Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Importing Infinet devices into AS-P fails with the following error "Invalid Data Error: Invalid_Data (0x10000) in module Coml(11). "Invalid cast from null": CreateObjectRequest".  Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Automation Server Premium Cause Infinet devices have a space character within their names Resolution Remove the space character and use an underscore in its place.

Issue Event server crash causes the controllers to flip between Online/Offline Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Software Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Microsoft Windows Server 2019 DataCenter Cause Event Server crashes and shows that the controllers are online. This status shows temporarily and then drops out showing the controller is then offline yet still operational. Resolution Browse to C:\Program Files (x86)\Schneider Electric\Security Expert\ Right-click on SecurityExpertEvtSvr.exe and select properties Check the box for Run this program in compatibility mode Once completed, restart the services and then Security Expert.

Issue After starting the Enterprise Server(ES), the memory usage increase constantly until it finally hangs, which happens in a couple of days.  Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server version 3.2.x Building Operation Automation Server 3.2.x Cause Running a Notification report including many trend logs can take a long time to finish; for example, a report including 91 trend logs can take up to 10 minutes. If the Notification report is triggered more often than 10 minutes, reports will start to queue up, making the memory usage for the ES increase over time, and it will finally hang. Resolution When having a Notification report which includes many trend logs, make sure that it is not running too often as it is a rather slow process to create a report including many logs. Example: A Notification report which includes 91 trend logs with 168 log records takes 10 minutes to finish.

Issue After a successful commission of MP-x SmartX controller, the device is online and operating properly but fails to come back online after a warm start. The issue is seen more often when MP-x device is configured for DHCP but can also happen when configured for static IP address. (See the attached video which demonstrates the issue) Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation SmartX IP Multi-purpose Controller (MP-X) Building Operation SmartX IP Room Controller (RP-C) Building Operation SmartX Controller IP-IO Series Cause Communication settings out of sync between the physical device and configuration database Resolution To synchronize the IP settings between the device and the configuration database follow these instructions from the online help  Discarding MP Series Controller IP Network Settings Changes

Issue Webhelp and the Technical Reference Guide supply information for using the AS-P/B DHCP server option, however, a number of relevant questions have not been answered. Product Line EcoStruxture Building Operation Environment Building Operation Automation Server Premium (AS-P 0.62 hardware) Building Operation Automation Server Bundled (AS-B) Building Operation SmartX IP Multi-purpose Controller (MP-X) Building Operation SmartX IP Room Controller (RP-C) Building Operation SmartX Controller IP-IO Series Cause There are typically a number of options to configure DHCP servers, but since the DHCP server included with the AS-P/B is very basic and NOT configurable, it's important to understand which options are and are not available. Resolution Webhelp has some helpful information about the DHCP Server Options. The AS-P/Bs built-in DHCP server assigns unrouted IP addresses within the range of addresses from 10.110.210.2 to 10.110.210.254. This was developed to allow for a quick configuration of a private MP-X/RP-C network. The AS-P/B DHCP server can be disabled and another DHCP server can be used. Here is a list of other questions and answers that may come up based on typical options in other DHCP servers: Can the scope of the IP range be configured? There is no way to configure or limit the range of the standard IP address range or to have multiple scopes. Can IP exceptions be configured? There is no configuration option to prevent the AS-P/B DHCP server from assigning a specific IP address. The AS-P/B DHCP server is unaware of static IP addresses, so if a switch or other device has a static IP set in the 10.110.210.2 to 10.110.210.254 range, you run the risk of having the AS-P/B DHCP server assign an IP address twice which can cause a number of issues. Can a Default gateway be configured? Not configurable Can a Subnet mask be configured? Not configurable Is IP6 supported? No Can lease types be configured? No Can multiple DHCP servers be installed on the private LAN? No Should MP-X/RP-C IP level devices only be hosted within the private AS-P/B network? Most site IT departments prefer that the BAS networks be isolated, however, if the network switch (Not the AS-P/B) is used for assigning DHCP IP addresses, it could hand out addresses to the AS-P/B and the MP-X/RP-C devices if they are on the same subnet. A managed (RSTP Enabled) switch can reside as a client to the AS-P/B. This is due to how the Private DHCP option is advertised. On-site IT departments may not want the switch on the customer's LAN so it is placed in the private AS-P/B network. Does the AS-P/B DHCP server assign addresses to 3rd party devices? Yes, if the 3rd party device supports this. This would be a configurable option in the device.

Issue BACnet AlignIntervals Error when downloading b3 controller after a Continuum conversion Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Continuum conversion b3 Controllers Cause After a Continuum conversion the b3 controllers will not download correctly and AlignIntervals error is seen. Resolution This is most likely a result of have older firmware in the b3 controllers. No exact EBO supported version is stated for the b3 controller, but it is advised to always use the latest firmware version. Early versions of SBO (v1.0 to v1.9) would have been tested with v4.500064 (June2010) and v4.500076 (Mar2014). Most EBO testing being done at v4.500077 (Nov2017). It is likely a b3 with firmware v4.500049(Jul2009) could operate correctly.   It is advised to use the current version of firmware in a b3 controller.   Continuum Conversion Tool Notes See Known Issue v3.0 See Known Issue v3.1 So for Continuum conversions, EBO v3.0.x, v3.1.1 and v3.1.2 up to CP4 should avoided. The work around for these versions is to convert using v2.0 then upgrade to the required version. Or for v3.1, use v3.1.2.6000 CP5 or later. The issues are fixed in v3.2.

Issue How can the format of a custom card be determined/understood Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Access Control AC1 AC1Plus ACX Cause The format of access cards is unknown. Resolution The document Understanding custom card formats in Continuum describes how to determine the custom format of proximity cards.  

Issue How to get the data to display automatically (expanded) when running the Trend Log Comparison report. When running the Trend Log Comparison Report, the data is not shown in the tabular format automatically, and the + must be clicked on to expand this table to show the values.  Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation WebReports Microsoft SQL Server Report Builder Cause When either using a Dashboard report or Exporting reports, some situations require the data to be expanded automatically when generating the WebReport.  The following discusses the changes required to be made to this report to allow this to happen.  Resolution To have the report automatically display this data fully expanded, the default WebReport "Trend Log Comparison" needs to be edited using Microsoft SQL Server Report Builder.  See the following online Help Topic for additional detail on using Report Builder with Reports. Open the Trend Log Comparison report using Report Builder. Scroll down to the bottom section of the Report and select (left-click) the DateTimeStamp field Under the Row Groups, Right-Click on [DateTimeStamp] and open Group Properties. Select the Visibility and change this option to Show  Save the file - It is recommended to save the report with a new name and not alter the default factory report.  This new report must then be deployed to the WebReports Server.  This is done by Synchronizing the new report as detailed in the online help: Synchronizing WebReports with a New Report. Running the report should now automatically have this data expanded.  

Issue The hard drive fills up with logs generated by PostgreSQL/Timescale. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Cause Trend meta table missing information Resolution In the ES, go to the TimeScaleDB configuration. Set Trend and Event storage to false and click save. Set Trend and Event storage to true and click save.

Issue The site has Alarm Action to email certain door alarm condition but only at a specific time of day and/or day of the week Product Line Access Expert Environment Access Expert Hosted Software Access Expert Premise Software Cause Alarm actions do not allow association with a regular schedule, instead, the filter query can be used to specify a time and/or the day the action should take place. Resolution The screenshot below shows the schedule that the site wanted to use to specify when the action should be carried out... Since we can not associate the schedule with the alarm action, we should instead specify the days/hours in the filter query using the following filter...   ((EventData["Status"].AsString == "Activated")&&(((OccurredOn.Date.Hour < 17 && OccurredOn.Date.Hour < 4)&&(OccurredOn.Date.DayOfWeek == "Tuesday"|| OccurredOn.Date.DayOfWeek == "Wednesday" || OccurredOn.Date.DayOfWeek == "Thursday" || OccurredOn.Date.DayOfWeek == "Friday")) || (OccurredOn.Date.DayOfWeek == "Saturday" && OccurredOn.Date.Hour > 4)|| (OccurredOn.Date.DayOfWeek == "Sunday")||(OccurredOn

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. Issue How to drive the IO on the DM-20 using an external pull up resistor and voltage source. Product Line Andover Continuum, Security Expert Environment Continuum CX Gen 1 Continuum Net Controller II Continuum DM-20 IO Module Security Expert Controller (SP-AC1) Cause DM-20 IO does not have built-in pull-up resistors.  In order to be able to drive the IO without the DIO-20, external pull up resistors must be used. Resolution Attach a 10K resistor between the + termination of the 24VDC at the bottom left corner of the DM-20 and the termination at the female connector corresponding to the input/output to be driven.   In1, in the screenshot above, can be driven by removing and inserting the other end of the resistor into the input termination. Out5, in the screenshot above, a voltage meter is used, when the output is turned ON/OFF from the software, the voltage across the resistor will change from GROUND to 24VDC  

Issue Faulty operation of BMS equipment due to electrical interference from other equipment can be difficult and costly to identify and fix.  Guidance is required for the best installation practices to minimize the source of the interference and to protect against it when it occurs. Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Operation, Field Devices, Satchwell MicroNet, Satchwell Sigma, TAC IA Series, TAC Vista Environment All electrical equipment Cause Poor installation can cause equipment to generate high and low-frequency electromagnetic interference that can disrupt the operation of other systems. Resolution Schneider Electric has produced a document Practical Installation Guidelines which discusses the theory and offers practical guidelines to protect against and minimize the generation of, electromagnetic interference.

Issue What utility in Windows XP can disable items in Startup? Environment Windows XP Cause Items that run on startup can sometimes make the boot up process for a PC very slow. Depending on which applications have been added to start automatically on startup, it can also cause problems if things load in the incorrect order. Resolution Click the Start button in Windows XP Select Run Type msconfig and click OK.

Issue How to find the IP address information on a PC? Environment Windows Operating Systems Cause Need to identify the IP address of the workstation (PC). Resolution For a Windows 95/98 PC, go to a DOS screen and run WINIPCFG. For a Windows NT / XP / Windows7 / Server 2008 PC, run a CMD window and run IPCONFIG.

Issue When opening (pull up) sunblind, it stops at the end of runtime and then rolls back down. When closing (pull down) sunblind, it stops at the end of runtime and then rolls back up. Environment Lonworks devices including REG-N MSE4 (SVEA 32237-346) Sunblind actuators Cause The sunblinds only have UP/DOWN functions, and there is no panel angle setting. The sunblinds are not venetian, just simple sunblinds. The sunblind actuator is preconfigured for use with venetian blinds. For example when driving down completely first the motor is energised for the time configured in UCPTdownDriveTime, then stops a short moment and then turns the angle of the lamella by energising the motor for the time configured in UCPTpanelTurnTime (dependent on the value of parameter UCPTdownPanelAngle). Resolution When not  using venetian blinds the parameters UCPTdownPanelAngle, UCPTupPanelAngle, UCPTpanelTurnTime and UCPTpanelTurnTimeBottom should be set to zero. Commands to the sunblind actuator then should as well have the value of zero in the rotation part of the SNVTsetting command.

Issue Change an IP address on Windows 8 to a static address. Product Line Other Environment Windows 8 Cause Changing the IP address of a PC is often done to ensure it resides on the same subnet and network as the system or devices it is trying to communicate with. Resolution From the Start Menu (Tiles), open the Charms bar by moving the mouse to the right bottom corner of the screen or press the Windows Key + C and click on Search. Highlight Settings. In the Search box type Network to search for any network related options From the list options choose Network and Sharing Center. From the View Your Active Networks section, select Local Area Connection. Go to Properties. Result: The Local Area Connection Properties screen appears. Highlight Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties. Result: The Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties screen appears. Click Use the following IP address. Complete the configuration fields as shown below. This part of the configuration requires attention to detail, because one error will prevent you from getting on the network. Be sure you have this information at hand when you start to configure the TCP/IP protocol: IP Address: x.x.x.x Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0 Default gateway: x.x.x.x  Enter these numbers in the appropriate fields and click OK. Continue to click OK or Close as appropriate until you return to the Network Connections screen. The Local Area Connection icon text should now say "Enabled". To test the new IP address: Open a command prompt in Windows 8 Swipe to show apps screen Scroll down and locate Windows system section heading Under Windows system, press or click on Command Prompt (a new Command Prompt window will open up on the Desktop.) You then can type in IPCONFIG then hit Enter and look for the new IPV4 address. You can also try to type in PING (IP ADDRESS) that should reply with the new IPV4 address if set correctly.

Issue Some helpful basic IP commands. Product Line Other Environment Computer with IP NIC or Network Cause Need for basic IP configuration or IP address Resolution Go to start, click run and type in "cmd". This takes you to the command prompt. Type in: "ping xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" to see if your device is online and its response time. Make sure you put the space between "ping" and "xxx". "ipconfig" and hit enter to get the info of the computer you are currently using. You'll get the IP address, subnet mask and the gateway. "ipconfig/all" and hit enter to get more info on the machine your using. It will give you all the above and then some including the DNS server addresses. "tracert xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" and hit enter and you can see the servers that you are going through to get to your destination. This can be used when connecting to a Loytec or a iLon and the IP address is being presented to the L-IP or iLon is unknown. Connecting through a firewall/gateway/NAT server, you are not presenting the PC's address - when you do the tracert you will go through your gateway and the next address will be the IP you are presenting- Use this in the iLon as the LNS server address.

Issue What is the contact information for Barber Colman Dyna group? What is the contact information for Barber Colman Aerospace division? What is the contact information for Barber Colman Industrial Instruments division? Environment Barber Colman Cause The old Barber Colman Dyna group is now a part of Woodward Governor. The old Barber Colman Aerospace division is now a part of the GE Aerospace. The old Barber Colman Industrial Instruments is now part of Eurotherm, an Invensys company. Resolution Barber Colman Dyna group is now Woodward Governor. They can be reached at 800-543-5811 Barber Colman Aerospace division is now GE Aerospace. They can be reached at 815-637-3500 Barber Colman Industrial Instruments is Eurotherm, an Invensys company. They can be reached at 815-637-3222 or 815-637-3404 for tech support.

Issue Is it possible to set software permissions for a Public Value in a Menta or Function Block program in EcoStruxure Building Operation (EBO)? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Workstation Cause Public values in Function Block Programs (FBP) or Menta programs are not seen as objects but as attributes of the FBP or Menta object. Resolution It is not possible to set software permission on point level for a Menta program or Function Block Program, only on the Module level. One workaround is to create a Search or Watch View and add the signals the user should be able to change or add the points to a graphic. Set permissions to the Search, Watch window, or graphic.

Issue What is the limitation on the number of COV subscriptions an RP-C can handle? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Room Controller (RPC) Cause When setting up a binding to an RP-C to read a value from another device or transfer a value in the RP-C to another device COV subscriptions are often used.  Resolution The number of subscriptions an RP-C can support is limited primarily by the available resources of the controller. An RP-C with a single point can support thousands of subscriptions but that’s not a realistic configuration on a live site. If resources were allocated to support a defined number of COV subscriptions, this would lock down those resources (primarily memory), making less room for other applications. Since the maximum number of subscriptions depends on how many available resources the controller has at the moment when a subscription is made, there is no guaranteed number on how many subscriptions an RP-C can support.