To install ECS on Windows (fully operational for 30 days)

1. Download and execute ECS_SETUP.EXE (9MB).
2. To allow ECS to speak text (highly recommended):
   1. Download/execute Microsoft Text-to-Speech Engines (8MB).
   2. Download/execute Microsoft Speech Install Program (1MB).
3. Click the ECS Icon on your Desktop to start ECS. ECS will display it's Login page in your web browser.
   NOTE: The first time ECS starts, it will attempt to determine your PC's Internet address by downloading
   a tiny web page at checkip.dyndns.org. This information is required to support Internet access (if desired).
4. Login by entering "owner" for both the Name and Password (neither are case-sensitive).
   ECS will then display it's "Home" page.
5. If you're using IE7 (Internet Explorer 7), we recommend the following browser setup changes:
   1. Allow ECS's Java buttons (e.g. Edit, Create, etc) to open new windows:
      1. Move the mouse over the Edit button.
         The entire box containing the menu and message line will be outlined,
         and a mini-window may also appear stating "Click to activate and use this control".
      2. Click Edit (to activate the control).
      3. Click Edit again.
      4. This message will then appear near the top of the browser window):
               "Pop-up blocked. To see this pop-up or additional options click here..."
      5. Click this message and select "Always allow pop-ups from this site...".
   2. Optional: Allow ECS to display messages in the browser's status line:
      1. Click Tools, Internet Options, Security, Custom Level.
      2. Scroll down to the "Scripting" section (near bottom).
      3. Under "Allow status bar updates via script", click "Enable".
      4. Click OK.
6. If you're using FireFox, we recommend the following browser setup changes:
   1. Remove add-ons that are "incompatible" with JAVA applets (IMPORTANT):
      The AdblockPlus and Flashblock add-ons (even if "disabled") can cause havoc with web pages that contain JAVA applets (as do ECS pages). So if you have either installed, we STRONGLY recommend that you uninstall them and use NoScript instead (a superior/safer alternative).
   2. Allow ECS's Java buttons (e.g. Edit, Create, etc) to open new windows:
      1. Click Edit. If the Edit page is displayed, you may close it and skip this setup.
      2. This message will then appear near the top of the browser window:
               Firefox prevented this site from opening a popup window
      3. Click the Options button to the right of this message and select "Allow popups for 127.0.0.1".
   3. Optional: Allow ECS to display messages in the browser's status line:
      1. Click Tools, Options, & Content
      2. Click the Advanced... button to the right of "JavaScript" (not the tab at top).
      3. Check "Change status bar text".
      4. Click OK.
7. Move the mouse over various buttons ("Edit", "Create", etc) to see what they do
   (descriptions will appear in the message line below the buttons).
   To view/modify/delete existing Objects/Scripts/Schedules, click Edit.
   To create new Objects/Scripts/Schedules, click Create.
8. Set your login Password(s), enable automatic login, and/or enable remote logins.
   1. Click Edit. This will display a list of your Objects in a new window.
   2. Click the "Password:Owner" link. This will display the edit page for the "Password:Owner" Object.
   3. At the "User::" prompt, enter your desired login name.
   4. At the "Password::" prompt, enter your desired password.
   5. If you wish ECS to automatically login this password at startup, enter "Yes" at the Default::" prompt.
   6. All Password Objects are initially defined only for local access (i.e. the ECS PC and local/networked PCs).
      If you wish to login with this password over the Internet:
      1. Set Client-IP to "PC, LAN, WAN".
      2. Setup your router and/or firewall to open up ports 2080/2081/2082 for TCP/IP.
         If you need help with either, please click "Help" in ECS and see the "Accessing ECS from the Internet" section.
   7. Click SUBMIT.
9. Denote your time zone/etc, so that ECS may accurately predict your dawn/sunrise/sunset/dusk times:
   1. Click Edit.
   2. Click the "Clock" link. This will display the edit page for the "Clock" Object.
   3. Click the "Time-Zone" value and select your time zone.
   4. Enter your zip code in the "Zip-Code" field.
   5. Click SUBMIT. ECS will then attempt to find/set the latitude/longitude of your zip code (used to calculate sunrise/sunset times). If the Longitude/Latitude fields remain "Unknown", you can enter them manually. To find your longitude/latitude, click here or here.
      IMPORTANT: If a west longitude is denoted, then negate the value (i.e. if your longitude is 85 W, then enter -85).
   6. Click SUBMIT. The Dawn/Sunrise/Sunset/Dusk Clock Properties will then denote the times appropriate to your area.
      will now denote the times appropriate to your area.
10. Denote your zip code so ECS can periodically download your area's weather conditions & forecast:
    [Note: If you're in Canada, please skip these steps and contact us for the required Objects.]
    1. Click Edit.
    2. Click the "Weather" link. This will display the edit page for the "Weather" Object.
    3. Enter your zip code in the "Zip-Code" field.
    4. Click SUBMIT. After a few seconds, your local weather data will appear.
11. Specify the port for your main controller (if any):
    1. Click Edit.
       
    2. Click the Object appropriate to your controller: Ocelot, PowerLinc, CM11A. StarGate, or HomeVision.
       
    3. At the "Port:" prompt, click the value and select the port (serial or USB) that the controller is connected to.
    4. Click SUBMIT. If ECS reports an error, stop any other program that might be accessing the unit, re-check your connections, and make sure the unit is powered up,
12. Setup caller-ID (if you hava a modem that supports caller-ID):
    1. Click Edit.
    2. Click the "CID:Modem" link. This will display the edit page for the "CID:Modem" Object.
    3. At the "Port::" prompt, enter the modem's serial port.
    4. Click SUBMIT.
    5. Now when you receive a call, the CID:Modem Monitor Script will announce the name/number, display it in a popup window, and log it to CID.LOG. If you wish to assign a customized name to a number (e.g. change the default of "Mary Smith" to "Mom"), then edit phone_book.txt and add the number followed by the desired name.
13. To review simple (step-by-step) tutorials, click the "Tutorials" link in the ECS "Home" page.
14. To stop ECS, click "ShutDown".
    If you close your web browser or your ECS page(s) without stopping ECS, you can regain access
    by clicking the ECS tray icon (bottom right) and clicking "Login", or by displaying http://127.0.0.1:2080/Login.
15. To run ECS at bootup:
    • Option 1: Run ECS when Windows automatically logs you in (recommended if auto-login is not a security concern):
      1. Have Windows log you in at bootup (if not already):
         1. Windows7/Vista: Click the Windows icon (at bottom/left of screen) and type "netplwiz" in the "Search" box.
            XP (and prior): Click START, select "Run", and enter "CONTROL USERPASSWORDS2".
         2. Uncheck "Users should enter a username and password ...", and press OK.
         3. Enter the user name and password of the account to be logged in at startup.
         4. Click OK.
      2. Windows7/Vista: Click the Windows icon (at bottom/left of the screen)
         XP (and prior): Click START
      3. Click ALL PROGRAMS
      4. Right-click on STARTUP and select OPEN
      5. Right-click in the main display area and select NEW / SHORTCUT
      6. Browse to \ECS\ECS.EXE, select it, and click OK
      7. Click NEXT and FINISH
      
      
    • Option 2: Run ECS as a Windows Service (runs at bootup, no Windows login required):
      1. Create the ECS Service:
         Vista/Windows7:
         1. Click the Windows icon (at bottom/left of the screen) and COMPUTER
         2. Browse to the \ECS folder
         3. Right-click on CREATE_SERVICE.BAT, and select "RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR".
         
         XP (and prior):
         1. Click START and MY COMPUTER
         2. Browse to the \ECS folder
         3. Double-click CREATE_SERVICE.BAT.
      2. The "Services" program should now be running.
         We recommend that you tell the Service to use your account defaults (such as your web browser):
         1. Double-click on "ECS"
         2. Clock "LOG ON"
         3. Check "THIS ACCOUNT"
         4. Enter your Windows login name in the box to the right
         5. Enter your password in the next 2 fields
         6. Click APPLY
      3. Activate the ECS tray icon when you're logged in:
         Vista/Windows7:
         1. Click the Windows icon (at bottom/left of the screen)
         2. Click ALL PROGRAMS
         3. Right-click on STARTUP and select OPEN
         4. Right-click in the main display area and select NEW / SHORTCUT
         5. Browse to \ECS\TRAY_ICON.EXE, select it, and click OK
         6. Click NEXT and FINISH
         
         XP (and prior):
         1. Click START
         2. Click ALL PROGRAMS
         3. Right-click on STARTUP and select OPEN
         4. Click FILE and select NEW / SHORTCUT
         5. Browse to \ECS\TRAY_ICON.EXE, select it, and click OK
         6. Click NEXT and FINISH
      NOTE: When a Windows user logs out, Windows takes some 20-30 seconds to "Save your settings".
      During this time, all Services (incl ECS) are temporarily halted. So remote ECS login attempts may timeout during this period.

To install ECS on Linux (fully operational for 30 days)
Note: ECS is built under Ubuntu, and so should run on any recent Debian-derived distro.

1. Login to your normal user account.
2. Enter:
         mkdir ecs
         cd ecs
3. Download ecs_linux.zip (6MB) to ./ecs.
4. Enter:
         unzip ecs_linux
         chmod +x *.bin
         chmod +x *.sh
         chmod +x gnuplot
         chmod +x text2wave
5. To install the pre-compiled Festival text-to-speech software (optional):
   1. Login as root.
   2. Download festival.zip (18MB) to the root directory ("/").
   3. Enter:
            cd /
            unzip festival
   4. Enter "ls -l /usr/lib/libtermcap.so.2".
      If no such file is found:
      • Enter "ls -l /lib/libncurses.so.*".
        The resulting listing should look something like this:

        
        lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root     17 Feb 19 19:39 /lib/libncurses.so.5 -> libncurses.so.5.5
        -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 263040 Apr  1 15:44 /lib/libncurses.so.5.5

      • Enter "ln -s /lib/{file} /usr/lib/libtermcap.so.2", where {file} is the file listed above that is not a link
        (e.g. "ln -s /lib/libncurses.so.5.5 /usr/lib/libtermcap.so.2").
6. To start ECS, execute ./ecs/ecs.bin. ECS will display it's Login page via FireFox.
   NOTE: The first time ECS starts, it will attempt to determine your PC's Internet address by downloading
   a tiny web page at checkip.dyndns.org. This information is required to support Internet access (if desired).
   If you have the 64-bit version of Ubuntu and ecs.bin fails to run, then install the 32-bit libraries by entering "apt-get install ia32-libs".
   If you wish to startup with another browser, edit linux_browser_startup.sh as needed.
   If you're using FireFox in Ubuntu and it prompts you to install JAVA (required), then do not install it via FireFox.
   Instead, use the Update Manager:
   1. Click System, Administration, Update Manager.
   2. Right-click on any checkbox, and select Uncheck All.
   3. Check all JAVA-related boxes.
   4. Click Install Updates.
7. Login by entering "owner" for both the Name and Password (neither are case-sensitive).
   ECS will then display it's "Home" page.
8. If you're using FireFox, we recommend the following browser setup changes:
   1. Remove add-ons that are "incompatible" with JAVA applets (IMPORTANT):
      The AdblockPlus and Flashblock add-ons (even if "disabled") can cause havoc with web pages that contain JAVA applets (as do ECS pages). So if you have either installed, we STRONGLY recommend that you uninstall them and use NoScript instead (a superior/safer alternative).
   2. Allow ECS's Java buttons (e.g. Edit, Create, etc) to open new windows:
      1. Click Edit. If the Edit page is displayed, you may close it and skip this setup.
      2. This message will then appear near the top of the browser window:
               Firefox prevented this site from opening a popup window
      3. Click the Options button to the right of this message and select "Allow popups for 127.0.0.1".
   3. Optional: Allow ECS to display messages in the browser's status line:
      1. Click Tools, Options, & Content
      2. Click the Advanced... button to the right of "JavaScript" (not the tab at top).
      3. Check "Change status bar text".
      4. Click OK.
9. Move the mouse over various buttons ("Edit", "Create", etc) to see what they do
   (descriptions will appear in the message line below the buttons).
   To view/modify/delete existing Objects/Scripts/Schedules, click Edit.
   To create new Objects/Scripts/Schedules, click Create.
10. Set your login Password(s), enable automatic login, and/or enable remote logins.
    1. Click Edit. This will display a list of your Objects in a new window.
    2. Click the "Password:Owner" link. This will display the edit page for the "Password:Owner" Object.
    3. At the "User::" prompt, enter your desired login name.
    4. At the "Password::" prompt, enter your desired password.
    5. If you wish ECS to automatically login this password at startup, enter "Yes" at the Default::" prompt.
    6. All Password Objects are initially defined only for local access (i.e. the ECS PC and local/networked PCs).
       If you wish to login with this password over the Internet:
       1. Set Client-IP to "PC, LAN, WAN".
       2. Setup your router and/or firewall to open up ports 2080/2081/2082 for TCP/IP.
          If you need help with either, please click "Help" in ECS and see the "Accessing ECS from the Internet" section.
    7. Click SUBMIT.
11. Denote your time zone/etc, so that ECS may accurately predict your dawn/sunrise/sunset/dusk times:
    1. Click Edit.
    2. Click the "Clock" link. This will display the edit page for the "Clock" Object.
    3. Click the "Time-Zone" value and select your time zone.
    4. Enter your zip code in the "Zip-Code" field.
    5. Click SUBMIT. ECS will then attempt to find/set the latitude/longitude of your zip code (used to calculate sunrise/sunset times). If the Longitude/Latitude fields remain "Unknown", you can enter them manually. To find your longitude/latitude, click here or here.
    6. Click SUBMIT. The Dawn/Sunrise/Sunset/Dusk Clock Properties will then denote the times appropriate to your area.
       will now denote the times appropriate to your area.
12. Denote your zip code so ECS can periodically download your area's weather conditions & forecast:
    [Note: If you're in Canada, please skip these steps and contact us for the required Objects.]
    1. Click Edit.
    2. Click the "Weather" link. This will display the edit page for the "Weather" Object.
    3. Enter your zip code in the "Zip-Code" field.
    4. Click SUBMIT. After a few seconds, your local weather data will appear.
13. Specify the port for your main controller (if any):
    1. Click Edit.
       
    2. Click the Object appropriate to your controller: Ocelot, PowerLinc, CM11A. StarGate, or HomeVision.
       
    3. At the "Port:" prompt, click the value and select the port (serial or USB) that the controller is connected to.
    4. Click SUBMIT. If ECS reports an error, stop any other program that might be accessing the unit, re-check your connections, and make sure the unit is powered up,
14. Setup caller-ID (if you hava a modem that supports caller-ID):
    1. Click Edit.
    2. Click the "CID:Modem" link. This will display the edit page for the "CID:Modem" Object.
    3. At the "Port::" prompt, enter the modem's serial port.
    4. Click SUBMIT.
    5. Now when you receive a call, the CID:Modem Monitor Script will announce the name/number, display it in a popup window, and log it to CID.LOG. If you wish to assign a customized name to a number (e.g. change the default of "Mary Smith" to "Mom"), then edit phone_book.txt and add the number followed by the desired name.
15. To review simple (step-by-step) tutorials, click the "Tutorials" link in the ECS "Home" page.
16. To stop ECS, click "ShutDown".
    If you close your web browser or your ECS page(s) without stopping ECS, you can regain access by displaying http://127.0.0.1:2080/Login.