Redefining KNX project management: the evolving landscape of ETS6 in 2024

ETS 6.1.1 saw its release in November 2023 and next to functional improvements, it introduced two new handy features that will save you time while working on your KNX projects:

The Groups Sidebar in ETS6 introduces an enhanced filter function, significantly simplifying the process of linking groups to objects. This feature is particularly beneficial for users working on smaller screens, where managing complex configurations can be challenging. 

This new feature offers more efficient navigation and organization of groups and objects, making it an essential tool for precise KNX project management. 

The assignment of individual addresses via serial number has been introduced to allow the automatic adoption of new devices without having to press the programming button anymore. 

ETS now suggests this option when it knows the serial number of a specific device in your project, relieving you from having to press the programming buttons on devices manually.

The new release of ETS6.2 introduces a significant technological development for configuring KNX installations in the future: the integration of KNX IoT. This greatly expands the possibilities of what you will be able to include in KNX installations. 

KNX IoT brings native IPv6 support as a new medium type and as a new class of devices that are to enter the market soon. This means that you can now connect certified IoT devices to devices from any other medium type supported by ETS. This integration is designed to be interoperable and backward compatible, ensuring that new IoT devices can work seamlessly with your existing installations.

Furthermore, the introduction of KNX IoT will increase the security of your KNX installations. KNX IoT is intrinsically secure and to support this, ETS6.2 includes enhanced diagnostic tools that are capable of directly supporting the decoded IPv6 CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol) communication.

ETS6.3 has a planned release in the fall of 2024 and will truly make your tool software even more ‘smart, open and secure’. The main new ETS6.3 feature will be the Cloud Interface Functionality, the next evolutionary step for the KNX Interface. The Cloud Interface Functionality will allow seamless remote access to KNX Installations directly from within ETS without any unnecessary configuration steps for you to take. ETS6.3 will be able to remember your project passwords when you are logged in and have this option enabled. In this way, you do not have to deal with the hassle of repeatedly re-entering passwords. These passwords will be securely saved and KNX Association will have no knowledge of these passwords.