Issue
Xenta group bindings are used for group communication between Xenta group masters and members. They also transmit TAC Network Variables between two programmable controllers. Redoing group bindings is a common troubleshooting technique to address issues with these functions. However, it can often be time consuming, especially if using LonMaker which requires the Visio drawing to be resynchronized. Verifying that the Xenta group bindings in the device's address table are correct prior to redoing them can save time on an unnecessary troubleshooting step.
Product Line
TAC Vista
Environment
Vista programmable controllers
LonMaker, NL220
Cause
Checking to see if the group bindings need to be redone instead of always using it as a standard troubleshooting technique can save time.
Resolution
To access the Device Address Table of an application device in LonMaker:
- Right-click on the controller in LonMaker and go to Properties.
- Go to the Address table tab.
- Look at the first two entries (0 and 1) and note the value in the ID column.
- Go to another controller in the same group and compare the values in the ID column.
- Every controller on a network should share the same ID in row 0.
- Every controller in a group should share the same ID in row 1.
- If the group bindings are correct, there is no need to redo group bindings.
To access the Device Address Table of an application device in NL220:
- Select the application device in the tree
- Press Ctrl+A keys or right click on it and select the option Network\Network tables ... in its context menu
- Select the tab Addresses
The grid contains one line for each entry in the address table.
- Index = The index of the address entry
- MT = Yes if the entry is reserved for message tags connection
- Type = Type of the entry, Unbound (Not used or "free"), Turnaround, Subnet/Node, Broadcast, Group
- Size = Size of the group (zero for a large group) and Used only if Type is Group
- Domain = Domain index (0/1)
- Mb/Node = Member if Type is Group (not used for a huge group), Node id if Type is Subnet/Node or Unused
- Repeat timer = Value of the repeat timer
- Retries = Retries count
- Rcv timer = Value of the receive timer
- Tx timer = Value of the transmit timer
- Gp/Subnet = Group id if Type is Group, Subnet id if Type is Subnet/Node or Unused
Refresh will refresh the table.
