INS10244-5 Z-Wave Node Type Overview and Network Installation Guide 2008-12-04
Zensys A/S Z-Wave basics Page 3 of 38
CONFIDENTIAL
3 Z-WAVE BASICS
This chapter describes the basic building blocks of the Z-Wave technology.
3.1 Network Nodes
The Z-Wave network consists of two different types of network nodes; controllers and slaves. The
controller nodes are able to calculate routes (and alternative routes). The second node type is the slave
node, which generally acts as input and output units. Both types exist in different versions as described
below. The Z-Wave protocol supports networks of up to 232 nodes, which can be freely shared between
controller and slave nodes.
3.1.1 Controller Nodes
A controller in the Z-Wave terminology is defined as a unit that has the ability to host a routing table of
the entire network and calculate routes on the basis thereof. Moreover, the controller has the ability to
pass on routes to slave units, in order to enable them to transmit routed signals.
Z-Wave networks are established around a controller. The controller used to include the first node is by
default configured to act as Primary Controller with the capability to include/exclude nodes. The Primary
Controller is used to include all subsequent nodes in the network.
Being primary is just a role. Any controller can be primary but only one controller can be primary at a
time. The primary controller manages the allocation of node IDs and gathers information about which
nodes can reach each other via direct RF links. More Portable Controllers as well as Static Controllers
can be added as needed as the network grows and are denominated as secondary controllers. The
secondary controllers can get copies of the network information gathered by the primary controller.
A Static Controller can be enabled to become a Static Update Controller (SUC), which adds advanced
self-organization functionalities to the network. A SUC can furthermore be enabled to become a SUC Id
Server (SIS), which adds more flexibility to the installation process. At the same time, the SUC improves
the self-healing properties of the network, as the SUC introduces a redundant representation of the
network topology. Thus, a lost or crashed controller may have its topology awareness restored from the
information stored in the SUC. The SIS is by default a Primary Controller because it can include/exclude
nodes. Furthermore it enables other controllers to include/exclude nodes on behalf of the SIS.
The controller exists in a number of fundamentally different versions, which are described in the following
sections.
3.1.1.1 Portable Controller
The Portable Controller has the ability to discover its own position in the network, when it needs
to communicate with other nodes. An example of a device using this type could be a remote
control unit, e.g. for controlling light or HVAC systems. Because the Portable Controller can be
carried around in the network, it is also typically used to include/exclude nodes and maintaining
the Z-Wave network. Portable controllers are typically battery powered.
3.1.1.2 Installation Controller
The Installation Controller is essentially a Portable Controller node, which incorporates extra
functionality that can be used to implement professional installer tools, which need extended