Building Automation Knowledge Base

Warning Electrostatic Discharge Required: Always discharge static electricity from your person by touching metal prior to handling any hardware. Failure to do so may result in damage to devices. Potential for Data Loss: The steps detailed in the resolution of this article may result in a loss of critical data if not performed properly. Before beginning these steps, make sure all important data is backed up in the event of data loss. If you are unsure or unfamiliar with any complex steps detailed in this article, please contact Product Support for assistance. Issue Data cannot be seen on Partner Portal for RS485 devices. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Activate Environment EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server EcoStruxure Building Activate Partner Portal Cause Data for the Modbus devices can be seen on third-party tools like Modscan but not on the Partner Portal. Resolution Follow the steps below if the Flex Server RS485 port is not sending any data: Ensure connections are made according to the installation instructions. Verify the correct port is configured. Double-check that the connections are not reversed. Inspect for any loose wires. Confirm the Modbus/BACnet ID is correct. Verify the baud rate configured for the end device. Check for any loose wire strands shorting on the bus or to the ground. Ensure no Modbus device is connected to the BACnet bus, or vice-versa. Confirm the number of devices in the loop matches the specifications in the installation instructions. Check if the loading of devices causes significant changes in resistance. Do not connect more than two resistors on a single bus. Ensure cables used are as per the specifications in the installation instructions.

Warning Hazard of Electric Shock: Remove all power from all devices before removing any covers or doors of the system. Disconnect power at the device and at the power source. Electrostatic Discharge Required: Always discharge static electricity from your person by touching metal prior to handling any hardware. Failure to do so may result in damage to devices. Potential for Data Loss: The steps detailed in the resolution of this article may result in a loss of critical data if not performed properly. Before beginning these steps, make sure all important data is backed up in the event of data loss. If you are unsure or unfamiliar with any complex steps detailed in this article, please contact Product Support for assistance. Issue The internet is not working at the site, so it's necessary to verify that all antenna connections are secure and the SIM card is correctly placed. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Activate Environment EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server EcoStruxure Building Activate Partner Portal Cause The Flex Server powers up successfully at the site, but the internet connection fails. This issue might arise if the antenna or SIM card was displaced, disconnected, or damaged during transit due to mishandling. Therefore, it's essential to verify that all connections are secure. However, the technician or engineer on-site may not be familiar with the correct slots. Resolution Carefully open the Flex Server top cover. The internal layout will appear as shown in 'Image 01' below: Image 01 Image 02 Identify the slots as follows: Slot 1: Indicates the SIM card slot. Slot 2: Located on the Compute Module marked as 'MAIN', indicates the Cellular antenna slot. Slot 3: Located on the Wi-Fi module marked as 'ANT0 WiFi', indicates the Wi-Fi antenna slot. Verify all connections and ensure they are secure. Carefully close the Flex Server cover.

  Issue This document gives guidelines on the device constraints that effect the system capabilities or the system limitations of the Flex Server.  Product Line EcoStruxure Building Activate Environment EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server EcoStruxure Building Activate Partner Portal Cause Understanding this document helps in efficiently designing architecture and Single line Diagrams. Identifying potential bottlenecks in a system allows for preemptive action. If you know a system parameter has limited device capacity, you can optimize the distribution methods or plan for upgrades before it becomes a critical issue. Understanding the limitations of system allows for the implementation of backup measures. Resolution Thes guidelines provide the recommended Flex Server design limits for common applications. These are the configurations that have been tested and supported by Schneider Electric. Environmental factors such as network traffic and radio interference may reduce the stated limits of these guidelines. Deviations from these guidelines may result in performance related issues or product failures.   Flex Server Capacity Parameter Maximum Number Number of total devices (all protocols combined) 50 Number of controlled points (all protocols combined) 500   BACnet Parameter Maximum Number Number of BACnet MSTP devices per RS485 port 32 a b e Number of BACnet MSTP networks per server 2 c Number of BACnet IP devices 50 d e   a. Maximum number of devices according to protocol specifications and guidelines. b. BACnet MS/TP adheres to RS485 rules for wiring, wire type, termination etc. c. There is one onboard RS485 port, an additional port can be added via USB. d. BACnet IP uses default UDP port 47808 (0xBAC0). e. The total number of devices across all protocols must not exceed 50   Modbus Parameter Maximum Number Number of Modbus RTU devices per RS485 port 32 a b e Number of Modbus RTU networks per server 2 c Number of Modbus TCP devices 50 d e   a. Maximum number of devices according to protocol specifications and guidelines. b. Modbus RTU adheres to RS485 rules for wiring, wire type, termination etc. c. There is one onboard RS485 port, an additional port can be added via USB. d. Modbus TCP uses default TCP port 502. e. The total number of devices across all protocols must not exceed 50   LoRa a Parameter Maximum Number Number of LoRa sensors per server 32 b c d Maximum number of messages per day (per server) 100   a. LoRa distances – LoRa is noted for its long range and deep penetration. LoRa transmissions can penetrate glass, metal and concrete found in most buildings. The radio’s antenna and installation can affect the range of LoRa sensors. You must test the transmission and signal strength, when installing wireless devices. b. Maximum number of devices according to protocol specifications and guidelines. c. Every LoRaWAN sensor manufacturer has their own decoder. d. The total number of devices across all protocols must not exceed 50   SNMP Parameter Maximum Number Number of SNMP devices 10 a Maximum number of messages per day (per server) 1024   a. The total number of devices across all protocols must not exceed 50   Object Limits Object Type Maximum Number Analog values 500 a Digital values 500 a Multi-state values 500 a Analog Input 500 a Multi-state input 500 a Analog output 500 a Digital output 500 a Multi-state output 500 a   a. The total number of combined points must not exceed 500

Warning Electrostatic Discharge Required: Always discharge static electricity from your person by touching metal prior to handling any hardware. Failure to do so may result in damage to devices. Potential for Data Loss: The steps detailed in the resolution of this article may result in a loss of critical data if not performed properly. Before beginning these steps, make sure all important data is backed up in the event of data loss. If you are unsure or unfamiliar with any complex steps detailed in this article, please contact Product Support for assistance. Issue How are Elsys LoRaWAN sensors configured with a smartphone using NFC Product Line EcoStruxure Building Activate Environment EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server EcoStruxure Building Activate Partner Portal Cause All Elsys sensors are equipped with NFC for easy configuration with a smartphone. There is a requirement to configure these sensors using a Smartphone or tablet using Elsys 'Sensor Settings' application. Resolution Download the ELSYS “Sensor Settings” application from Google Play or the IOS App store and install it on a smartphone or tablet.     Ensure the mobile device supports NFC. Enable NFC on the device and start the application. Position the mobile device directly on the NFC antenna of the sensor. Ensure both devices remain close and stationary to maintain optimal connectivity. Remove the mobile device. The current settings will be displayed in the application. Set the 'Timebase' to 120 seconds using the application. Remember to revert it to 600 seconds after commissioning!    Make note of the following sensor keys: DevEUI: The unique ID of the sensor, found in the blue panel at the top. AppEUI: Application ID (8 bytes or 16 hex digits). Default is 0, can be changed if needed for the application. AppKey: Application unique key (16 bytes or 32 hex digits) that is the encryption key used for messages during every over-the-air activation. Tap the sensor's NFC antenna to transfer the new settings after making the desired changes. Ensure the application confirms the updated settings. Wait for the sensor to reboot, indicated by the LED flashing. The sensor settings should now be updated. Validate your settings by reading the NFC data after the sensor has restarted. Verify that settings have been applied by using the ‘Read’ functionality in the app and touching the sensor’s NFC antenna.    Remember to change the 'Timebase' back to 600 seconds after the commissioning is completed!

Warning Hazard of Electric Shock: Remove all power from all devices before removing any covers or doors of the system. Disconnect power at the device and at the power source. Electrostatic Discharge Required: Always discharge static electricity from your person by touching metal prior to handling any hardware. Failure to do so may result in damage to devices. Caution While removing gateway cover: Open the gateway screws and delicately remove the top cover. Take extra care during this step, as the top cover is connected to the antenna cable via a thin wire. After opening the top cover, you will be able to see the top view of the board, please insert the active SIM card in the designated slot. Once the Sim Card is properly inserted, fix the screws back and ensure that the 4G&Wi-Fi Antenna is attached properly. If the antenna cable remains disconnected from the board, then the GSM will not work.   Important Note: The SIM must not have a Username, Password, or PIN. These features are not supported. Refer to Steps to follow to unlock SIM PIN when using SIM Card under Flex server The user must ensure that no firewall is applied by the SIM provider. If a firewall exists, it may block connectivity. We recommend using SIMs without any firewall restrictions. Ensure the data plan of the SIM should not be less than 2GB per month for approximately 100-200 streams. Issue This article provides information on the SIM cards that are currently supported in EcoStruxure Building Activate and are added to the central database to support field deployment of Flex servers. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Activate Environment EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server EcoStruxure Building Activate Partner Portal Cause This eliminates the need for manual support for the already validated SIM operators individually on each server. Resolution Below is the list of the Network Service Providers whose APN exists in the backend and have already been added: MCC code (Country Code) Operator APN 260 play {"generic": "internet"} 260 plus {"generic": "mbb.mobi-data.com"} 732 claro {"generic": "internet.comcel.com.co"} 454 smc hk {"generic": "Smartone"} 520 ais {"generic": "internet"} 240 tele2 se {"generic": "mbb.mobi-data.com"} 260 t-mobile {"generic": "internet"} 262 t-mobile {"generic": "internet.v6.telekom"} 505 telstra {"generic": "telstra.internet"} 204 nl kpn {"generic": "matooma.m2m"} 208 208 28 {"generic": "datapro"} 234 voda uk {"generic": "wap.vodafone.co.uk"} 901 901 40 {"generic": "internet.m2mportal.de"} 208 free {"generic": "free"} 208 bouygues telecom {"generic": "mmsbouygtel.com"} 208 sfr {"generic": "sl2sfr"} 208 orange {"generic": "orange"} 268 vodafone {"generic": "internet.vodafone.pt"} 268 nos {"generic": "umts"} 405 vi india {"iot": "IOT.ZENATIX.COM"} 404 vi india {"iot": "IOT.ZENATIX.COM"} 405 ind airtel {"iot": "iot.com"} 404 ind airtel {"iot": "iot.com"} 724 tim internet {"generic": "timbrasil.br"} 724 vivo {"iot": "smart.m2m.vivo.com.br", "generic": "zap.vivo.com.br"} 724 claro {"generic": "claro.com.br"} 310 at&t {"iot": "armstrongdynm.com.attz", "generic": "NXTGENPHONE"} 440 fl1 {"generic": "soracom.io"} 302 bell {"generic": "mnet.bell.ca.ioe"} 302 rogers {"generic": "M2Minternet.apn"} 302 at&t {"iot": "armstrongdynm.com.attz", "generic": "NXTGENPHONE"} 404 idea {"generic": "Internet"} 431 etisalat {"generic": "mnet"} 430 etisalat {"generic": "mnet"} 424 etisalat {"generic": "mnet"} 424 du {"generic": "du"} 405 404 11 {"iot": "IOT.ZENATIX.COM"} 405 vodafone {"iot": "IOT.ZENATIX.COM"} 405 airtel {"iot": "iot.com"} 404 airtel {"iot": "iot.com"} 404 vodafone {"iot": "IOT.ZENATIX.COM"} 404 404 11 {"iot": "IOT.ZENATIX.COM"} 404 jio {"generic": "jionet"} 405 jio {"generic": "jionet"} Additional Information Ensure the SIM card is active and properly inserted. Verify the antenna cable is securely connected to the board. Confirm the SIM card has no firewall restrictions and meets the data plan requirements.  

Warning Hazard of Electric Shock: Remove all power from all devices before removing any covers or doors of the system. Disconnect power at the device and at the power source. Electrostatic Discharge Required: Always discharge static electricity from your person by touching metal prior to handling any hardware. Failure to do so may result in damage to devices. Caution While removing gateway cover: Open the gateway screws and delicately remove the top cover. Take extra care during this step, as the top cover is connected to the antenna cable via a thin wire. After opening the top cover, you will be able to see the top view of the board, please insert the active SIM card in the designated slot. Once the Sim Card is properly inserted, fix the screws back and ensure that the 4G&Wi-Fi Antenna is attached properly. If the antenna cable remains disconnected from the board, then the GSM will not work. Issue SIM card not being detected and internet is not connecting automatically when SIM card is inserted inside the Gateway.   Product Line EcoStruxure Building Activate Environment EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server EcoStruxure Building Activate Partner Portal Cause Some network service providers have a username, password and SIM PIN set by default when they issue the SIM to the customer. If the Gateway is using the SIM for internet, it requires any username, password and SIM PIN to be disabled before inserting the SIM inside the Gateway.  Resolution Contact the Network service provider directly to disable the username and password. The Network service provider can disable the username and password from the backend. For disabling the SIM PIN follow the below procedure: Steps to follow to unlock SIM PIN An example YouTube video on the steps detailed below can be seen at: How to unlock your SIM Card Upon receiving the SIM kit (note down the PUK number and also note down the SIM PIN if available) Insert the SIM card to a Mobile device/cellular device Type in the SIM PIN from the Step 1 and Unlock the SIM Navigate to the settings page – Network section - SIM settings - SIM PIN - Disable the SIM PIN option SIM CARD SETTINGS           SIM PIN DISABLED Reconfirm if the SIM PIN is disabled by reinserting the SIM from the SIM tray and check if it asks for PIN. If the SIM PIN is successfully disabled, it will not ask for SIM PIN at startup. If it still asks, repeat Step 4. Insert the SIM inside the Gateway SIM Slot and check for network connectivity and that the gateway goes online. After inserting the SIM card properly, power up the gateway and allow the gateway to boot up. This process may take up to 5 minutes. Once completed, the device should come online and can be provisioned through a partner portal   In case the SIM PIN is unavailable An example YouTube video on the steps detailed below can be seen at: How to Unlock Sim Card / Sim locked by Pin Code or PUK Code  Insert the SIM card into a Mobile device/cellular device Type in incorrect PIN more than 4 times till it asks to enter PUK code. Contact the Network Service Provider and perform the verification and obtain the PUK Code for the SIM from the Network provider directly Type the PUK code into the mobile device in the PUK code page Navigate to the Network settings - SIM PIN - Set a SIM PIN inside the settings Use this SIM PIN to Disable the SIM PIN lock. Reconfirm that the SIM PIN is disabled by reinserting the SIM from the SIM tray and check that it does not request a PIN.

Issue There is a need to identify the Ports, URLs and Static IPs which must be open through customer's firewall for EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server and Partner Portal Product Line EcoStruxure Building Activate Environment EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server EcoStruxure Building Activate Partner Portal Cause Ports, URLs and Static IPs list needed to create firewall exceptions for EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server and Partner Portal in order to keep them functioning correctly. Resolution Below are the list of ports, URLs and static IPs that must be open through a site's firewall/network: URL Port Protocol Usage https://sentry.zenatix.com 443 TCP Allows the gateway to upload error logs and diagnostics. https://router.zenatix.com 443 TCP Allows the gateway to download Linux & Python updates from the Zenatix Server. Regularly polls the Zenatix Server to check internet connectivity. https://timesync.zenatix.com 9090 TCP Time server allows the gateway system & gateway clock to remain synchronized with Zenatix Server. https://gitlab.zenatix.com 443 TCP Used for troubleshooting to update the gateway codebase from the Zenatix Server. https://telemetry.zenatix.com 443 TCP Used for sending IoT device data and gateway health data to the Zenatix Server. https://emgx.zenatix.com 8883 TCP Used for communication between gateways and Zenatix cloud services for getting configuration or alarms from Zenatix Server to gateway and vice versa. 54.169.200.193 1194 UDP Allows Zenatix to remotely access and do API calls to the gateway through OpenVPN. https://mender.zenatix.com 443 TCP Used to download firmware updates to gateway from Zenatix Server.  

  Issue Identifying a potential power supply/source failure to the Flex Server for a specific time period.  Product Line EcoStruxure Building Activate Environment EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server EcoStruxure Building Activate Partner Portal Cause The Flex Server went offline for some time and then came back online again. There is a need to identify if this happened due to a power source failure to Gateway.  Resolution Login to the Partner Portal and select the customer from the settings icon in the top right corner. Navigate to the Controller section in the left pane and select the particular Gateway from the dropdown. Navigate to 'Plots' tab and select 'PowerSource' Gateway stream under 'MSP430'. The 'PowerSource' stream value should always be equal to '1' as shown above. If this indicates '0' at any time, this suggests a potential loss of power supply to the Gateway.

  Issue There are issues for Flex Server to synchronize time with the Real Time Clock (RTC). Product Line EcoStruxure Building Activate Environment EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server EcoStruxure Building Activate Partner Portal Cause The RTC parameter fails the synchronization test.  Resolution Check the voltage of the coin cell using a multimeter. If the voltage is less than 3.3V, replace the coin cell. If the voltage is equal to or greater than 3.3V and the test still fails, report the issue to technical support.

Issue EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server fails the Wi-Fi Signal Strength test.   Product Line EcoStruxure Building Activate Environment EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server EcoStruxure Building Activate Partner Portal Cause If the Flex Server Gateway is configured on Wi-Fi, it must achieve a RSSI value greater than -75 or value does not go below -80 more than 3 times. If these conditions are not met, Gateway will fail the test.   Resolution Below steps should be checked/followed to check the issue: Check Network Type: Ignore this issue if gateway is using a GSM network Verify Wi-Fi Receiver: Ensure the Wi-fi receiver is properly inserted into the USB port of the gateway Optimize Placement: Make sure the Gateway is near or in line of sight with the router to improve signal strength. Restart Router: Restart the router and check with your network provider for any issues.

  Issue EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server doesn't pass the GSM Signal Strength test.   Product Line EcoStruxure Building Activate Environment EcoStruxure Building Activate Flex Server EcoStruxure Building Activate Partner Portal Cause The Flex Server must achieve a GSM Signal Strength greater than 14 to pass the test. If the signal strength is less than 14, the test will fail.   Resolution Below are the troubleshooting steps which should be checked/followed: Ensure the Gateway is located in an area with good network coverage. If possible, reposition the Gateway to improve signal strength. Verify that the APN settings for the SIM card in the Device Management Dashboard are correct. Change the network carrier and reconfigure the APN again

  Issue The LEDs on the Flex server indicate the status of the gateway's connection with the Internet and server. This document contains the details that will help in understanding the gateway status.   Product Line EcoStruxure Building Activate Environment ESXBFXSVR00B008 ESXBFXSVR0BC008 ESXBFXSVRBCW008 Cause The behavior of top LEDs and Bottom LEDs are different in terms of troubleshooting and understanding the Flex server state. Resolution The LED blink patterns are indicators used to check the status of the internet connection, server connection, SD card health, gateway firmware health, device connection, and data transfer. Fig 1: Side View of the Flex-Server showing LED location     Fig 2: Gateway Status LED indication   Fig 3: Network Status LED   Fig 4: Ethernet Status LED   Fig 4: Power LED indications            

  Issue While performing the verification tests, an error is displayed: 'error: There is no change in the configurations' as shown below:   Product Line EcoStruxure Building Activate Environment EcoStruxure Building Activate Partner Portal Cause This error occurs under the following conditions: The user made changes in the Partner Portal but later reverted to the original settings/configuration, assuming there should be some changes, and then started the verification tests again. The user chose to perform the test and verification process once post-submission, resulting in this error message. Resolution When the verification process is initiated, it goes through four checkpoints. The user can safely ignore this error message and proceed with the tests directly. Clicking on the 'Load Mapping' button will remove this error message.