Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue What is the difference between the TimeOfLog and TimeStamp columns in an Alarm or AccessEvent listview? Environment Alarm or AccessEvent listview Cause One reason as to why there could be a difference between the two is that the controller did not have communications with the workstation that is logging the events so it buffered the events until such time as it could send them. Another reason is that this is a remote site (RAS) setup and the controller was buffering the events until the controller or workstation requested an update of the alarms and events. Resolution Generally these two timestamps should be close to the same value. The difference between these 2 columns is that the TimeStamp column is actually when the Alarm or Access Event happened, the TimeOfLog column is when these events were logged into the database. 

Issue What does a network switch need to be configured as to connect to a Continuum controller? Environment Network switch CX99xx CX94xx CX92xx CX9702 B4920 BCX series controllers  Cause The configuration depends on what model of controller is being connected to the Ethernet switch. Resolution If you are connecting any of the CX99xx, CX94xx, or CX92xx models of controllers: The switch port needs to be configured as 10 Mb Half duplex. These series controllers only support a 10 Mb connection type and they do not auto detect the connection type.  If you are using any of the newer model controllers like the CX9702, B4920, or BCX series controllers  they support an auto detect connection type of 10/100 Mb connection. These newer controllers will also auto detect the mode for either full or half duplex. An additional feature on the BCX series controllers is that they will also auto detect whether the CAT5 cable being used is a Cross over cable or Straight through cable.

Issue  "Maximum IOU/Infinet controllers reached" when adding an IOU module or Infinet controller. Environment IOU module Infinet controller Cause This generally means exactly what the message states. You have a node limited controller and you have reached the maximum number of nodes. Resolution Edit the controller through Continuum Explorer Click on the options tab. Verify the node counts on the controller on the options tab. If you have reached the maximum number of nodes contact the repair department to get a node upgrade flash file. There is a cost associated with this option.

Issue The time keeps changing between the workstation and the controller. Environment Continuum controllers Cause UTC offsets handle time zone differences between controllers and workstations and may need to be set. Also, a time synchronization program may be required to keep the times the same. Resolution Check the UTC offsets in Cyberstation Explorer. Verify that the Network UTC offset matches the Workstation's UTC offset. Check and verify you have a Time Sync program that synchronizes the time between the workstation and controller.

Issue After running a listview of Personnel records and sorting it by card number, the sort is incorrect. What is the proper procedure to sort Personnel records by Card number? Environment Personnel records Cause The sort is looking at the wrong attribute. Resolution Edit the listview and change your sort to sort based on the attribute NonABACardNumber.

Issue Bit Count not Supported errors in the Active Event view and Event log Environment Active Event view Event log Cause Custom cards will be required if bit count is not supported. Resolution On the door configuration screens make sure the correct card type is selected. (Note: On the door you can select multiple card types). If the card bit count and/or format is not one that is supported natively by the door then it may be necessary to configure a custom card.

Issue Configure a Xenta 5/7/9xx for no timeout log out. Environment Xenta Servers Xenta 511, 527, 555, 701, 711, 721, 731, 913 Cause A Xenta 5/7/9xx controller is set up with certain predefined time out durations for logging out inactive users.  While you cannot disable this feature, you can set the duration sufficiently long to effectively eliminate the log out if desired. Resolution Generate a certificate.  To avoid the certificate error every time you connect to the Xenta 5/7/9xx, go to XBuilder, and generate a certificate that has the same name as the IP address of the Xenta. Edit the file viewuser.html.  Connect to the Xenta using FTP.  For example Internet Explorer ftp://:@ viewuser.html is located in the folder www/config.  Save the file on your hard drive.  Edit the file with Notepad, and add the following correction to viewuser.html Line 159:  Add another Option tag with a value of "259200000" and description of 3000 days following the form of the previous entries. Carry out the changes.  Connect to the Xenta using FTP.  Change the name of the file in the Xenta (Backup) Copy the file the you have on your hard drive to the Xenta. Activate "no logout."  Go to the configuration page in the Xenta.  Select "3000 days" for log out

Issue Can connect to a Xenta 527 through the web, and can ping it, but when trying to connect to it with I/NET, it shows that it is offline. Environment Xenta 527 I/NET Seven Cause If you start I/NET and go to Edit/Host Computer/Network Configuration, you can see the Xenta 527 but there is a – sign in the Cnf column. If you right click on your I/O Server/Configure and select NPR Routers, the unit will not be Online and if you uncheck the box then you might see it in the Offline entries. Resolution Check the following settings: Verify that port 50069 is opened on the commercial routers in that network. Using a PC that has ftp access, browse to the Xenta 527, ftp:// 0.0.0.0/configdb/inet/filter.xml Delete this file and then try connecting to it again through I/NET. This file gets recreated with the default settings whenever another NPR or PC tries to talk to it. If this fails, then format the unit and download the bin files back to the unit again.  

Issue Add Xenta trend log is grayed out when right clicking on point in a programmable Xenta controller and selecting Create Trend Log. Environment Xenta Programmable Controller Menta Cause There are no available trend logs in the Menta application. There have to be empty trend logs in Menta for this to work. Resolution Edit the file In Menta Go to Options > Trend Logs Click on the 'up arrow' to increase the number of available trend logs. Save the application to the Vista Database Download to the controller.

Issue How can I change the colors for Vista alarms in Vista Webstation? Environment TAC Vista Webstation Alarm queue Cause Customize the color palette for a Webstation user. Resolution To change the colors used by alarms in Vista Webstation, log in to Vista Workstation as a user that belongs to the $Administrator group. Right click on an alarm and select customize. In the Text tab, you will be able to change the font color or background color for each of the alarm states. Once you have configured the colors to your liking use the File->Save My Program Settings command. The change will now be visible in Vista Webstation next time you log back in.  

Issue When trying to open graphic editor by right clicking on the graphic object and selecting edit, the editor won’t start. The login screen comes up but after logging in the program never starts. Environment OGC Graphic Editor Vista IV Cause The process must be stopped and started again with a proper login. Resolution Open Task Manager end all 'Tadraw.exe' processes. Open the graphic editor from 'Start-programs-TAC-TAC Tools 4.x.x' Log in and close the editor. Now you can open it from within the Vista Workstation again.

Issue Configure the 527-NPR to use custom port assignments Environment I/NET site Cause How to configure the 527-NPR to use custom port assignments Resolution The Xenta 527/511/913 line of controllers are configurable to use custom port numbers for the http, https, ftp, snmp, and other ethernet related protocols. This is configured in the web interface on these controllers. The 527-NPR however has a limited web interface that only allows you to modify the I/NET communication port (default 50069). To use custom port assignments you will need to follow these steps: Connect to the 527-NPR with a ftp client. Browse to the /sys/system directory. Copy the configuration file of the protocol you want to set a custom port on. (http.cfg for HTTP or HTTPS protocols) Modify the port number with notepad. Copy the file back into the /sys/system directory. Restart the 527-NPR. You will now be able to access the 527-NPR with the new port assignments.

Issue Synchronizing time in Vista Server and a Xenta server when running on a Domain Environment Xenta Server Xenta 511, 527, 701, 711, 721, 731, 913 Vista Server Domain network Cause If your computer is running on a domain network then the computer cannot be manually configured to use a Xenta server or an external Time Server as its time source. Resolution To get your Xenta Server and Vista Server to use the same time you have the following options: Take the Vista Server off of the domain and configure the PC to use the Xenta Server as its time server. Set the Domain controller to use the same SNTP server that the Xenta Server is using. This requires that the network open the ports to communicate with the SNTP server. Install a hardware SNTP server or run a software SNTP server that gets its' time from the domain controller and set the Xenta server to communicate with this hardware/software SNTP server.

Issue "TAC DRF kit is not registered" error message when installing TAC software Environment LDRF.cat (LDRF) DRF Kit Cause The DRF kit may not have been installed properly, or it may have become corrupted through the process of uninstalling and reinstalling certain engineering software suites. Resolution Browse to C:\LonWorks\types\ and delete the LDRF.cat file. Start the Catalog Utility from Start > Programs > Echelon LNS Utilities > LNS Resource File Catalog Utility. Click OK. Browse to C:\LonWorks\types\ and click OK. Select "Add a New Directory". Browse to C:\LonWorks\types\User\TAC and click OK. If Echelon LonMaker is being used repeat steps 5 and 6 for the directory C:\LonWorks\types\User\Echelon. Click "Refresh Now", then "Exit" The DRF kit should now be repaired.

Issue Entering values less than 1 in Zbuilder results in red error indication. If you enter ".05" or ".2" into a field in Zbuilder it won't accept it. Environment Zbuilder Xenta 121 Cause A period cannot be the leading digit in a numerical input. Resolution The first digit must be a number,  so you must enter fractional values with a leading zero. Example: "0.05" or "0.2"

Issue Forced inputs in Xenta 121s return to default values Environment LonMaker NL220 Cause Every time you hit "Apply" or "OK" in Zbuilder, the Xenta 121 will get a reset command. When the controller receives the reset command, the inputs lose their forced status and return to default values. Resolution After the Xenta 121 controller has been rest, the overridden points must be forced again.

Issue Trying to filter alarms on Vista Workstation 4.5. Is there a way to permanently set the filter to only display alarms with a priority of 1-8? Environment Vista Workstation 4.5 Cause Permanently setting alarm filters allow for creation of custom alarm views. Resolution In Vista 4.5 you can create user profiles, and assign a custom alarm view to the profile. For more information on how to set up user profiles and alarm viewers see the "TAC Vista IV, Administrating TAC Vista Workstation" manual. If no profile is specified for a user it will use the global object $UserProfile which uses the global object $AlarmView. If you make changes to those objects it will affect all users that are not using their own profiles.

Issue Global Points not working after an Upgrade. Environment I/NET site with Global points Cause Issue with Global Points not working after an Upgrade Resolution Are you having an issue with global points not working after you have upgraded from I/Net 2000 to I/Net Seven? There are 2 ways that you can resolve this, first: On your PC, do you have a reference host IP in your active profile in I/O Server? Change the setting back to 0, shut down I/Net and I/O Server and then restart it again. Modify the profile and place the IP address of the NPR in the reference hosts IP. If you are using an NPR, change the settings back to 0, restart the unit and then put the addresses back again into the reference host IP. Check your global points and they should be updating now. Secondly, follow this example: Point address Example High 1 (Calculation taking the high value from 15 zones) Point address Example High 2 (Calculation taking the high value from 12 zones) Point address Example Avg. (Average of High 1 and High 2) Create a new point and create a calculation that looks at the point that was not updating. After: Point address Example High 1 (Calculation taking the high value from 15 zones) ***Existing points that did not change*** Point address Example High 2 (Calculation taking the high value from 12 zones) ***Existing points that did not change*** Point address Example Avg. (Average of High 1 and High 2) ***Existing points that did not change*** Create a new point called: Point address Example Avg. A (Calculation pointed to Example Avg.) Made the Example Avg. point internal and not Global LAN. Made the newly created point the Global LAN point.

Issue Launching I/NET automatically on startup of the PC. Environment Microsoft Windows I/NET Cause There is a feature where the user can automatically launch I/NET when they start their PC. This keeps operators from having to remember to start I/NET after a reboot or power loss. Resolution Go to Windows Explorer > C:/Documents and Settings/Users/[select the user]/Start Menu/Programs/Startup Create a shortcut for I/NET Select I/NET, right click and select properties, at the end of "C:\Program Files\INET Seven\INetW.exe" place a /winuser. Now it should look like this "C:\Program Files\INET Seven\INetW.exe" /winuser. Log off or shut down the PC Restart it again and I/NET should automatically be started.

Issue Warning: Configuring HTTP and HTTPS on Xenta 511/527/913 Environment Xenta 511 Xenta 527 Xenta 913 Cause If the device reboots with both protocols set to the same port then it will become stuck in an endless reboot. The only way to correct this problem is to send the device back to the factory. Resolution When configuring the HTTP (80 by default) and HTTPS (443 by default) ports in the Xenta 511/527/913 do not try to set these two protocols to use the same ports.