Need to switch to fusion, help

[steallife904]

Looks like I am not alone as far as those who haven't updated there apex. I am going on 3 or so years running my apex and never did an update for fear it would wipe out all my programs. Recently I stopped being able to connect to Apex outside my network, FYI I do not have fusion still have the old looking page on phone (apex app) and computer when logged in... Anyway I tried to log into my apex through my computer assuming I needed to update the IP but it wont let me. The dashboard comes up but there are no graphs, and if I click on anything like network settings to try to update I get a blank screen. I have reset computers, apex everything... the old dashboard doesn't seem to work anymore and I have no way to log in now to update the IP address....

So I email apex and was told I need to switch to fusion. Where do I start? I assume I will need to try to do an update for the first time. Then what, just setup a fusion account? It seems like basically I will setting it up like its new again. I hope I don't lose all the stuff I already have programmed. Any help on what I need to do?

 

[chucklez]

When you stopped being able to access it, did anything change? Your router? new modem by your internet service provider? Maybe your home IP address? Any of those would affect it as your port forwarding to the Apex would not be working. Anyways, it would still be prudent to update to the new firmware.

First thing to do would be to create a backup of your existing programming, just in case something were to happen. I do not have access to the old interface, but on the current one you would go to configuration->Load/Save->Click the save configuration button.

Once that is complete go to HERE and download the latest apex firmware. Make sure you have a physical wired connection (not via wifi) and run the updater as instructed on the download page. This will flash your Apex to the newest publicly released version.

Once the hardware is flashed to the newest version create your APEX FUSION account. Once created you will need to enable fusion either via the Apex display (dont remember the exact actions) or by logging in directly to the apex classic dashboard from your network (as you currently do). Go to Configuration->network Setup-> and click the enable circle next to Apex Fusion Enable and Apex Fusion Control Enable. Click The Update network Settings button. Then go to the dashboard. There should be a gibberish passkey generated that is 6-8 characters long i think. Copy that and paste that into the Apex Fusion webpage where it asks for a key.

That should enable fusion for you to access it. Try to youtube a video if you have any questions. I am sure someone has posted a step by step video out there somewhere in internet land.

 

[steallife904]

router and modem are the same. I believe the IP address changed which has happened from time to time before. The problem I have now is when I log into the apex dashboard I cannot click to go to anything. It literally will only let me view the dashboard. If I click anything (network settings, another dashboard, charts, anything) it pops up with a blank screen and never comes up. So I have no way to go in and update the IP address or to go in and save anything.

Will just attempt to do the update then switch over to fusion.

 

[kurt_n]

...
So I email apex and was told I need to switch to fusion. ...

I'm not normally critical of Neptune, but if they truly told you this it's blatantly wrong. The old dashboard and firmware are still operating fine and there is no need to switch to Fusion if you don't want to. Did they tell you things would be easier if you switched to Fusion, or that you just plain had to?

The fact you can log into you Apex tells you that it's still working fine and accessible on the network. Blank pages when trying to navigate could mean a couple different things. First thing I'd do is try a different browser. As much as I hate to say it, try MS Internet Explorer. I've used Firefox for years with my Apex, but within the last 6 months or so Firefox has stopped playing nice with the Apex and I was getting what you describe very often - pages hanging and not loading. When I used MSIE to access the Apex, everything loaded fine. Obviously, Firefox changed something along the way that doesn't play nice with the old Apex webpages. (I'm running firmware 4.20, for reference.)

If that doesn't work, try reloading the webpages to the Apex - they could've become corrupt somehow.

I have a hunch a different browser will bring you Apex back to life again for you.

As far as accessing it outside your network, do you have a dyndns address or the like set up to access it? If your router hasn't changed, is the port forwarding still all set up correctly? Are you using something other than port 80 to access it remotely? Just trying to figure out why that part isn't working for you. The fact you can log into your Apex means it should be accessible outside your network also, assuming your trying the correct address and port.

 

[steallife904]

Yes they told me it would be easier to switch. They where not sure what my exact issue is. I normally use safari since i have mac computers (desktop, iPad, iPhone). How would i try another browser if all i have is Mac? i do have a feeling that is the issue.

i had it previously setup with my router that has not changed. I have had to change the IP address a few times in the past because it updated.

 

[kurt_n]

Yes they told me it would be easier to switch. They where not sure what my exact issue is.

Wow. That sounds like a cop out on Neptune's part. Granted... Fusion makes the whole port forwarding issue go away and makes it easier for them to troubleshoot. But it kind of sounds like you got a "If you're not on Fusion, we can't help" response. Hopefully that was just a hurried response and not an indication that they're limiting their support on legacy product.

I normally use safari since i have mac computers (desktop, iPad, iPhone). How would i try another browser if all i have is Mac? i do have a feeling that is the issue.

I'm a PC guy, so I can't help you there. But I think you can install any 3rd party browser you want, can't you? Pretty sure there's a handful of other browsers out there (Firefox, Chrome, etc... even though Firefox wasn't playing nice for me, it might be OK on your OS) that work on a Mac.

i had it previously setup with my router that has not changed. I have had to change the IP address a few times in the past because it updated.

So before, when you logged in from outside your network, you used the external IP address your internet provider gave you? And that's not working now? Are you getting some type of error page when you do it now?

 

[steallife904]

by logging on outside my network I was just opening the apex app on my phone. or logging on my desktop at home. I believe to answer your question though is yes I was using the IP they gave me. a couple of times it updated on my router so I would have to log in to apex and update.