Synchronization and Backup

First, it is important to understand the difference between Synchronization and Backup.
Synchronization helps manage your configuration across devices. If you make a change to your configuration on your iPhone, that change is instantly reflected on your iPad when on the same home network.

Backup simply makes a copy of your configuration to a directory you select so that it can be restored to a device at a later time. If you restore the same configuration to multiple Controllers, they will not be synchronized. Never use Restore as a method of synchronizing multiple controllers. Restore is performed on one controller only and automatically reflects to other devices via Synchronization.

Synchronization via Instant Home Sharing is designed specifically for Roomie Remote, it is a low overhead system allowing for a lightweight synchronization that quickly keeps all devices associated with a particular configuration in sync. It requires local network connectivity or VPN access. It does not work remotely.

Synchronization happens automatically between all participating devices on your network that have been associated with the Home active on your Primary Controller using Instant Home Sharing.

Despite the fact that it seems like storing a copy of your configuration on all of your Controllers in your home would be a safe backup mechanism, it is not at all. Synchronization is a two way street. If your child decides to delete your Living Room from one device on which you didn’t activate Prevent Editing, it’s deleted from all devices. Instantly. It is always going to be best to use a real Backup mechanism in addition to Synchronization.

Backup is available to all users. Backup protects the complete configuration including custom images. To use Backup go to Menu > Settings > Homes > select the Home to backup if needed > tap “Backup…”. To perform a Restore, go to Menu > Settings > Homes [> use the back button on an iPhone if a Home is auto-selected] > tap “+ Restore Home”.

Finally, it’s important to understand how Synchronization and Backup interact. When you Restore a configuration from a Backup, it becomes the new live configuration that all instances of Roomie Remote on that Home will Synchronize when on the same network as the Home’s Primary Controller. Even if you backed it up months ago, if you Restore it now, it is now the new version of your configuration for all Controllers. Remember, never use backup or restore as a method of synchronization between multiple devices. They have nothing to do with each other.