rowe](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/andrew_rowe/32/37075_2.png) [@Andrew\_Rowe](https://community.openhab.org/u/Andrew_Rowe)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 3:53am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/67 "2023-05-15T03:53:12Z")
you have zombie nodes in the network the network is getting swamped by something if you have the means to sniff traffic and figure out what is doing it might help how many nodes in the network (I’m not going to read the whole thread, sorry) Do you have nodes that have a ridiculously high reporting rate set? Have the two dead switches been excluded or whatever (removed from system) Do you run nightly heal? The two switches were repeaters and any battery nodes that used them in the mesh may be stranded I guess try to add more detail about the network in general ---
**Author:** ![FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/funmiles/32/37386_2.png) [@FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/u/FunMiles)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 4:09am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/68 "2023-05-15T04:09:01Z")
There are about 40 active nodes on the network. Nightly heals are run, yes. They have not helped. There are no nodes with ridiculously high reporting settings. The two removed nodes could not be excluded. They were dead from the network before I pulled them from power. They do appear in the Z-Wave network map with dashed unidirectional lines. I tried to get OpenHab remove the nodes from the controller to no avail. I can run any test you’d suggest. ---
**Author:** ![HolBaum5](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/holbaum5/32/110068_2.png) [@HolBaum5](https://community.openhab.org/u/HolBaum5)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 8:51am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/69 "2023-05-15T08:51:26Z")
Remove the zombie Z-Wave nodes you can find the description here [Removing Zombie Z-Wave nodes](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjErsG4-Pb-AhVVi_0HHeesDhAQFnoECAgQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcommunity-openhab-org.s3.dualstack.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com%2Foriginal%2F3X%2F0%2Fe%2F0ee4d0c29d92e1e294728ca7b57c7ff28a4226dd.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2hmu9XkUPyfYSSc2kC8DQo) ---
**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:** [May 15, 2023, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/70 "2023-05-15T20:14:12Z")
I did a comprehensive writeup about removing nodes [here](https://community.openhab.org/t/solved-unresponsive-z-wave-network-tools-and-approaches-to-track-down-the-issues/122446). In my cases slow networks were always related to these. ---
**Author:** ![FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/funmiles/32/37386_2.png) [@FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/u/FunMiles)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/71 "2023-05-15T20:37:30Z")
I tried to remove the zombie nodes as instructed in the pdf. Unfortunately, I get an error: `Remove Failed Node failed in 00:00:04.011` ---
**Author:** ![apella12](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/apella12/32/117154_2.png) [@apella12](https://community.openhab.org/u/apella12)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/72 "2023-05-15T20:40:50Z")
What did it say after the “check” if failed? ---
**Author:** ![FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/funmiles/32/37386_2.png) [@FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/u/FunMiles)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/73 "2023-05-15T21:11:39Z")
Your writeup says `Use the zensys z-wave pc controller tool to delete nodes` However I cannot find that tool. Can you give me a link on where to find that? (Several links are dead) ---
**Author:** ![FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/funmiles/32/37386_2.png) [@FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/u/FunMiles)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/74 "2023-05-15T21:33:15Z")
Tried again. The `Is Failed` operation results in `Is Failed Node Check failed in 00:00:04.072` ---
**Author:** ![rpwong](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/rpwong/32/36036_2.png) [@rpwong](https://community.openhab.org/u/rpwong)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/75 "2023-05-15T21:43:18Z")
> [@FunMiles](#): > > zensys z-wave pc controller I believe it’s now part of Simplicity Studio 5. > **[Z-Wave command class configuration tool download.](https://aeotec.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/6000226205-z-wave-pc-controller-5-configuration-tool-installation-)** > > This page provides the steps to download and use SiLabs PC Controller 5 (Zensys Tools 5) as the ultimate management tool with your Z-Stick Gen5 and form part of the larger Z-Stick Gen5 user manual.  SiLabs now offers their Zensys Tools... ---
**Author:** ![apella12](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/apella12/32/117154_2.png) [@apella12](https://community.openhab.org/u/apella12)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/76 "2023-05-15T21:47:01Z")
Interesting? Usually that means the node responded, so can’t be removed. Only failed nodes can be removed by that method. Did you see any message from the node? Click on the letter icon in the upper right (second one in) ---
**Author:** ![FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/funmiles/32/37386_2.png) [@FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/u/FunMiles)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 10:01pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/77 "2023-05-15T22:01:25Z")
@apella12 That’s actually empty. Note that, whenever I restart the ZWave PC Controller, remove the stick, re-insert it, the stick lights flash regularly. As soon as I ask to mark the node as failed, the lights do not flash anymore. The light will change only after very long wait times. Also those node cannot be replying, since they are now disconnected from the power. PS: If having about 40 to 50 devices creates this kind of situation with ZWave, it seems to me the whole protocol was not well thought out. I have started replacing ZWave devices with Zigbee. I am never going to add another ZWave device or recommend ZWave to anyone… However replacing all my devices is an expensive enterprise… ---
**Author:** ![FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/funmiles/32/37386_2.png) [@FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/u/FunMiles)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 10:08pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/78 "2023-05-15T22:08:29Z")
I have two Aetec 5+ sticks. Is there a way to transfer the config from the one currently paired with all the devices to the other one? Can it be done via a configuration file where the dead devices could be manually removed? ---
**Author:** ![apella12](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/apella12/32/117154_2.png) [@apella12](https://community.openhab.org/u/apella12)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 10:38pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/79 "2023-05-15T22:38:57Z")
> [@FunMiles](#): > > That’s actually empty. > Note that, whenever I restart the ZWave PC Controller, remove the stick, re-insert it, the stick lights flash regularly. As soon as I ask to mark the node as failed, the lights do not flash anymore. The light will change only after very long wait times. All that probably means the check if failed message never got through. I have had 40 to 50 zwave node networks running for some time without a problem, but that doesn’t help you. The are a couple of options for the other stick (assuming it is blank). 1. Use the NVM backup on the first page of the PC controller to copy the configuration, then open another PC controller window and stick the other Zstick in another windows usb port and use the NVM to restore to the new stick. However, that will be an exact copy, so will have the same problem. 2. what might be interesting is to add the other stick to your network. On the window with the current zstick use the Add, then on the other window click the classic learn. The blank Zstick should get a complete network. Then try to use that controller to remove the failed devices. It is a long shot and probably something could go wrong, but if you do the nvm backup first (of your current), you can just restore that version (without the other Zstick in the network). ---
**Author:** ![FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/funmiles/32/37386_2.png) [@FunMiles](https://community.openhab.org/u/FunMiles)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/80 "2023-05-15T22:59:17Z")
Actually, one thing in my previous post is incorrect. The sticks are Gen5 but not Gen5+ Can I put a backup from Gen5 onto a Gen5+ ? (using ZWave cloner downloaded from [domotic-hobby.com](http://domotic-hobby.com)) Could it be that the latter’s firmware fixes some issues? ---
**Author:** ![apella12](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/apella12/32/117154_2.png) [@apella12](https://community.openhab.org/u/apella12)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403/81 "2023-05-15T23:09:03Z")
> [@FunMiles](#): > > Could it be that the latter’s firmware fixes some issues? Unlikely. > [@FunMiles](#): > > Can I put a backup from Gen5 onto a Gen5+ ? The quick way to tell is to try the PC controller backup, if there are errors then the answer is no. There is an older [Zwave backup utility](https://aeotec.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/6000108806-z-stick-gen5-backup-software) that can work on older sticks. Adding the stick to the network should work regardless of version [Previous page](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403.md?page=3) [Next page](https://community.openhab.org/t/very-slow-zwave-network/111403.md?page=5)