Setting up a Modbus, M-Bus or BACnet communications log in a Xenta 5/7/9xx

[Product_Support]

Issue

Configuration instructions for setting up a communications VX Log in the Xenta 5/7/9xx for communications troubleshooting.

Environment

• Xenta Servers
• Xenta 511, 527, 555, 701, 711, 721, 731, 913
• VXI

Cause

Configuration instructions for setting up a communications log in the Xenta 5/7/9xx for communications troubleshooting. Obtaining the communications log for a Modbus or BACnet network is crucial in finding communications errors, or other unforeseen problems with integrating to third party devices.

Resolution

Step by step instructions for creating the communication log for troubleshooting or for data analysis:

1. Log In to the Xenta 5/7/9xx controller and navigate to the Utilities Folder:
   
   
    
2. Click on the Target System Folder and choose VXI Web Shell Commands:
   
   
    
3. The command line should appear with VX populated in the command line:
   
   
    
4. Logging to file in the Xenta controller will first need to be enabled to by typing VX L 1 and press submit:
   
   
    
5. VXI Web Shell Commands should return a messing indicating logging has been enabled for 1 hour:
   
   
    
6. After logging has been enabled, the verbosity will need to be set in order to capture each layer of communications on the wire. In the command line type VX V 9 and press submit:
   
   
    
7. VXI Web Shell Commands should return a messing indicating the verbosity has been set to 9 and what messages you will see with this verbosity level :
   
   
    
8. Let the communications log run for 5-10 minutes. Create as many changes on the 3rd party wire as possible to get various data changes to and from the Xenta Server.
    
9. In the command line type VX O and press submit:
   
   
    
10. This command will output the communications log the Xenta Server has collected. Highlight this entire output log and copy, then paste it into notepad for archiving or emailing:
    
    
     

To set the communication logging back to default type "vx V 1" or power cycle the Xenta Controller.

To stop the logging to file, type "vx L".

For TCP/IP logging you can only monitor one client at a time:

1. Complete Steps 1- 8 above
2. Enter "vx d"
   
3. This will display a list of the TCP available devices
   
4. Enter vx d # where # is the number corresponding to the deice you wish to monitor
   
5. To view the log, follow steps 9 and 10 above