mDNS - unable to add Kauf Bulbs

I am not sure it is mDNS but based on the below log excerpt it seems like it may. The lamps are all in the LAN no segmentation flat network. It is a pfSense firewall.

ERROR Error resolving IP address of d.local. Is it connected to WiFi?

ERROR (If this error persists, please set a static IP address: https://esphome.io/components/wifi.html#manual-ips)

ERROR Error resolving IP address: Error resolving address with mDNS: Did not respond. Maybe the device is offline., [Errno -5] No address associated with hostname

The lamps do have DHCP addresses.

Not sure what to do.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Paul.

How can you be unsure when the error message tells you what to do?

Ping- command to test if device responds to ip

Dig- use this to check ip returned by dns

Does “.local” afdesses get resolved in your network?

Or just set a use_address

I think I am missing something fundamental. The bulbs are powered on and detected in HA.

I go to look in the dashboard for the encryption key and don’t see it:

Is there somewhere else I should be looking?

How did you flash the bulbs, or were they pre-flashed when the came from kauf?

If they were pre-flashed, you need to adopt them to see them in the esphome dashboard.

They were preflashed. How does one adopt one?

Now that is the question, I have never been entirely clear on that. It should pop up in the dashboard and ask if you want to adopt it, but if it doesn’t do that, I am unsure what you should do next.

EDIT: try this thread.

I think the link is missing

I would guess it has a preset api key but if not you can add the config in esphome and modify to whatever.

I would go to esphome dashboard >> add a generic config file >> modify file to match the kauf bulb >> set the use_address and attempt to flash ota

ota flash may require password but just like api key I presume this can be found somewhere on Kauf website or in documentation that came with the device.

Does it have a web interface you can access? Those details may be there or accessible in a log from the devices web interface

Sorry, here Requirements to adopt device into ESPHome dashboard

The guy that makes these has a website, videos, frequently asked questions, instructions for setup, etc, etc. Did it occur to look there?