Tokens & Token resets

[paulgpetty]

I'm still unable to get Homekit to connect to my hub.  This is very difficult given the lack of documentation available.

Take Tokens for example.  There are several requests in this forum to "Reset my token" or it's answer provided as a possible solution.

What are the tokens?  where are they explained?  There's so much vague language in the silly little pamphlet I received with my hub & vague language in the Arlo app it's actually hard to tell how this should work when it does work.

All I know is that Devices Found has a spinning indicator that spins & never stops (in the app); and that I've received Token Resets from strangers who can do this with just my email address(?) and that I should power cycle my hub when this happens.

No other context or information is available.

There's definitely some value in the hub: it offloads all Arlo network traffic to a dedicated wifi network the hubs provides that I have no control over (probably good because no one can access that except the accessories).  And the hub could be used to directly store videos ... but I haven't bothered to confirm that as the main reason I bought it is not functionally working.  If I keep it beyond the return period, I'll probably test that feature out ... but my expectations are low that it will work or that if it doesn't it will be straightforward to resolve.  Just my opinion but be wary of any device Arlo sells that is an Accessory.  In retrospect that should've stood out more as the Hubs don't seem ready for Homekit.

[StephenB]

Please don't double-post (creating multiple threads for the same problem).

As I suggested on one of your other threads, you need Arlo to reset the token.  I tagged the mods, so they can do that for you.  They'll reply on one of your threads after they've done that from their end.  After that, you power-cycle the base station, and you should be able to set up homekit.

[paulgpetty]

This is a separate topic. I didn't ask for a reset.  I'm truly just trying to learn where the documentation is that explains Tokens (among other things).  It's funny seems it like mentioning the word token implies that I'd want mine reset.  But that's that is not true.  I'm also curious about why the app doesn't provide a way to do this; but way more curious about a technical explanation.

[StephenB]

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@paulgpetty wrote:

This is a separate topic. I didn't ask for a reset.  

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But you need one, and that is why you can't get homekit set up.

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@paulgpetty wrote:

but way more curious about a technical explanation.

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Arlo is just using the token mechanism Apple built into homekit - and I haven't seen any real details from Apple about it.

It is apparently documented in Apple's "Software Token Authentication Server Specification", but AFAICT this spec isn't public - I think it is only available to companies that have enrolled in Apple's MFi program.

• https://mfi.apple.com/

[paulgpetty]

I would've asked in the original thread if I wanted another reset of the Token.

But I appreciate your help!!

I think I can't get Homekit set up because the device is defective, I've started a return on it; hopefully the next one ships with a QR Code which makes adding stuff super easy.

[StephenB]

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@paulgpetty wrote:

hopefully the next one ships with a QR Code which makes adding stuff super easy.

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Unfortunately It won't.