Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Unable to lock down access to AS WebStation to all clients Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Automation Server Premium Building Operation Webstation Cause Required to forbid accessing AS via http or https.. Resolution Https is the default workstation communication channel to an SBO server and therefore cannot be locked down. 

Issue Information is needed regarding the content of the various license types Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Workstation Cause If a standard Workstation license and a Workstation Pro. license are purchased, and are loaded on to a License server, when is the professional license used? Resolution The difference between the standard Workstation license and the Workstation Pro. license is that the professional license allows the usage of the editors (Graphics Editor, Function Block Editor, Script Editor, Menta Editor, WorkPlace Tech Editor). The licenses can be seen as a bundle of license features that can be checked in and checked out separately from each other. When a workstation attempts to use any of these editors the license server is asked to check out the license feature for that editor and if successful, that feature is "taken" and cannot be used by any other Workstation until the first workstation leaves the editor. This means that if you have one professional license, only one Workstation can use the same editor at the same time, if you e.g. have 2 professional licenses you can have 2 Workstations using the same editor at the same time. However, any Workstation can use any editor as long as there is a free license feature for it on the license server.

Issue The script program always executes the first condition, whatever the condition is. The code is shown below: Numeric Input AirFlowMin,AirFlowMax,AirFlowRead Numeric OutPut FlowFactor Line Judging if AirFlowMin<AirFlowRead<(AirFlowMax-AirFlowMin)/3 then goto 1 if (AirFlowMax-AirFlowMin)/3<AirFlowRead<(AirFlowMax-AirFlowMin)*2/3 then goto 2 if (AirFlowMax-AirFlowMin)*2/3<AirFlowRead line 1 FlowFactor=1 goto judging line 2 FlowFactor=2 goto judging line 3 FlowFactor=3 goto judging After the above program saves successfully, whatever the value of AirFlowRead is, the program only goes to line 1 and sets the value of FlowFactor to 1, and never goes to the other two lines. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment B3s Script Program Cause Some expressions are supported in Continuum Plain English but are not supported in b3 Script programs Resolution Change the expression as shown below: Line Judging if AirFlowMin<AirFlowRead and AirFlowRead<(AirFlowMax-AirFlowMin)/3 then goto 1 if (AirFlowMax-AirFlowMin)/3<AirFlowRead and AirFlowRead<(AirFlowMax-AirFlowMin)*2/3 then goto 2 if (AirFlowMax-AirFlowMin)*2/3<AirFlowRead and AirFlowRead  

Issue Microsoft Outlook is not emailing alarms. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum 1.XXX Microsoft Outlook 2XXX Cause The created Contact folder used by Continuum Alarms to send emails was not being shown first.. Resolution Open Microsoft Outlook Select Tools > Address Book Select Tools > Options Once opened, select  "Show this address list first:" (It defaults to the Global Address List) Ensure the contact folder with the distribution list created for Continuum Alarms has been selected (Contact) Also see online help: Email, Creating an Event Notification List

Issue When installing Enterprise Server an error is received at the end of the installation:  Clicking on the Details button the following error is shown:  -EnterpriseServer Service registration Starting Execute: "C:\Program Files\Schneider Electric\StruxureWare 1.2\Software Administrator\SE.SoftwareAdministrator.exe" ES /Install --DatabasePath="C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Schneider Electric\StruxureWare 1.2\Enterprise Server\db" --HTTPPort="80" --HTTPSPort="443" --TCPPort="4444" SE.SoftwareAdministrator.exe --install returned -532462766 -EnterpriseServer Service registration Leaving Completed In Software Administrator the Status of the Enterprise Server is indicated as Not Installed. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Cause It appears that the installation package has an issue with the authority to create the Enterprise Server Service, below are some options to try to rectify this.  Resolution SmartStruxure version 1.4 running on Windows 7 If this problem is encountered in 1.4 try the following steps Uninstall Enterprise Server software Restart PC Run the Enterprise Server installation software.  Use the Right Click "Run as administrator" option to ensure correct authority. Download and unzip this batch file Run the .bat file on the affected PC. Check the Software Administrator and confirm that the Server Status has now changed to "Running"   NOTE:  This batch file is only valid for 1.4 and will not work for 1.2 or 1.3.  Resolution #1 (Typically seen with SmartStruxure version 1.2) Changing the DCOM setting as described below has shown to allow for the installation process to complete. From the Start - Search programs and files entry type "dcomcnfg" and then select the dcomcnfg.exe file. Expand Component Services and also expand Computers. Right mouse click My computer and select properties and then select COM Security tab. Select the edit limits button from the  "Launch and activation permissions"  section. Select / Add the Everyone user and make sure all the permissions are set to allow   Reboot the computer. Then reinstall the Enterprise Server. Resolution #2 (Typically seen with SmartStruxure version 1.3) If Resolution #1 does not work or is not possible then you can manually add the Enterprise Server application manually.   Download and unzip this batch file Run the .bat file on the affected PC. Check the Software Administrator and confirm that the Server Status has now changed to "Running" NOTE:  This batch file is only valid for 1.3 and will not work for 1.2.  Alternative Workaround: Should neither of these options work.  You can run the Enterprise Server manually.  To do this: Locate the path: C:\Program Files\Schneider Electric StruxureWare\Building Operation 1.x\bin Double Click on the file name: SE.SBO.EnterpriseServer.exe A DOS Command prompt will open and display the Enterprise Server System log.  This window must stay open.  If you accidently close it, it will force the Enterprise Server to close and shutdown.

Issue How do you reset the Viconics VT7200, VT7300, & VT7600 LON series thermostats back to factory default values? Product Line Field Devices Environment SSL SE7000 Cause There's no button or command that sets the thermostat to its default parameter settings. Resolution Either set them manually or through the snvts available via a LON integration.  The Viconics Lon Integration Manual will help with identifying the proper snvts to use.

Issue Unable to have BACnet alarm trigger directly on a variable from a Function Block Program Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Automation Server Cause Building Operation does not have the possibility for a BACnet alarm to directly monitor a variable from a Function Block Program.  The problem with doing this is that a Function Block Program is not a BACnet visible object (a BACnet client cannot see it, even as a proprietary object type), and we do not see any provision in the BACnet standard for an alarm object to reference something not visible to BACnet. Resolution The workaround is to create a BACnet point (a BACnet Value object would make the most sense), and bind it to the Function Block Program variable.   There is however an option which may avoid "double" work.  In Building Operation we have implemented intrinsic alarming on the BACnet points and values.  This means that the point can detect and report alarms without creating a separate alarm object.  (they still need to reference to a BACnet notification class just like normal BACnet alarm objects).   The only limitation is in the choice of algorithm: Analog objects (Input, output, Value) support the out-of-range algorithm (high-limit, low-limit). Digital and Multistate objects* (input, and value) support the change-of-state algorithm. *In Building Operation, we do not have digital or multi-state outputs with alarming, because we do not support "command-failure" type alarm that those require.

Issue Is the Continuum Cyberstation a B-OWS (BACnet Operator Workstation)? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation BACnet Cause Can't find reference to Continuum Cyberstation being defined as a B-OWS. Resolution The Continuum Cyberstation is a B-OWS and complies with ANSI/ASHRAE standard 135-2004.  However, the Continuum Cyberstation has not been BTL tested, please see the Schneider Electric BTL Listing of Tested Products.    The following selection is taken from the Andover Continuum Family of User Interfaces document describing Continuum's Cyberstation capabilities. Native BACnet B-OWS CyberStation communicates with the BACnet devices using BACnet/IP in strict accordance with ANSI/ASHRAE standard 135-2004 and is designed to function as a BACnet Operator Workstation (B-OWS) and BACnet Broadcast Management Device (BBMD). The CyberStation can communicate to all Andover Continuum BACnet Devices as well as any third party BACnet Device on the BACnet network.

Issue Unable to establish communication between the enterprise and automation servers through the TCP Port 4444. Values are not being passed between the enterprise to the automation servers or between automation server to automation server. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Building Operation Automation Server Premium Building Operation Workstation Cause Windows Firewall is not allowing inbound or outbound information from passing through the TCP port 4444. Resolution First download and run TCP View. With TCP View running, sort the list by the Local Port and find all devices that are talking on port 4444. If the automation servers are in a state of LISTENING then rules must be created to allow communication. Copy the file path of SE.EnterpriseServer.exe in order to create the rules. This can be found by right clicking on one of the SE.EnterpriseServer.exe process > Process Properties... (C:\Program Files\Schneider Electric\StruxureWare 1.2\Enterprise Server\bin\SE.EnterpriseServer.exe) If the automation servers are in the state of ESTABLISHED, then take a look at Binding between ES and AS or two AS shows Unresolved and "Communication Failed" Alarm occurs when Adding an AS. Source: /Server 1/Servers/ASL/System/Server Communications/Models/2deef04c-05d1-41ae-9c3f-f84a9f7e0b41 for more troubleshooting help.   Change Windows Firewall Settings to Allow Programs Go to Start > Control Panel. Click on Windows Firewall. Click on "Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall" on the left hand side of the window. Find "StruxureWare Building Operation" in the list of programs and make sure Home/Work and Public networks are selected.  Note: If you do not have permission rights to make changes in this area of Windows, move on to the next section where you can set up inbound and outbound firewall rules.   Creating Inbound and Outbound Windows Firewall Rules Go to Start > Control Panel.  Click on Windows Firewall. Click "Advanced settings" on the left side of the window. Select Inbound Rules on the left side of the window and then click New Rule... on the right side of the window. On the first screen of the New Rule Wizard, choose Program. Click Next. In "This program path:" either browse to SE.EnterpriseServer.exe or paste the file path that was copied earlier from the TCP View into the box. Click Next. Select the option to "Allow the connection". Click Next. Leave Domain, Private, and Public checked unless otherwise desired. Click Next. Name the rule StruxureWare. Click Finish. Select Outbound Rules on the left side of the window and then click New Rule... on the right side of the window. Follow steps 5 through 9 to create the Outbound Rule. Note that the SBO Firewall Config tool on the community can be used to automatically create the required firewall rules.

Issue A BACnet devices can contain 1000's of objects, performing an upload on these devices can take upwards of 30 minutes to complete when only a few objects are required for integration. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Building Operation Automation Server Premium Cause Uploading all objects in a controller can take a lot of time and is often not required. Resolution From version 2.0 Open the device discovery view / BACnet - then Discover All. Once the Device is hosted, click on the device (in the Device Discovery window) and open the right-hand Object pane. Drag/drop the required Object into the hosted BACnet device Application folder. Alternatively, the Hardware folder can be used, this was the best method for some earlier versions Perform the BACnet discovery, then view the Hardware folder at /ServerName/System/Hardware/BACnet devices. Navigate to the required Device/Object, then Drag and drop the Device and Object as above.

Issue When logging in to an AS or ES, WorkStation freezes or it takes a very long time (>30 minutes) before the login process finishes. Building Operation WorkStation hangs on "Reading data..." when trying to login to an AS or ES Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Building Operation Automation Server Premium Building Operation Automation Server Bundled Building Operation WorkStation Cause The problem is related to a delay when validating the license details. It only seems to happen when running a mixed EBO/SBO 1.9.3 system and after having EBO license administrator 2.0.1 previously installed. Resolution Run the SBO License Server Reset tool and perform Reset - Simple Log in to WorkStation, and if the hang or freezing is still present, then follow the next set of instructions. Run Diagnostics in the License Administrator and take note of all the ACT (Activation) and Entitlement IDs Return all the licenses Close all WorkStations and stop all SBO/EBO processes (whichever may be running) Uninstall all License Administrator and License Server Run the SBO License Server Reset tool and perform a Reset - Complete (you will get an output of the commands and result) Install the latest released version of License Administrator and License Server (the latest released version of License Administrator has fixes for virtual servers and some cyber security vulnerabilities, note that License Administrator is backward compatible with earlier SBO versions) Activate the licenses based on the info from step 3 Note: If running the demo license, steps 3 and 4 may be skipped. If problems continue to occur, then send the above details collated (in step 3) and email this/contact support.

Issue Finding the rules governing the BACnet device Instance ID in EBO and learning to change it if required. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Building Operation Automation Server Premium Building Operation Automation Server Bundled  Cause The BACnet device Instance ID must be unique within a BACnet system. There may be a need to find out or change the device Instance ID to ensure there are not duplicates.  Resolution When a BACnet Interface is added to an SmartX server, AS or ES, the Server will become a BACnet device and it will have an Instance ID (automatically generated or manually assigned).  To check an ES or AS BACnet device instance ID go to the properties of the BACnet Interface and then the Advanced tab. The device instance ID is defined as the Object ID. To check other BACnet device, SmartX controller or 3rd party BACnet device, go to the properties of the BACnet Device and then the Advanced tab. The device instance ID once again is defined as the Object ID.  No 2 BACnet devices in any system may have the same Instance ID/Object ID. The valid range of Instance Numbers for a BACnet device is 0 to 4194302.   Change BACnet Device ID: You can change BACnet device IDs for SmartX Server or Controller when there is a conflict with another BACnet device, move controller or in those situations where you need to change the originally selected value for some local or site-specific reason. In EBO V3.2.3 or higher (except V3.3), it is possible to change BACnet Device ID of an SmartX server (ES, AS-P or AS-B), as explained in: Changing the BACnet Device ID in a SmartX Server To change SmartX IP Controller BACnet device ID, follow: Changing a BACnet/IP Device ID

Issue When trying to log in to WebStation Version 1.7.1 using Internet Explorer 11 you get the following error message: Wrong domain, user name or password Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Automation Server Premium Building Operation Webstation Cause The cookie sent from the SmartStruxure server has an old expiry date. This can be confirmed by tracing communication using Fiddler or similar. Resolution Set the correct date and time in the Automation Server or Windows PC where the Enterprise Server is installed. Refer to Web Help #4388 for instruction on how to set the time in an Automation Server

Issue Is it possible to use TAC Vista WebStation over ISDN Routers in a WAN Intranet? Product Line TAC Vista Environment TAC Vista Webstation ISDN Routers WAN Intranet Cause This is possible to configure. Resolution To run TAC Vista Webstation, log into a NT domain. An ISDN router can be a link on an Intranet.

Issue When TAC Vista is setup as an OPC Server, Can you access the Historical Data (HDA) from TAC Vista SQL DB Product Line TAC Vista Environment TAC Vista OPC Server OPC Client Cause When TAC Vista is acting as an OPC Server and providing integration with a third party software / device, online and alarm values are all that is supported. Historical data is not supported via the OPC interface. Resolution It is not possible to access the historical data from the Vista SQL database, when using Vista's OPC Server . It may be possible to get historical data with the help of some third party OPC-HDA-Server for SQL software.  This option has not been tested, and issues related to this interface are also not supported. Click on below link to see an example of OPC-HDA Server for SQL. http://www.opcti.com/OPC-HDA-Server-for-SQL.aspx

Issue TAC Vista appears to keep trying to retrieve logs from controllers despite them being offline. This causes a lot of event messages to be created and fills up the log database quicker. Product Line TAC Vista Environment TAC Vista 5.X Older RPU (remote processing unit) under a PLB ( 5751), containing logs to be retrieved by Vista. Cause TAC Vista appears to keep trying to retrieve logs from controllers despite them being offline. This causes a lot of event messages to be created and fills up the log database quicker. Resolution Vista continues cyclically trying to retrieve the log/s even when the RPU under the PLB is offline.

Issue BACnet/MSTP communication to Viconics VT thermostats is intermittent. Product Line Field Devices Environment SE7000 Room Controller Cause Possible cause is physical layer and device addresses. Resolution Verify the physical layer (i.e. wire, end of line resistors and bias resisters) is installed as recommended.  A common wiring error is landing the trunk cable shield to the "REF" terminal at the thermostat. The shield should be carried through but not landed at the thermostat and the trunk shield should be grounded in one place. Duplicate device addresses can cause this type of issue as well. Verify each controller has a unique "Com addr" which is part of its instance number. This can be viewed and modified from the display panel of the thermostat. To enter the configuration parameter menu: VT7200 series press and hold the button(OVERRIDE) for 8 seconds VT7300 series press and hold the middle button(°C/F or OVERRIDE)for 8 seconds. VT7600 series press and hold the button(MENU)for 8 seconds

Issue How to use multiple monitors when working in Building Operation WorkStation. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Multiple Monitors Building Operation WorkStation Cause Need to understand how to utilize multiple monitors with Building Operation WorkStation available as an option from version 1.4.1 and above. Resolution Building Operation Workstation provides the ability to place any pane in WorkStation on a separate monitor including the alarm, watch, and event windows. This can be a very productive feature for a building front-end computer or even in the engineering stages of the system. Versions 1.4.1 and above The multi-monitor display support in WorkStation includes the ability to save and reset workspace layouts. Individual users at a given WorkStation can modify the workspace layout and save it such that whenever that user logs in using that PC the workspace will revert to their modified layout. Included in the modified layout is the ability to move panes to a second monitor and have those panes positioned in the same way whenever that user logs in with that PC. The user can revert to the default layout at any time. How to move WorkStation panes to a second monitor Click, hold and drag the title bar (1) of any pane in WorkStation that is to be moved to another monitor. The pane will appear as a purple shadow (2).  Drag the pane to another monitor, release and re-size as necessary (3).    How to save the workspace layout for the current user At the top of the WorkStation window, click on the View menu (1) and select "Save workspace layout" (2).  When the same user logs out and then logs back in again, the layout will remain the same. To return the layout to the default, go to the View menu and select "Reset workspace layout". Note: When working with a two-monitor layout using a laptop on a docking station, if the laptop is undocked it will no longer be possible to see the panes that were moved to the second monitor.  To correct this go to the View menu and select "Reset workspace layout".     Versions 1.4.0 and prior It is possible to use WorkStation and WebStation on multiple monitors in prior releases: Launch multiple instances of the clients and run them on different monitors. In WorkStation, “Tear off” view windows and position on different monitors. Manual positioning of windows is needed.  To get more automatic behavior at start-up or logon, it is better to run with multiple computers with separate displays or see if a 3rd party window positioning utility can help.

Issue Running Bomgar Remote Support Client from Linux for support from Product Support Services Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Edge Server - Standard Cause Bomgar session downloads Bomgar-scc-[long string of characters].desktop file and need to run to connect with a Product Support Services agent. Resolution The file needs to be granted permission to execute and then run. Open browser on Linux OS for website: https://seconnect.se.com  Enter the 7-digit Session Key and press SUBMIT button. After saving the client to the Downloads folder, right-click on the bomgar-scc-[long string of characters].desktop file, then click Properties.  Click on the Permissions tab, then check the checkbox next to Execute to Allow executing file as program.  Open Terminal, then type "sh " (without quotes and not forgetting a space), then drag the file to the Terminal window, then press Enter. The full command will look similar to this image.  Once the executable runs, this image will appear on the screen as the full session begins.  Click Allow to let the agent view and control your computer. 

Issue In MNB-1000 (Plant Controller) firmware Revision 1.50E, the Spanning Tree Protocol is Disabled, by default. All previous versions were shipped with the Spanning Tree Protocol enabled. Product Line TAC IA Series Environment I/A Series MNB-1000 (Plant Controller), firmware Revision 1.50E, and later. Cause In some cases where multiple BACnet routers (eg, MNB-1000, UNC, ENC, etc) were installed on the same BACnet-IP internetwork, having the Spanning Tree Protocol enabled in the MNB-1000 would allow a "router loop". Resolution Be aware that in MNB-1000s with firmware Revision 1.50E and later, the Spanning Tree protocol is disabled, by default. Click here to see the Release Notes for firmware Revision 1.50E . It is always recommended the highest firmware version available for the MNB-1000 be used.  Many issues have been addressed for better functionality.