Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue What is the recommended maximum size the SQL database can be using MSDE? Environment I/NET Cause What is the maximum size the SQL database using MSDE? Resolution The MSDE server software distributed with I/NET Seven imposes a 2GB restriction on database size. Larger facilities, particularly those using image verification and/or AMT archiving, could potentially encounter data storage problems due to this restriction, and should consider upgrading to SQL Server 2000. Refer to TCON 300.

Issue Accommodating Individual numbers greater than 24000 Environment I/NET site Cause How do older I/NET systems accommodate Individual numbers that are greater than 24000? Resolution Traditionally, I/NET has required that the key/card numbers assigned to individuals fall within the range of 1 to 24,000. This range supports the maximum limit of 24000 individuals that can be defined for a single tenant. However, it is not uncommon to find that the actual number preprogrammed on a key/card is greater than 24,000. In order to accommodate these higher key/card numbers, I/NET provides a Key/Card Translation table for each tenant. Using the translation table, you can define up to 128 ranges of high key/card numbers and the starting target number. Refer to TCON 300 for more information.

Issue Is I/NET capable of translating “large” key/card numbers (i.e., numbers greater than 24,000) directly to a lower number? Environment I/NET site with access control Cause I/NET capable of translating “large” key/card numbers (i.e., numbers greater than 24,000) directly to a lower number? Resolution The I/NET system is capable of translating “large” key/card numbers (i.e., numbers greater than 24,000) directly to a lower number, without the use of the Key/Card Translation table. However, this functionality requires that the SLI and DPU binary loads are I/NET 2000 revision 2.x or I/NET Seven revision 1.x (or later) compatible, and that DIP switch 7 at the DPU is ON. For DPUs with earlier firmware versions, the use of the Key/Card Translation table is still required when key/card numbers are greater than 24,000. Refer to TCON300 for more details.

Issue How do I set up Seven Trends? Environment I/NET site Cause How to setup Seven Trends Resolution I recommend you read about this in TCON 299 (INET Seven System Operator Guide). The overall sequence for using the SevenTrends features of I/NET Seven is as follows: Configure DCUs to collect data. Define trends in host stations to receive data. Configure host stations to receive collected data. Set transfer parameters. Archive SevenTrends data. Create SevenTrends reports (may be done any time after Step 3 is complete).  Refer to the SevenReports help file for more information on creating reports.

Issue Are there any advantages for assigning large key/card numbers directly to individuals rather than using key/card translations tables? Environment I/NET Site define card translation, card number=individual number Cause Client is using same facility code but card numbers are not continuous ranging from 1000 to 4000 and 54000 above. In case the quantity of cards go beyond 32000 is it possible to add these cards to I/NET since each tenant can only take 32000 cards? Having cards with numbers both below 32000 and above, do I have to define card translations for both?. Resolution Large Card support allows you to: Order cards with numbers greater than 32000 Enable individuals to have multiple simultaneous cards during card replacement projects Allows you to replace an individuals card without creating a new individual in the I/NET system INET does support up to 6 million cards but here is the catch. It is 32,000 individuals per tenant, and up to 64,000 individuals per door if you have an SCU or 7920 (with that 48K memory board attached). What this means is each tenant group can be up to 32,000 individuals. You can put cards in, as long as their in the same facility code to make the 32,000 individuals limit. If you define card translation, then you are able to go over the 32000 as far as the card number. 32,000 is the individual number with a standard 26-bit Wiegand card with the max card number is 65,535. So if you do large number the 32,000 individual number could be a card that actually has 65535 as the card number. For Example you have cards 1 through 32,000 but missing 10,001 through 10,999, then you will have to have to define card translation so you can have card numbers greater than 32,000. 32,000 is the total for individuals. But if you are using Card number equals individuals, it will not accept anything over 32000. it will only work if you are using big card numbers.   Go to TCON 300, page 9-5 (INET Seven Technical Reference Guide) for more information.

Issue Cannot remove the last special day in a 7750 Building Manager Environment I/NET site with Access Control Cause Engineer cannot remove the last special day in a 7750 Building Manager Resolution Use the Offline editor of I/NET Seven and remove this special day. If this is an old I/NET DOS system, use offline database edit to remove the special day.

Issue What can be connected to a UI on an Xenta controller? Environment Xenta programmable Xenta I/O modules Universal Inputs Cause The name "universal input" implies that anything can be connected to it. In reality, it just accepts several different types of inputs (not all). Resolution Thermistor 0-10 volts Open/Close contact

Issue I controlled a point on an MR (or ASC) but the point value went right back to what it was before I controlled it. Why? Environment I/NET MR or ASC Cause Quick polls are probably turned off. Resolution Select Edit, Controller, MCU Config. Once that's up select Stationx, where x is the address of the port that MR, etc is connected to. Find the MR\ASC\etc. and make sure the box in the "QP" column is selected.

Issue What are quick-polls? Environment I/NET Site Cause What are quick-polls? Resolution There are 2 ways we collect point values from sublan devices. One method is called "read all points" in which the SLI asks for the value of every point on every sublan device which is set for communication in the MCU config. This happens about every 30 or 60 seconds (depending on the type of SLI). In between those, the SLI uses the quick polls to say "give me the value of any point which changed since last time I asked you". In addition, transactions are collected from DPUs during the quick-poll process.

Issue Why does my DM point on an MR always go into alarm? Environment I/NET site Cause Why does my DM point on an MR always go into alarm? Resolution The time to state timer in the DM/DC point resides up in the SLI. If an MR-DDC module starts the DC point, the MCI has no mechanism to start that timer. Therefore, the DM will create an alarm with every change of state. If the DC is controlled by an event sequence or point extension, the DM functions properly. If you need to use DDC, use a DO and DI and create a DA for the alarm handling. Attach a calculation (module or extension) to the DA of P0=P1 to compare the DO and DI points. Give the DA an alarm delay equal to the value you would have used for the time to state setting.

Issue How to get alarms from more than one link to dial a pager Environment I/NET Site Cause How to get alarms from more than one link to dial a pager Resolution You could use indirect and global points to get the alarm conditions all into one link, then use 78061 to dial the pager. This is messy and bogs down lan traffic. A better solution is to connect a host pc to the host lan (or ethernet lan) and use the event printer port with Emergin software.

Issue If a site upgrades a synchronous dial site to asynch, what do they need to replace? Environment I/NET Site Cause If a site upgrades a synchronous dial site to asynch, what do they need to replace? Resolution Replace: the boot chips of the devices with modems connected the bin files of those devices maybe the modems themselves. You can try to use the Hayes modems in an asynch fashion but if you have problems be ready to replace them with US Robotics modems.

Issue How to properly setup links in configuration profile? What do system and hardware mean? Environment I/NET Site Cause How to properly setup links in configuration profile? What do system and hardware mean? Resolution The only time a link is defined is when you have cable connected to the computer's serial port which then connects to a tap or modem. If there is no tap or modem connected to THIS computer, you DO NOT assign a link and the link type is ""none"". When the link type is direct, INET is looking for the dip switch address of the Link tap. This is the address you use in the "hardware" field. If you are connecting to a 78010 tap which connects directly to a controller lan, the hardware address IS 0 because it is performing the functions of the Link tap. It's obviously 0 as well when you are connecting to the emulated tap of a controller because it connects directly to the controller lan. If the 78010 connects to a host lan (not to be confused with an ethernet lan), INET is looking for the dipswitch address of the 78020 or 051 taps. They are the link taps. 

Issue What is the "system" link address and why does the site need to assign it? Environment I/NET site Cause What is the "system" link address and why does the site need to assign it?   What if there is an ethernet system with 2 PCs and each of them connect to a 78010 which in turn connect directly to controller lans? They're both hardware link 0. How will the site distinguish between them?  Resolution The site can modify the link definitions in the configuration profiles and give them unique ""system"" link addresses, that's how. The system link number must not conflict with any NPR in the system either. Typically, the site will  match the hardware and system addresses on links connected to the first PC on the network. Assign different system address to subsequent PCs with associated taps.

Issue Can you use the thermistor inputs on a 451 for Digital Inputs? Environment Xenta 451 Cause Thermistors can only be used on B inputs and U inputs, not X inputs.  Resolution The associated software does not allow anything with an X input to report anything but an on/off based on a voltage or no voltage.

Issue Does I/NET 2000 rev 2.20 run in Windows 2000 NT FS mode? Environment I/NET 2000 Cause Does I/NET 2000 rev 2.20 run in Windows 2000 NT FS mode? Resolution Yes, it will run in either NT FS or FAT 16 mode.

Issue How do I make the OCC-UNOCC button a toggle ON/OFF button? Environment OCC-UNOCC Cause Modifying the OCC-UNOCC button to a toggle ON/OFF button. Resolution Go into the Inet "MR Functions\Istat" editor and change the button parameters interval to 255 sec.

Issue How do I make the service key on an I/STAT stay active until I finish servicing the controller? Environment I/NET Site Cause How do I make the service key on an I/STAT stay active until I finish servicing the controller? Resolution Go into the MR Functions > I/STAT editor  Change the Inactivity timeouts "Escape from Service" to "0" (zero).

Issue Can convert an ACP file to an MS Access file (MDB)? Environment I/NET 2000 Cause Can convert an ACP file to an MS Access file (MDB)? Resolution If you are running Inet 2.xx, you have a tool to do this conversion. If you go into windows explorer\programs\Inet 2000\access-conversion editor you will see that there is a process for this. This process will allow an ACP file to convert the MDB and back to ACP files. One essential thing, if you convert the ACP file to an MDB file. DO NOT CHANGE the file structure, if you plan to convert it back to an ACP file.

Issue What do I have to do to activate the IDisc Wand? Environment I/NET site with Access Control Cause What do I have to do to activate the IDisc Wand? Resolution Go into the I/O Server and set the Com Port that the Wand is attached. Then go into the access \option editor and select to read card numbers from the reader.