Smart Ecosystem · Knowledge

KNX Knowledge Base

Practical references written by our engineers: installation requirements, standards, topology, and practical tips from real projects.

KNX in 60 seconds

KNX for your Home

A short introduction to KNX smart-home systems and how building automation looks in a real residential project. Produced by KNX Association.

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KNX primer · by KNX Association

Smart home. Smart living.

This is KNX in a nutshell

KNX offers a comprehensive and future-proof solution for controlling and integrating various systems in any home: lighting, heating, security and many more. Homeowners enjoy enhanced comfort, energy efficiency and convenience through centralised control of all connected devices. KNX's open protocol allows a wide range of products from different manufacturers to communicate and work with each other, ensuring flexibility and scalability.

KNX wall panel controlling lighting, climate and scenes from a single room interface.
KNX wall panel controlling lighting, climate and scenes from a single room interface.

The benefits of a KNX system

1. Reliability and security

KNX offers homeowners a dependable and secure smart-home experience thanks to high-quality certified products. The KNX standard is known for stable communication between all connected devices and enhanced security, providing uncompromised protection of the homeowner's privacy.

2. Future-proof projects

A KNX system enables seamless integration of diverse devices from various manufacturers, ensuring compatibility and future expansion. Thanks to the open protocol, homeowners have the freedom to select and combine the best products, creating a highly personalised and flexible smart-home ecosystem.

KNX components on DIN rail inside the distribution board. The engine that drives every wall device on the bus.
KNX components on DIN rail inside the distribution board. The engine that drives every wall device on the bus.

Rely on an automation professional for a clean and secure installation

KNX has established itself as a global standard, so homeowners can rely on a broad network of certified professionals. Every KNX installer is trained and experienced with the implementation process and follows mandatory schooling on new developments in home automation.

Why an automation professional is essential:

  • Expertise: specialised knowledge and training, ensuring the correct setup of KNX components, preventing errors and maximising system efficiency and security.
  • Customisation: the KNX system tailored to the homeowner's specific needs, with every desired feature integrated and easy to reach.
  • Troubleshooting: in case of issues or upgrades, automation experts diagnose and resolve quickly, minimising downtime and keeping the system reliable long-term.

Content provided by KNX Association, published here by Virasmart as a certified KNX Partner (Basic).

Available guides

Each practice is a standalone guide. Start with what you need.

KNX Cable Installation
Installation

KNX Cable Installation

Requirements, cable specifications, topologies and best practices for reliable KNX/EIB bus wiring.

Read guide
KNX Topology Explained
Design

KNX Topology Explained

Lines, areas, segments and couplers — how a KNX network is structured and the rules that keep it stable as it grows.

Read guide
ETS Basics
Software

ETS Basics

What ETS is, how a KNX project is structured, and the workflow from import to commissioning.

Read guide
KNX Group Addressing
Design

KNX Group Addressing

How group addresses turn devices into functions, and a main/middle/sub scheme that scales.

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KNX Secure Explained
Security

KNX Secure Explained

IP Secure vs Data Secure, key management, and why the EU Cyber Resilience Act makes it matter.

Read guide
KNX + DALI Lighting
Lighting

KNX + DALI Lighting

How KNX-DALI gateways bridge the lighting bus for dimming, tunable white and DT8 colour.

Read guide
Sizing KNX Power Supplies
Installation

Sizing KNX Power Supplies

Device current budget, 320 vs 640 mA, headroom and placement rules for a stable bus.

Read guide

More practices coming

We are expanding this section. More KNX features, tools, and practical tips from real projects are on the way.

Plan the next step

Use the estimator for a first project budget or join practical training in the showroom.

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Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the KNX questions we hear most often. Need more detail? Talk to our engineers.

What is KNX?

KNX is the worldwide open standard (ISO/IEC 14543) for home and building automation. It lets certified devices from hundreds of manufacturers — lighting, blinds, heating, sensors, visualisation — communicate over one shared bus, independent of any single vendor.

Is KNX wired or wireless?

KNX is primarily a wired bus system using a dedicated twisted-pair cable, which is what makes it so reliable. KNX RF (wireless) and KNX IP also exist and can be mixed in for retrofits or where cabling is impractical.

Do I need ETS software for KNX?

Yes. ETS (Engineering Tool Software) from the KNX Association is the single tool used to configure, program and commission every KNX project. KNX is engineered by a certified integrator with ETS — it is not a plug-and-play consumer system.

Can KNX be added to an existing building?

Yes — through KNX RF wireless devices, KNX over IP, and gateways that bridge to existing installations. A full twisted-pair retrofit is ideal during renovation, but partial and wireless solutions make KNX viable in occupied buildings too.

How is KNX different from Zigbee or Z-Wave?

KNX is an industrial-grade, decentralised standard built for whole-building reliability and 20-year-plus lifecycles, with no mandatory cloud. Zigbee and Z-Wave are consumer wireless protocols optimised for easy retrofit and lower cost, but with less robustness for large or critical installations.

Does Virasmart supply and program KNX in the Baltics?

Yes. Virasmart designs, supplies, programs and commissions KNX systems across Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, and is an official Ekinex partner with a showroom in Riga.