Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Dimensions for the back plate (part # ENCL-300-BKP) used with the ENCL-300-TUB. Environment General Hardware Cause Dimensions not listed in iPortal Resolution Length = 28"     Width = 22.5"     Depth (thickness) = 0.5"

Issue  Error  'Communications failure due to device not online' during personnel distribution Environment CyberStation CX9900 CX9702 CX9680 ACX5720 ACX5740 ACX701 ACX781 Cause By default CyberStation will try to speed up the personnel distribution as much as possible in order to expediently distribute all the card records to the controller. There may be situations where the controller may be overwhelmed,  100MB NIC in the controller  versus a 1Gig NIC in the Cyberstatom and by the amount of traffic caused by multiple CyberStations distributing multiple records simultaneously. Resolution Continuum contains some facilities available in the General Preferences window where adjustments can be made to throttle the personnel distribution. Lines 12 and 13 are the settings used to throttle personnel distribution going to field devices such as ACX701 or ACX781 Lines 14 and 15 are used to throttle personnel distribution going to LAN controllers such as the CX9680 (NC2), ACX5740 (ACX2), CX9900 etc The interval between personnel distribution is in milli seconds, a reasonable value to start at when issues are encountered is 50 milli seconds. Ex. Line 15 change from 0 to 50 Increase by 25 milliseconds after that to get better results. Ex. 50, 75, 100

Issue Can the default names for security groups (Group1, Group2 etc) be changed? Environment CyberStation Cause Documentation Resolution The default names for security groups can be changed to user specified names. To rename security groups.. In the Windows tray right click on the Continuum icon then select 'Security' In the Security window go to the 'Group Names' tab To re-name a group, double click in the name itself, the text control will become editable to allow the name to be changed in place.  

Issue How do I print out an online chart in colour? Environment Vista 5.1.X Workstation Cause The default setting is to print out in black and white. Resolution - Right-click on the online chart and select print preview. - Check the Force Colors check-box. - If required, check the Use as Default check box and then click on OK - Right-click on the chart and select Print.  - Select the desired printer and print out.

Issue No Lon interfaces are shown under the Device discovery tab Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment WorkStation LConfig Cause One reason can be that there is a NIC-IP/RNI that are enabled but not defined   The easiest way to check for this is to look in the registry, HKEY_LOKAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LonWorks\DeviceDrivers See if there are any "extra" NIC_IP entries. Resolution Go to Start and type in regedit Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LonWorks\DeviceDrivers See if there are any "extra" NIC_IP entries. Don't change anything! Just note the name of the extra entry. Open LConfig, click on the NCI-IP/RNI tab Select the extra device in the drop down list Uncheck Enable device Select the active device Make sure the active device has a device name Click OK Now your real devices should show up in the list

Issue Can more than one Room Temperature Sensor be connected to a MicroFlo II? Product Line TAC IA Series Environment Network 8000 Microflo Cause Site changes / retrofit Resolution The only supported configuration is one Room Temperature Sensor for up to four MicroFlo II controllers (see below). TAC Hardware Installation Practices TS-90250-850 Communication/Sensor wiring for up to 4 TAC Microflo lls sharing a single Room Temperature Sensor. Room sensor includes a 11K ohm resistor and setpoint with ASD communications. Do not add another 11K ohm resistor when installing. The ASD communication wiring MUST be isolated from the sensor/setpoint wiring. Use separate shielded cables for each. Connect the SHIELD DRAIN wire to the SHLD or GND terminal at the controller. If a ground is available at the room sensor, connect the DRAIN wire to ground. If a ground is not available, tape the DRAIN wire back at the external device only. A 120 ohms resistor (part number 40-1758) must be installed across the ASD terminals at each end-of-line (EOL). Total overall wire length between TAC MICROFLO lls and the room sensor MUST not exceed maximum distance specified. Set each address switch to uniquely identify each TAC MICROFLO II controller (refer to the job drawings). Set the MASTER/SLAVE jumper pins to the correct position (factory shipped as MASTER units). I/O Wiring - TAC MICROFLO

Issue Menta editor crashes when performing a copy/paste Function block editor crashes when performing a copy/paste Environment TAC Menta Function block editor Cause This happens if there are HFB IOs that are not connected to a HFB Resolution Delete any HFB IO that are not coming from an HFB

Issue Getting "Continuum Database Initialization" error message when trying to Initialize a new ContinuumDB on a system that has had multiple ContinuumDB's created. Environment SQL Express 2005 Continuum Single-User Database Initialization Cause This error indicates an issue with SQL Express. Seen when having four databases already created and getting the error when trying to create another. This is something to do with the five database limit for SQL Express, This has also been seen when four database had been created at some point, even after removing one of them you are still presented with the same error.   Resolution The only way I found to get rid of the problem was to remove all of the databases from SQL Express (right-click delete in Management Studio Express), and then I was able to create a new database successfully. Even freeing up space by removing one or two did not help, in the end all database needed to be removed before it would allow a new one to be created.  

Issue The following error dialog comes up when trying to change FIPS-PIV format in a door. Environment CyberStation CX9680 ACX5720 ACX5740 Cause FIPS-PIV card formats have controller scope, in other word, the selected FIPS-PIV format (FIPS_PIV_75, FIPS_PIV_Full_FASC-N etc) applies to all the doors in the controller, once you have selected a FIPS-PIV format at a door, you must select the same FIPS-PIV format for all other doors in the controller. If the format has to be changed, you first need to de-select all the card formats on all the doors under the controller then re-assign the card formats. Resolution Edit EVERY door in the controller and de-select all the card formats. After all the doors have their formats de-selected, you'll then be able to re-assign the card formats.

Issue Several MN-FLO3 and MN-FLO3T VAV controllers are connected to a Micronet 2000 MicroSmart Integrator.  There is a mode control point in the integrator for each VAV controller.  Each mode control contains elements assigned to the various setpoints that are adjustable per VAV controller.  Which ones are they? Environment Micronet 2000 Niagara R2 & G3 Cause Trying to map the proper mode control 'element' to a shadow object in Niagara so as to provide a user with setpoint control via a Niagara graphic. Resolution There are seven setpoints that are adjustable.  They are assigned to the element name 'PVALU' along with a number from 1 to 7.  See table below. 

Issue Is there any way to prevent the Security alert pop-up when viewing a page from an Xenta Server in Vista? For example, if viewing a time object (created in an Xenta Server) in Vista the following dialogue appears: Environment TAC Vista 5.1.X Xenta Server 5.1.X Cause Vista uses SSL communication when communicating with Xenta servers. This type of communication creates an encrypted connection between the Xenta Server and Vista and requires a certificate from the Xenta server to identify the server as genuine. Resolution There are 2 ways to prevent this pop-up from appearing. 1. Use unencrypted communication (HTTP) Open the Xbuilder project for the Xenta Server and set the Web Security Settings\Security Level to low (available from Vista 5.1.8). 2. Create a self-signed certificate. Open Xbuilder and go to the Tools\Generate Certificate menu. Choose Self-Signed and follow the Certificate wizard. The first time you browse a page from the Xenta Server you will be asked to verify the certificate and import it. Once imported the Security alert will no longer appear. Update: option 2 will no longer work. Starting in September 2014, all major browsers will be disabling 1024-bit roots within their trusted roots stores. Any SSL certificates chained to a 1024-bit root will no longer work on any browsers that takes this action or one that relies on another’s root store (the self-signed certificate is 1024-bit).

Issue Configuring a BACnet Analog Value (Continuum) object as a Setpoint. Environment BACnet Setpoint Retain Level Cause Setpoints do not maintain their value when downloaded. Resolution The process of creating a BACnet Setpoint is as follows; Create a BACnet Analog Value (Continuum) as appropriate. Once created select the object in the system tree and review the "Basic tab". Set the Setpoint as "True" and select to "Save" the object. Select the "Configure" symbol which is located in the "Status Information" section of the "Basic" tab.  Confirm that the "Retain Level" is set to "Coldstart" (This is automatically set when "True" is selected for the Setpoint. General information about the Retain Level.

Issue An email alarm generated in Continuum in not sent on Outlook; the email remains in the Outbox. The attached error is displayed in Outlook:   Environment Continuum Cyberstation version 1.94, Outlook 2010 Cause In this instance, Outlook would not send the email because the PC was not part of the Windows Active Directory Domain. Resolution Add the PC to the Windows domain.

Issue Extended Trend Logs Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Building Operation Automation Server Premium (AS-P) Building Operation Automation Server Bundled (AS-B) Cause When configuring extended logging in the BACnet application folder, these objects are not available when performing a device discovery from the AS or ES. Prepare one AS with a BACnet point Create a trend log on the BACnet point Create an Extended log for that BACnet trend log From a second AS, the BACnet objects are available after a Device Discovery except for the Extended log object. StruxureWare Building Operation online help for “Configuring Extended Logging for a BACnet Trend Log” states:    ***Key Concept: Extended trend logs are not BACnet objects. These are StruxureWare Building Operation exclusive. The term "BACnet Extended Trend Log" does not exist and is a misnomer. Resolution The main reason is that extended logs are not defined in the BACnet standard; they are proprietary to EcoStruxure.  Everything that is proprietary to EcoStruxure Building Operation is not exposed to BACnet including graphics, script & function block programs and central IO points are not directly exposed, but have to be bound to BACnet I/O objects. The extended log serves the purpose of expanding a log on a larger capacity server.  A trend log on an AS would be more appropriate to extend on an ES. If you have a trend log in an external BACnet device (like a b3 or a 3rd party device/system) then you would want an extended log in the AS, to collect from that device (and then maybe a larger extended trend on a parent ES). If there is a local BACnet trend log in an AS (in the BACnet interface application folder) that is required to be larger, consider increasing the buffer size property of the one log that is needed (the default size of 10 may be too small, and increasing to 1000 up to 5000 (extended log size) may be an option). That would be most interoperable with other (3rd party) BACnet clients that need access to the trend log data.

Issue RJ11 cable has been lost and a new one is required. Environment Roam I/O Cause Unable to find the cable part number  for ordering. Resolution The P/N for the black RJ11 cable is 01-0100-315. This can be ordered through your local Customer Care Center. Please select your country from the list for local contact details.  

Issue The I/A Series G3 Platform Software Manager indicates "Not Available Locally" when connected to the remote platform (ENC or JACE). Environment I/A Series G3 - All versions Cause Upon start of Workbench, the modules residing in the local Workbench module folder are scanned by the software.  During this process, new and/or updated modules are copied and saved into the local software database.  "Not Available Locally" indicates the associated module is missing from the local Workbench software database.  The following example finds the Installed Version of tacMs at TAC 3.4.64.4 with the Available Version missing with the comment "Not Available Locally." Resolution There are two methods to correct this issue. Method 1:  Copy the module directly into ~\modules directory. This makes the module(s) available in your Workbench environment, and also available to install in other remote platforms.  When the installer runs, the module(s) are also copied into your software database, available for installation. This is the typical choice. Method 2:  Copy the module into your ~\sw\inbox directory (or, use the equivalent “Software Import” feature in the Software Manager). In this case, the module(s) are not used in your Workbench environment, but are available in your software database for installation in remote platforms. If the module is invalid or corrupt, the software manager will generate and place the module in the "failed_imports" folder (e.g. unable to read the manifest files, class files, etc.).  Verify the module is valid. Reference the Niagara AX Platform Guide - Software Manager for additional details.

Issue Unable to pass data to an Enterprise Server from a UNC Environment R2 Niagara Cause bad subscription access denied 401 error Resolution Check address book and system properties.

Issue When making changes to the Personnel Manager to show custom attribute names, are these changes seen on all Workstations or just on the Workstation where the changes are made? Environment Continuum Personnel Manager Cause Not sure if these changes will need to be made to all Workstations or if this is only required to be done once. Resolution Any changes to the display name of the various attributes in the Personnel Manager using the Customize Attributes setting are applied to the database and will be seen by all other Cyberstations on that network. Basically, you will only need to make these changes once and not for each Workstation in your Continuum system.  

Issue Getting error - Cannot start component: Asd Block Output Proxy Ext during the startup of the I/A Series G3 tacAsd driver.  The error appears as follows: ERROR [16:31:24 04-Mar-13 CST][sys.engine] Cannot start component: Asd Block Output Proxy Ext java.lang.ClassCastException: com.tac.tacAsd.point.BAsdPointBlockDeviceExt incompatible with javax.baja.driver.BDevice Environment I/A Series G3, tacAsd, ASD driver Cause The driver appears to operate however errors are displayed during the station startup sequence.  The error is typically related to a set of BAsdPointBlockDeviceExt objects that were duplicated as a child of the points deviceExt. Resolution Review the Points folder for each ASD device and remove the duplicated or improperly placed BAsdPointBlockDeviceExt objects.  The Batch Editor can also be used to assist in locating the duplicates. Open the Batch Editor from the Program Service and select Find Objects Using the BQL Query Builder - select (Custom Type), tacAsd, AsdPointBlockDeviceExt - select OK. This will list all AsdPointBlockDeviceExt extensions and their associated path.  There should only be one Points child folder for each device.  Locate and delete the duplicate Points folder and objects.

Issue When accessing an I/A Series R2 or I/A Series G3 station web page, a popup window is displayed warning of a possible security vulnerability. The popup warning is displayed differently depending on the browser version and Java version installed on the computer used for viewing the graphics. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- With Java 7 update 11 or newer, and Internet Explorer 8 or 9, the following popup windows is displayed (location string will vary):   Note that even if you check the "Do not show" checkbox, you will receive additional prompts because the prompt is displayed for each Java applet encountered in the current browsing session.  Likewise, if you close the browser and reopen it, navigating to the same site, the prompts will again be displayed. If accessing I/A Series G3 graphics, the following screen may be displayed: A variant of this message is as follows: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- If using a recent version of the Firefox web browser, the following message is shown in the graphic applet window: "This plugin has security vulnerabilities.  Click here to activate the Java(TM) Platform SE 7 U Plugin."   --------------------------------------------------------------------- When using the Mozilla Firefox browser to access I/A Series G3 graphics, the following security warning may be displayed (Click "I Understand the Risks" and follow prompts to continue):   Environment Windows computer Internet 9 or Firefox web browser Cause Known security vulnerabilities with the Java JRE software Resolution Since the issue is being reported by the Java software or the Java plugin in the browser, there is nothing we can do to directly resolve the issue. There are several workarounds possible, depending on how the site deals with browser security issues. The most secure approach is to allow the applet to be run each time you are prompted. If using Internet Explorer, click the [Run] button on the security warning popup window. If using Firefox, two actions may be needed.  First if the warning "This connection is untrusted" is displayed, click the "I Understand the Risks" Unfortunately, this is a Java issue, not an I/A Series R2 software issue. Oracle has added this popup to its browser plugin to warn the user that a downloaded Java applet may be unsafe to execute. According to information published by Oracle, it may take them up to two years to correct all the known security issues in the Java-JRE. Many of the known issues date back to before Oracle assumed ownership of Java. The only workaround at this time is to downgrade the Java-JRE to a version that does not notify its user that the Java applet to be executed may pose a security risk. We did some testing on Windows 7 with IE9 and found that Java 1.7.0.9 (Java 7 update 9) does not cause the prompt to be displayed. In addition, we found that in some cases we were able to greatly reduce the number of times the prompt appears in Java 1.7.0.17 by setting its security setting to Low (Java control panel applet, Security tab). On one of the virtual machines that we tested this on, the prompt would be displayed the first time you accessed the site and would not be displayed again until you closed the browser and reopened it. On a second computer, the prompt would be displayed each time you accessed a new site or re-opened the connection to the same site but not on multiple screen accesses from the same site. We are not sure at this time why some systems exhibit this different behavior. Note that when using Firefox 19.0.2 and Java 7 update 9 or earlier, a different message is displayed when the web page attempts to open a java window. This window is not displayed when using any version of Java that includes its own security warning popup. The security warning popup I am referring to is the same one displayed when using Java 7 update 17 and other recent versions on Internet Explorer 9 or Firefox 19. This message is designed to notify the user that there is a known security vulnerability with the addon being used, in this case, the out-of-date Java plug-in. There is a workaround published on the mozilla support site that documents a procedure for disabling these warnings when using the earlier versions of Java 7. This workaround does not solve the Java popup warning issue for the Firefox 19.0.2 / Java 1.7 update 17 combination. I did not test it with other combinations other than Firefox 19.0.2 / Java 7 update 9. Here is the configuration change for Firefox 19: Open Firefox Open a New tab Browse to about:config i.e., enter the string in the browser address bar Accept the security warning In the displayed list, right click on extensions.blocklist.enabled In the selection window, click Toggle to change the entry to false Close and reopen the browser. This will disable the security warning for all browser plugin applets, including Java 7 update 11 and earlier, Java 6 Updates 31-38, Adobe Flash Player 10.2.*, 10.3 or 11.0-11.4, Microsoft Silverlight 4.1 and earlier or 5.0/5.1, and about two dozen other plugins that have known security issues. At this time we have not found any workarounds for disabling the Java security warning popup that occurs with Java 7 update 12 and newer with either Internet Explorer or Firefox. As additional information regarding this issue becomes available regarding Java and Internet browser updates, this article will be updated as required.  Depending on site security restrictions, it may be necessary to disable Java when not using it for accessing I/A Series R2 or G3 systems.  See the following instructions from the Java web site: To disable Java - http://java.com/en/download/help/disable_browser.xml To enable Java  - http://java.com/en/download/help/enable_browser.xml In some cases, you may be able to bypass the warning but all your graphics pages do not  load.  This issue is sometimes caused by a security issue with some of the cached java temporary files.  There is a workaround, as follows: In the Windows Control Panel, open the Java applet. Under the "General" tab, "Temporary Internet Files"  section, click [Settings] Uncheck the box "Keep temporary files on my computer" Click [Ok] to save the change then click [OK] to exit the Java control panel.