Replace an Infinity Panel (creating a copy of a panel)

Scope

Replacing an Infinity hardware intercom panel that requires repair or replacement. This was tested on Dashboard version 3.2.5 and Infinity panel version 3.2.1

Description

When an Infinity hardware panel must be taken off-line it is possible that an exact copy of the panel is desired to replace it. This article gives the steps to create a clone of an Infinity panel and have it replace the panel being removed. This procedure has only1 prerequisite but there are two ways to fulfill it:

1. The GUI of the panel being removed is still accessible so that a backup of the configuration settings can be made.

2. A backup of the configuration settings has been made recently so that the current state of the panel will be restored from this stored backup.

Things to do

This procedure requires that the panel being replaced can be accessed via its web GUI or that a backup of the panel has been stored recently.

1. Stop Dashboard using Portainer

   NOTE: Dashboard is not required for an Infinity Intercom system to run. Dashboard is only used to  create configurations or to make configuration changes.

2. If the GUI of the panel being replaced cannot be reached an existing Configuration of the panel must already have been saved to create a copy of the panel. Go to Step 6 if you have an existing Configuration of the panel being replaced.

3. If the GUI of the panel being replaced cannot be reached and there is no existing Configuration file for the panel, then the replacement panel will have to be manually configured. See the Infinity Manual for configuring a panel.

4. Open the panel GUI of the panel being replaced and navigate to the Maintenance page.

5. Save the configuration using the Save Configuration button

6. Disconnect the faulty panel from the network(s)

7. Connect the replacement panel by adding it to the network(s) using an available IP address(s).

8. The IP address can be entered from the front panel using the Menu button.

9. Open the new panel's Maintenance page in a browser.

10. Click the Load Configuration button using the file from the panel being replaced.

11. The replacement panel will be cloned including the IP address(s) in the configuration file.

12. Restart Dashboard and it will recognize the new panel with names, keys, etc of the panel removed.

Reinstalling the repaired panel

1. Stop Dashboard using Portainer

   NOTE: Dashboard is not required for an Infinity Intercom system to run. Dashboard is only used to  create configurations or to make configuration changes.

2. Connect the repaired panel by adding it to the network(s) using an available IP address.

   1. Do NOT use its original IP.!!

   2. The IP address can be added from the front panel

3. Go to the Maintenance tab and click Load Configuration

   1. Load the last known good configuration that was saved from this panel. Got to Step 4

   2. If the repaired panel failed with no saved configuration then go to Step 7

4. Remove the temporary replacement panel from the network

5. Check the repaired panel to see that the IP address is the same as it was before it failed.

   1. Restoring the saved cofiguration should have restored the original IP address

      1. This may be the IP address of the temporary that was just removed.

      2. If the IP address of the repaired panel is not the IP address that it has before it was removed then change the IP address to the original IP.

6. Start Dashboard

   1. Dashboard should recognize the panel and it will appear in the Dashboard Device list

   2. The panel keys should be as they were in the config that was loaded.

   3. The process is done

7. Go to the Maintenance page of the temporary replacement panel

   1. Click Save Configuration

   2. Save the configuration with a name you will recognize

   3. Take this temporary replacement panel off the network

8. Go to the Maintenance page of the repaired panel.

9. Restore the configuration you just saved from the temporary  panel

   1. The repaired panel will be cloned including the IP address(s) in the configuration file.

   2. Check the IP address of this panel.

   3. If required, change the IP address of this panel to match its original IP address.

10. Restart Dashboard and it should recognize the repaired panel

    1. The replacement panel should be seen in the Dashboard Device list.

    2. The keys should match what was on the temporary panel.

Prepare the temporary replacement panel for reuse.

1. Connect the panel used as the temporary replacement to a network switch. DO NOT CONNECT the panel to the VIP network as it may have a duplicate IP address loaded in it.

2. Change the IP address of the panel to a useable IP and access the panel GUI.

3. Go to the Maintenance tab and click Factory Reset.

4. This will restore this panel’s ID and delete any stored configuration.

5. This panel can now be deployed as needed.

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