Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Users are getting two possible errors when trying to open WebReports page Error #1 - "The Web Site URL for Reports is not configured. Please contact the administrator" Error #2 -  "The webpage cannot be found" can also be generated. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Web Reports Cause These Errors can occur when the link to the Reports Server is not correct.  This is usually caused by having the Enterprise Server and Report Server on the same PC It should be noted that having both the Enterprise and Report Server's on the same PC is not recommended.   The reason the Workstation can not access the Web site / Web service URL's is because the Report Manager points to the "Localhost".  When you try to use a Workstation that is not local to the Report Server it can not locate this URL, hence the error.   This issue is not seen if when installing the Report Server on a different machine to the Enterprise Server as designed. Resolution Even though the Enterprise Server is local to the Report Server if access required by any other Workstation or WebStation you must enter the IP or PC Name of the Report Server within the Report Manager's Web site URL.  In this instance changing only the Web site URL will rectify the problem but it is recommended to change both the Web site and Web Service URL settings. This will allow any remote Workstation / Browser to find the Report Server. In workstation, Browse, to the System folder Click on System>Report Manager Set the Web site URL to http://localhost/SchneiderElectric/WebReports/Login.aspx Set the Web Service URL to http://localhost/SchneiderElectric/WebReportsService If the Enterprise Server resides on a different PC than the Reports Server, change "localhost" to the Report Server computer name or IP address After making this change WebReports should display correctly:

Issue The following error is generated during the SQL Configuration step for 1.8 Reports Server Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment WebReports Installer Cause This can happen for various reasons: Possible cause 1 The Microsoft .NET Framework installation is damaged after installing Microsoft SQL Server. Possible cause 2 In one of the steps during SQL installation, we have to configure NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. If user fails to change this and move ahead with default user then create database step would fail. Possible cause 3 The operating system is not using English as its selected language. Resolution Solution 1 Quit the WebReports Installer Package Remove/reinstall or repair .NET Framework 4.5 (Available from Microsoft .NET download site or direct download - WebInstaller - OfflineInstaller) Repeat the installation of WebReports Solution 2 Set the SQL server service log on properties to "Local System" (NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM) Restart the SQL server service Repeat the installation of WebReports Solution 3 Replace the WebReports OS with an English version of Windows. 

Issue Downloaded the WPT (WorkPlace Tech Tool) software.  How do I get a serial number so that I can complete the licensing form displayed with the "Purchase WorkPlace tech Software" program? Product Line TAC IA Series Environment WorkPlace Tech Tool 5.x.x Cause The WPT license generator program requires a "WIBS serial number" so that the license request can be generated. If the field is left blank, the program will not allow the license request to be generated.   Resolution The serial number is provided on purchased CDs so as to provide a method of tracing the manufactured CDs. To license the downloaded version of the Workplace Tech Tool software, you must enter an 8 digit serial number.  It is suggested, although not required, that you enter the current date as the serial number. When using the date as the serial number, enter the four digit year followed by the two digit month followed by the two digit day, i.e., in the format YYYYMMDD. For example, 20230203.

Issue Instructions are required on how to set up a Trouble Input for Periodic Testing of a Reporting Service such as Contact ID Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Client/Server SP-C-WEB Contact ID Reporting Service Cause Basic information on configuring reporting services is documented in the Security Expert Operator Manual and SP-C-WEB Programming Reference but these do not contain practical steps on configuring Trouble Inputs for Period Testing of Reports Services such as Contact ID Resolution  Trouble Input: 1. Navigate to Programming | Trouble Inputs 2. Locate the Service Test Report Trouble Input 3. Select the Areas and Input Type Tab 4. Select an Area and Input Type that the Trouble Input will be processed by Area Generally all trouble inputs that need to be monitored by a central station are monitored by the same area referred to as a system Area. This Area generally does not have any output such as Sirens associated with it, does not process intrusion inputs and is not accessible by end users.  A system Area is not created by default in Security Expert so needs to be added via the Programming | Areas menu   Input Type  Generally the default Input Type of Trouble Silent of 24 Hour Alarm is used for Trouble Inputs 5. Select Save 6. Navigate to Programming | Areas and select the System Area  7. Select the Configuration Tab and ensure the Reporting Service eg ContactID is assigned to the Area. 8. Save   Periodic Testing: 1. Navigate to Sites | Controllers 2. Change Test Report Time (HH:MM) to specified time period, the Service Test Report Trouble Input will open at this frequency eg. every 4 hours and report to the station if there is a connection between the panel and the monitoring station. 3. Select the Options Tab 4. Select Test Report Time is periodic tick box 5. Save For more details on the creation of Report Services such as Contact ID please refer to KB Article:  Configuring Security Expert Reporting Service such as Contact ID

Issue Active alarms are appear stuck in the alarm viewer for objects that are no longer in alarm.   Alarm notifications will not clear from Active Alarm View. How can obsolete alarms be removed from the Active Alarm View Product Line Andover Continuum Environment CyberStation WebClient Cause When a Return to Normal (RtoN) notification is reported by a controller, if Cyberstation is unable to receive the notification due to a loss of communication, the status of the alarm notification will not be updated and the alarm will continue to be displayed as though it were active even though the point alarm state is now inactive. Resolution Method 1 Disable the object and change it's value so that a new alarm is induced. Refresh the object editor until it indicates that the alarm state is active. Enable the object so that it returns to a normal value. If necessary, acknowledge the alarm so that it can be removed from the alarm list. Method 2 Backup the Continuum Database. Edit the object to confirm that it is no longer in an active alarm state. From the Root/ListView folder, open the Alarms_AllActive Listview. Locate the alarm entry associated with the object. Right click on the line and select Delete. Restart Cyberstation to update the Active Alarm View from the alarm log.

Issue BACnet 3rd party controller will not respond to Find New BACnet Devices (Who-Is/I-Am), so will not come online to Continuum or EBO Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, Andover Continuum Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Building Operation Automation Server Building Operation Automation Server Premium Building Operation Automation Server Bundled Building Operation Edge Server - Standard Continuum Cyberstation Continuum bCX4040 (BACnet) Cause BACnet MSTP device can be master or slave. BACnet MSTP slave will only respond to a request from a master device, and will not respond to the Who-Is broadcast so it can not be discovered. EBO: EBO does not support slave devices. EBO does not currently have a way to statically configure MAC addresses as it relies on dynamic discovery.   Continuum: Slave only devices cannot come online. Resolution Check 3rd party device documentation or contact 3rd party device vendor for Master/Slave settings and configure for Master to communicate on a MSTP network. Use 3rd party interface to convert to a protocol that can be directly supported by EBO or Continuum. Examples of BACnet MSTP Slaves that are known not to respond to EBO or Continuum Who-Is request and so not come online are: - The Babel Buster 485XM from Control Solutions Inc is BTL listed as a BACnet Slave device , their PICs statement can be seen Here. - Wilo pumps Interface Modules: IF-Modul BACnet & IF-Modul Stratos BACnet, their PICs statement can be seen Here.  

Issue What process do the bCX and b3 controllers use to automatically establish their communication bus speed. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment bCX b3 Auto Baud MSTP Cause Having issues with b3 controllers selecting the wrong bus speed. Resolution The process by which the b3 controllers establish their communication speed is as follows. When the b3 controllers power up, they listen to the network for 2.5 seconds If they hear communication at their last known Baud rate, they start talking when they hear the poll for master. If they hear no communication after 2.5 seconds, they start their own poll for master at their last known Baud Rate. If they hear garbled communication during the 2.5 second listen mode, they begin hunting different Baud Rates while listening until they have synced to the Baud Rate they are listening to. Then they join the token passing when they receive the Poll for Master. Note:  There was a issue with the autobaud process in earlier versions of the b3 and BCX40xx controllers which would cause them to set the communication speed incorrectly.  This issue was corrected in the following firmware versions. BCX40xx ==> 4.500053 b3xxx      ==> 4.500064 b-3xxx-V ==> 4.501064

Issue When adding a document to an EcoStruxure server an error message appears. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Enterprise Server Automation Server (AS-P/AS-B) Cause There are size limitations to take into consideration. Resolution It is possible to upload any file type, including .doc, .jpg, .pdf, or .txt.  However, importing files larger than 20 MB will result in an error message.     Refer to Documents Overview for additional information

Issue In an environment where the Security Expert database is installed on a remote SQL server (i.e. not on the same machine as the one where Security Expert Server is installed), can I use SQL Authentication for the connection between SX and SQL Server? Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Server Cause SQL Server supports two authentication methods: Windows Authentication and SQL Authentication. Security Expert supports Windows Authentication only. Resolution No, Security Expert does not support SQL Authentication. You must use Windows Authentication, i.e. a domain user account must be setup with permissions both to the machine where SX Server is installed and the one where the SX databases are installed. Please refer to the SX-SRVR Security Expert - Client Server - Installation Guide for more information on the installation pre-requisites. See also KB article Security Expert Multiple Machine Installation for Windows Authentication with Active Directory for further information on how to setup SQL Server and SX on different machines.

Issue Missing Admin user password for the Loytec L-Gate Universal Gateway or LIP router. Product Line TAC Vista Environment L-Gate Universal Gateway LIP Cause Forgot the default admin password. Resolution The default login for L-Gate and the NEW style LIP (blue-grey in color) is: Username: admin Password: loytec4u The default login for OLD style LIP (off-white in color) is: Username: admin Password: admin

Issue What is the maximum number of devices that can be placed on the MS/TP trunk of the ENC-520, UNC-520 and MNB-1000? Product Line TAC IA Series Environment Niagara R2 Niagara G3 UNC-520 ENC-520 MNB-1000 Cause Unit Load is a measure of the electrical loading of an EIA-485 (MS/TP) network. An EIA-485 network may have 32 unit loads. One unit load consists of one full-load transceiver, two half-load transceivers, four quarter-load transceivers, or eight eighth-load transceivers. Resolution All MNB-xxxx, UNC-xxx, and ENC-xxx devices use quarter load transceivers, which mean that a MS/TP network comprised solely of MNB devices can have up to 128 total devices (1 router plus 127 controllers). The maximum number of BACnet devices allowed per MS/TP trunk, if all devices are quarter-load transceiver, is 127 plus the ENC/UNC or MNB-1000 controller. Note: 32 unit loads times 4 transceivers per unit load equals 128 maximum transceivers per network (32 X 4 = 128). UNC/ENC Resource Limit Although the 128 BACnet devices is the stated maximum for a MS/TP trunk, this maximum is normally not achieved. This is because the number of MS/TP devices that can be placed on a MS/TP bus is limited by the resource limit of the UNC/ENC controller. A shortage of resources will limit the devices on an MS/TP network to a number less than the physical limit. Exceeding the resource limit will negatively affect the UNC/ENC-520s, possibly causing poor performance and resets (of the UNC/ENCs). Reference Appendix A of BACnet Wiring and Networking Practices Guide for additional information.

Issue What are the fields in the FIPS-201 PIV FASC-N? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment CyberStation NC2 (9680) ACX2 (ACX5720, ACX5740) Cause Documentation Resolution The Federal Agency Smart Credential Number (FASC-N) consists of 40 total characters encoded as Packed Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) format with odd parity creating a 200 bit (25 byte) record.

Issue When a Netcontroller is powered off, resets or loses communication to the AC-1 IOU modules, the modules become stand alone. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Netcontroller II (CX9680), Netcontroller (CX9900, CX9940) IOU Modules AC-1, AC-1A, AC-1Plus Custom Wiegand Events Cause Need to understand what functionality AC-1 IOU modules provide without a Netcontroller Resolution If using one of the standard Wiegand data formats i.e. Continuum 37 bit, 26 bit etc then the AC-1 module will operate in site code only: This is known as degrade mode and means any card from that site will be granted access to the door. The module verifies the presented card is of the correct data format and has the correct parity, The module checks the site code against one of the 4 possible site codes stored in NVRAM. The AC1 and AC-1A only support the first two site codes in degrade mode. The AC-1Plus can support all four site codes in degrade mode. There is no recording of events when the Netcontroller comms are lost. Programs that are controlling the module no longer work This is different to normal operation where both the card number and the site code are verified to ensure that the individual person has access to the specific area.   When using custom card formats and the module is operating in degrade mode: Refer to Setting Up a Custom Wiegand Format for information on the behavior of the AC-1, AC1-A and AC1Plus. Refer to Multi Custom Card Formats as the site codes also need to be saved in the AC1 module using a Plain English program, 

Issue Time schedules are not switching off according to the workstation time. Time schedules are delayed. Product Line TAC Vista Environment TAC Vista, Xenta Servers and Controllers (280/300/400) Cause The Time in the TAC Xenta 911 and TAC Xenta controller is not the same as in TAC Vista Server. Resolution To check the time in the TAC Xenta controller follow these steps : Browse to the TAC Xenta controller Right Click on the controller and select Properties Select the Information Tab. This will display the time in the TAC Xenta controller To check the time zone of the TAC Xenta controller select the time settings Tab. Once the TAC Xenta controllers have been set in the right time zone TAC Vista server will sync them to the correct time. By default this occurs every 10 minutes The final step is to ensure the time and time zone of TAC Vista server is correct. To do that locate your TAC Vista Server object and right click then select properties.  Select the Information Tab to show the server time. This time is governed by the PC time so to adjust the PC time through Windows.

Issue If an Automation Server should be used as a LON Device in an OpenLNS Database using the OpenLNS Commissioning Tool? Is that possible to do? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Automation Server 1.4.1.68 or newer   Cause Some sites may wish to use other Lonworks configuration tools than EcoStruxure Building Operation Workstation. Resolution This is possible in 1.4.1.68 and newer. Add a Lonworks Local FT-10 interface and then add an Externally Managed Lonworks Network.

Issue When backup to flash is automatically disabled by the system due to exceeding the flash circuit breaker write limit, no system alarm is sent to make the system's operator aware  Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Continuum i2920 Controller Cause Implementation of Continuum Infinet integration in EcoStruxure Building Operation did not include this feature. Resolution As a workaround, a user-created alarm can be used instead of the system alarm. Here is a sample implementation of this workaround:   Under the Infinet Interface create an Alarm, in this example, we are using an 'Expression' alarm Here is the algorithm used as an expression for the alarm Value = BackupDisabld In the i2 device, edit the 'StatusBackup' system variable and attach the alarm above in the Alarm Configuration tab. Make sure to tick the 'Enabled' box to engage the alarm.   The alarm will be sent when the flash circuit breaker trips which in the i2 device takes place after 10,000 backups To resume backups the feature must be manually re-enabled from Workstation by right-clicking the device and selecting DEVICE->ENABLE BACKUP TO FLASH

Issue Time stamps in interval Trend logs of bCX4040 and b3 controllers gradually drift starting in hundredths of a second and eventually accumulating into seconds. In the screen shot below, a Trend log with 15 minute interval was started at 11:00:00 and the entries start correctly aligned at the 15,30,45 and 00 minutes of the hour. After a while, the time stamps experience a drift as seen below Over time the time drift accumulates into seconds and minutes if not corrected Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum bCX4040 Continuum b3s Cause The cause of the drift is unknown, at this time but it is assumed to be a firmware defect. Resolution A PE program can be configured in CyberStation to periodically remove the drift. Note that the program accomplishes this by setting the trend log Start Time to re-align the log entries on the HH, 00(minutes) 00(seconds), also note that this causes the trend log to stop for a brief moment, in this example for a minute.   The following program is provided as a sample and guidelines of how to implement the workaround, significant modifications to the program may be needed to make it suitable for specific site/application.     See attached dump file with program code. This is the result after program execution 1. Program sets the trend log's start time to 0:00:00 at around one minute before mid-night, this shows up as log-disabled event in the screen shot above. 2. At mid-night (0:00:00) the trend log starts, this shows as log-enabled event in the screen shot above. 3. New entries can be seen with time stamp drift removed

Issue Instructions are required, on how to set up and troubleshoot a Contact ID Reporting Service. Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Client SP-C-WEB Contact ID Reporting Service Cause Basic information on configuring reporting services is documented in the Security Expert Operator Manual and SP-C-WEB Programming Reference but these do not contain practical steps on configuring this specifically for Contact ID reporting. Resolution The Contact ID Service is used to send Alarms, Tests, and Events using Contact ID reporting to a 3rd Party monitoring station capable of receiving the Contact ID format.   The following steps can be used to configure a basic setup of Contact ID. Note that a modem will be required and modem events can be logged in the events window for troubleshooting.   1. Go to Programming | Phone Numbers. Add your phone numbers, usually primary and backup.   2. Go to Programming | Services. Add a new service, set Service Type to ContactID. Set Service Mode to 1 - Start With controller OS. 3. Set the Client code and select the previously created phone number 4. Select required report options. Log Modem Events to Event Buffer option will log all events. Only use this for troubleshooting.   5. Go to Programming | Areas and assign the Service to required Areas 6. Go back to Programming | Services.  Right-click the Service record, and select Start Service. Without doing this the service will not be running. It needs to be manually started the first time. Check the controller Health Status to see the status of your service if it is started or stopped. When done configuring your Services, Inputs, and Areas. Select Reports | Central Station Report. Select the Reporting Service and the output directory to generate the file. Click Generate and a CSV and HTML file will be generated. This report can be provided to the central station for their database. The HTML version is the easiest to read.   Further details on the Contact ID reporting format and outlines of the reporting and mapping options can be found in the AN 316 Security Expert - Contact ID Reporting in Security Expert and SP-CWEB - Integration Guide application note.   For Details of creating Test Reports for Reporting Services see KB Article : Creating a Trouble Input for Periodic Testing of a Reporting Service such as Contact ID

Issue Windows authentication is not working with Security Expert once configured. Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Server Windows Authentication Cause Windows authentication was not installed or configured properly during initial install/setup of Security Expert. Resolution Install the Security Expert Server, and any Security Expert Clients, with the "Enable Windows Authentication" option enabled during the installation process. If this was not initially done at install then it will be required to backup the SecurityExpert and SecurityExpertEvents databases, uninstall Security Expert (installing overtop or repairing install may not work) and then re-install Security Expert with the "Enable Windows Authentication" option enabled.  Refer to Determining Security Expert authentication settings after installation to determine the authentication used. When Windows Authentication is enabled in the client go to Global (1) and select Operators (2).  Create a new operator as below: Select to add a new operator (1).  Enter a Name (2).  The name does not need to be the same as the operator's username. Enter a UserName (3).  The username must match the domain name and domain username required to have access to Security Expert.  This is in the form of "DomainName\UserName" as shown in the example image. Set a Role for this operator (4). Enable the "Use Windows Authentication" checkbox (5) and save the changes. Go to Global (1) and select Home (2) and logout of Security Expert. On the login page select the "Use Windows Authentication" checkbox (1), set the Server to the Security Expert Server machine name (2).  Leave this blank if it is the local machine) and press Log in (3). The system should now be logged into Security Expert with the Windows username being used.   If an "Access Denied" is received or another error then confirm the following before contacting Product Support for further help. Ensure Security Expert Client and Server were installed with the "Enable Windows Authentication" option enabled.  Refer to Determining Security Expert authentication settings after installation to determine the authentication used. There is an operator object created in Security Expert with the same domain and user name as the domain user required for login. The "Use Windows Authentication" option is enabled on this operator object. At the login screen "Use Windows Authentication" is enabled and the Server is set correctly.

Issue Controller and graphic names in Vista Workstation are red, italicized. Product Line TAC Vista Environment Vista Workstation Cause A red, italicized controller or graphic name indicates that this Vista object has been "checked out."  During a partial Vista database export, there is an option for whether or not to indicate the item has been checked out.  This can be used if multiple people are working on a single server from several engineering locations to prevent overlap. Resolution To restore the database: Import the original export .zip file. If you do not have this file, you can also right click on what you want to return to normal and select "Undo Check Out."