Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Unable to connect to a Xenta 527 or Xenta 527-NPR  with a newly installed computer on a Remote-Client Configuration Environment I/NET Xenta 527 Xenta 527-NPR Remote Client Site Cause Routing Table is not updated. Open I/NET Configuration Modify the Active configuration profile Click on the NPR button and the bottom of the screen Verify that the Xenta 527 or Xenta 527-NPR is not showing up in the listed NPR devices At the top of the screen click the checkbox for online devices and look for the NPR in the offline list If the device is not in either place then the Routing Table does not contain the address of the offline device Resolution Open I/NET Configuration Modify the Active configuration profile Add the IP address of the Router to the Reference Host list restart the I/O server Connect to the NPR using a web browser Modify the I/NET Configuration Add the IP address of the Workstation to the Reference Host list. Save and Restart the Xenta device Wait 2-3 minutes for the Xenta device to boot up Connect to the router in I/NET

Issue When ordering an MNL-10Rxx, MNL-15Rxx, or MNL-20Rxx controller, is the controller base included? Environment MNL controllers; MNL-10Rxx, MNL-15Rxx, or MNL-20Rxx Cause The web pages on iPortal do not described whether or not the base is included. Resolution The base is included when ordering any of these MNL controllers.

Issue What BACnet services and BACnet object types are supported in the AS and ES? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Automation Server StruxureWare Building Operation Enterprise Server BACnet IP BACnet MSTP Cause PIC statement for supported services and object types in StruxureWare Building Operation. Resolution Page 5 of the AS BACnet PIC shows the columns of the different types of BACnet devices. Whether it is a B-OWS or a B-BC etc… the x's in the columns show the required services for each particular device according to the BACnet Standard. The last green column in the PIC, show the Product Conformance (AS) and what services the AS supports. For instance COV is not a required service, but a optional one and is selected in the last column. Below are links to the AS and ES BACnet PIC. AS PIC statement link ES PIC statement link

Issue How do you access BACnet MS/TP devices under a UNC without making a direct connection to the MS/TP bus?  Tunneling is supported with LON and ASD devices but there is no tunnel client for BACnet. Environment WorkPlace Tech Tool release 5.7.x UNC with BACnet MS/TP devices Cause Want to connect WPT through the UNC to access the MS/TP network attached to the UNC Resolution Tunneling is not required to access MS/TP devices under a UNC. Since the UNC is already a BACnet device because it has BACnet MS/TP devices connected to it, you can enable BACnet-IP or BACnet-Ethernet on the UNC.  Once either of these protocols have been enabled, the UNC then acts as a BACnet router allowing BACnet communications to the MS/TP devices directly via the ethernet connection to the UNC.

Issue What is the maximum number of Network Controllers (InfinityController object) that I can have in my Continuum Database? Environment Continuum Cyberstation Cause Site expansion. What is the maximum number of Network Controllers (Netcontroller, ACX, etc...) that the system can grow too. Resolution There is no logical limit. Although you can only have up to 190 in one network folder. That is because the ACCNetID’s for controllers only go up to 190, after 190 controllers you will need to create a new Network object to house any new Network Controllers.

Issue TGML graphics Editor will not open even though the Engineering Dongle is connected. Environment TGML Graphics editor Vista IV Cause The Vista IV engineering Dongle is not licensed to allow TGML Graphics Editor to open. It will only allow OGC Graphics Editor to open. This Feature was not included until Vista 5. Resolution Use a Vista 5 Engineering Dongle or download the Demo License to edit TGML files.

Issue Can a Niagara R2 UNC and a SIGNAL software-based computer simultaneously communicate to and poll values from a GCM-84000? The UNC would be interfaced serially to the GCM and SIGNAL would communicate over the GCM-LAN. Environment Niagara R2 UNC with the Network 8000 GCM driver, all versions SIGNAL, any version GCM-84000 series GCM-86000 series Cause The GCM cannot adequately process polling from more than one HMI. Resolution Although this architecture is physically possible to configure, it goes against the Best Practices of the Niagara Network 8000 Serial Driver.  Here is the excerpt from the Best Practices section of the driver manual (F-27070): When using the  I/A Series Niagara Framework to poll a GCM network while simultaneously polling the same system with another Human Machine Interface (HMI) problems can occur.  It is recommended that if the  I/A Series Niagara Framework is to be used it should be the only system polling the  NETWORK 8000 hardware. In particular, this should be noted that in the case of certain HMI systems (InVue™ and UltiVist™, for example), it may not always be obvious that there is something else polling the same hardware. These systems could be polling the same hardware by the Ethernet connection.

Issue License form does not list the BACnet MS/TP driver. Environment I/A Series R2 UNC-410 I/A Series G3 ENC-410 Cause License request for the UNC-410 or ENC-410 does not list an option for the BACnet MS/TP driver. The UNC-410 / ENC-410 does not support any RS-485 drivers because the RS-485 port is not electrically isolated. These controllers do support BACnet integration via BACnet-IP or BACnet-Ethernet. Resolution If BACnet MS/TP integration is required, use the UNC-520 or ENC-520.

Issue When trying to dump the Gerry Log from several controllers on the network, the header and errors appear to be identical. Environment CX99xx NetController Gerry Log Controller error log Cause Controller diagnostics. Resolution The Gerry log cannot be retrieved from a NetController without being physically connected to it via the RS232 connector.

Issue Programs don't work in an i2 controller after being copied from another working controller. Environment CyberStation Plain English Plain English InfinityPrograms Cause Programs not working properly in an i2 Controller. Resolution When dragging objects from one controller to another... Do not drag the source InfinityController onto the target controller.  Rather, from the object view window, select all objects in the source controller and drag them to the target controller object. From the Options menu in Continuum Explorer, under the Name Conflicts tab, make sure the first four options are checked.

Issue After launching the Vista Server program, it seems to cycle through its startup process, but stops on: "initializing server functions field bus initializations..."  Vista Server will never finish opening regardless of how long it is left to run and must be forced closed with the Task Manager. When attempting to open a LonMaker drawing, the last process displayed before hang up is: "Opening network connections". Environment LonMaker Vista Cause Corrupted LonMaker database. Possibly due to unexpected termination of the LonMaker program such as a loss of power or Ending the process from Task Manager. Resolution Attempt to open the associated LNS database through LonMaker. It will most likely fail to open. Restore last known good backup. Optionally,  send the damaged database to Echelon Support for further investigation at lonsupport@echelon.com. Field bus is referred to as LNS Server Ports in the Vista world.  If the LNS database will not open, then the Vista server cannot access it.

Issue How to change the online keyboard layout of a Magelis Opti PC. Change input language for the keyboard on Magelis Opti PC. Environment Magelis Opti PC (Touch screen PC OP panel) Cause The Magelis Opti PC runs on windows XP embedded version so you change the keyboard input the same way as any PC. Resolution Open Control Panel and click on Regional and Language settings Click on language tab- Details Add the language you need.

Issue When using a Boolean Writable to reset the total of the NumericTotalizerExt  the total will reset when the ENC reboots. Environment G3 (Niagara) ENC version 3.4.64 & 3.5.25 were tested but all other versions of G3 should function the same way. Cause The resetTotal slot for the NumericTotalizerExt is an action slot so any data coming across its input will reset the total.  When the station is starting up the boolean writable point being used for reset is initialized which sends data across the link and resets the total. Resolution The proper way to reset the NumericTotalizerExt total is with a trigger object.  There are Interval and Daily trigger objects available in the kitControl palette inside the Control Palette folder.  Alternatively there is a TriggerSchedule object available in the Schedule palette that can serve this purpose.   If using an Interval or Daily trigger object link the Fire Trigger output from the trigger object into the resetTotal slot of the NumericTotalizerExt.  If using the TriggerSchedule object link its trigger output to the resetTotal input of the NumericTotalizerExt. 

Issue At times it is helpful to know the default IP address of a new MNB-1000 and it is not in the documentation. Environment All MNB-1000 controllers regardless of firmware version ship from the factory with a default IP address. Cause Connecting to an MNB-1000 for the first time after it is shipped from the factory. Resolution The default IP for all MNB-1000 controllers when they are shipped is 10.1.10.2.

Issue TIP License for the WorkPlace Tech Tool (WPT) software is about to expire.  What is the procedure for requesting a renewal of that license? Environment WPT 4.0.x  used by an engineer of a sales partner or branch office  WPT 5.x.x used by an engineer of a sales partner or branch office  Cause License expires 365 days after being unlocked. Resolution Please run the "Purchase WIBS Software" or "Purchase WorkPlace Tech Software" from the desktop of the computer.  The label on the displayed ICON will be dependent on the version of the WorkPlace Tech Tool software installed on the computer. On the "Purchase Information" screen, select the next available WP-TECH-50x license where x = E, R or R#.  See NOTE below, if there are no more R## license renewal entries available. Click the "Add to order button".  The requested license will appear in the "Order list". Click the "Accept Order" button and save the order form to your computer. Click the "Done" button to close the "Purchase Information" window then click "Done" to close the main purchase/unlock window. Email the saved license order form (from step 3) to IASeries.WIB_Order@schneider-electric.com.  The license unlock code will be emailed back to you typically within two working days. NOTE:  Download the WPTLExtractor.exe on The Exchange Extranet. This exe file will update the licensing information on the computer to allow for up to (15) - 365 days license renewals.  Please see the Technical Advisory Bulletin TPA-RKFD-09-0025 for additional information.

Issue The XPSI/PSI software can be used to manage & program ASD devices under a GCM.  Is it possible to configure the station running on an ENC to allow the PSI software to be directly connected to the ASD bus under the ENC? Environment ENC-520 with system software including the tacASD driver Cause The PSI software will not properly communicate properly with the devices on an ASD bus network if there is a GCM, UNC-520 or ENC-520 on the same bus unless the PSI software is configured in the "PSI under GCM" mode and the parent controller is configured to recognize the PSI software. Resolution The ENC-520 station database can be configured to support the simultaneous use of the PSI software on the ASD bus. To configure the station for use with the PSI software, the PSI object must be copied from the tacASD palette into the ASDNetwork container of the ENC station database.  No configuration of the object is required for proper operation.

Issue Sigma dongle needs to be tested or be registered. Environment Sigma. SigmaX. Dongle. Cause SigmaX allows Sigma to run without a Sigma dongle being present, therefore the dongle cannot be tested. Resolution Sigma software will operate normally on a PC / Laptop where a programmed Sigma dongle, or a registered version of SigmaX is present. If a registered copy of SigmaX is installed on a PC or Laptop, then it will not be possible to test or register a dongle, until SigmaX is disabled. To disable SigmaX carry out the following; Ensure you have kept a copy of your SigmaX unlock code, which can be entered again later. In Windows explorer navigate to C:\SigmaX\Bin\RegSigmaX.exe and run the programme. Choose "OK" without entering any codes. This will clear the existing SigmaX registration. Restart your computer. The Sigma dongle can now be tested or registered as required. On completion of your tests, go to C:\SigmaX\Bin\RegSigmaX.exe and run the registration programme again, this time you will need to enter your SigmaX registration code.

Issue Not possible to have a zero in the beginning of an address to a M-bus device in XBuilder.  For example, add an M-bus device in XBuilder. Write a secondary address (used default) with a zero in the beginning. Click OK and the zero in the beginning disappears. Environment Vista 5.1.5 XBuilder Cause This is just a display attribute in XBuilder to trim leading zeros in the address field. Resolution Even if the zero in the beginning disappears in the address box, it will still be used when the Xenta server communicates with the M-bus device. Write the address with a zero as it should be and that address will be used.

Issue Cannot view SCPTs, UCPTs, or UNVTs in XBuilder. Warning in XBuilder: "2147483647    Warning -1     ____ will be skipped. Unrecognized SNVT type from Vista Database:0" Environment XBuilder LON Devices Xenta 102-AX Xenta 121-HP, 121-FC STR-350 Cause XBuilder can only view, read, and write to SNVTs in a LON device. Resolution There is no way to view SCPTs in XBuilder. If XBuilder is required for transferring data, a work around will have to be found. Instead of writing to SCPTsetPoints, use nviSetpoint, for example. The resulting warning in XBuilder is alerting that it cannot process the information contained in a SCPT, UCPT or UNVT, only SNVT. Therefore the "SNVT type" is unrecognized.

Issue I cannot connect to a b3 controller, even when it is removed from the MSTP bus. I cannot connect to an Infinet controller, even when it is removed from the Infinet bus. Environment Continuum Roam IO MSTP Infinet i2 b3 Cause Need to connect with a local controller using RoamIO. Resolution In some cases we have found that RoamIO has trouble connecting to an individual i2 or b3 controller.  If you are having trouble connecting via RoamIO to a controller that is not connected to the controller bus, try connecting two controllers together and attempting to connect.