Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Requesting replacement hose connectors for SPD910  Environment SPD910 Cause If the hose connectors are lost or broken, they may want to be replaced. Resolution The hose connectors are not listed as replacements or spare parts. However, if there is a need for numerous units, a request to the manufacturer may be done.

Issue Can I add BACnet MSTP to an I/A Series R2 or G3 JACE-NXT hardware platform? Environment I/A Series R2, G3, JACE-NXT Cause The JACE-NXT platform is based on a Microsoft Windows software platform (Windows XP) that is unable to support the token passing required for BACnet MSTP. Resolution Options are ... 1. Use another device that can act as a router between BACnet MSTP and BACnet IP or BACnet Ethernet (e.g. MNB-1000, etc.). 2. Use a different R2 or G3 hardware platform that provides direct connection to the BACnet MSTP device (e.g. UNC-520, ENC-520, etc.).

Issue Installing I/NET on a Virtual PC and how to get it to work properly. Environment All versions of I/NET Server 2008R2 (64bit) Server 2003 Windows 10 64bit (Inet 2.49 only) Windows 8 Windows 7 Windows XP SQL versions 2005, 2008 VMWare Cause This is an unsupported application as I/NET was not tested in this environment due to the various operating systems that are out there. Resolution This is a use at your own risk, it works in most instances when set up correctly but if for some reason it does not, it is an unsupported application.

Issue I have two Vista databases that log many points. Can I just use one full version of SQL or do I need one for each server. Environment Vista 5.xx Cause When more that 1 Vista server is installed each server will write and read from their own SQL databases. Resolution Each Vista server requires a separate SQL database to write to. The SQL database does not need to remain on the server PC, it can be on a network pc the server has access to.

Issue Getting a Deny Entry Schedule on a card read in the Transaction Window. Environment All versions of I/Net. Cause The time on the schedule could be off based on what the parameters were when it was created. Resolution To resolve this issue, there are a few steps that needs to be followed. 1. Verify that the Host PC is running the correct time so that the schedule is effective. 2. Connect to the controller and verify if that matches the Host PC. 3. Download the correct time to the controller if it does not. 4. Read a card and again after the changes and it should be functional again.

Issue Where is the download for the LonWorks Xdriver file located? Environment cx99xx cx96xx Cause The LonWorks Xdriver file is not located under the Drivers\LonWorks folder on the Buildings Business Extranet where the LonWorks documentation is located. Resolution The LonWorks XDriver, for both Generation 1 and Generation 2 controllers, is hidden under the Standard Protocols heading. Download the LonWorks Xdriver from The Exchange Download Center.

Issue Take long time for a alarm in Vista to appear. A change of state object in Vista is monitoring a signal on a Lon node but it takes up to 15 minutes before the alarm appears in Vista.  Environment Vista 5.1.7 Cause When a object is monitored by Vista Vista will start to poll this signal but the poll have a pretty low priority in Vista so for example graphics and trend logs have higher priority than the polling. If there is many trend logs and many signals is polled in Vista it can take a long time for Vista to go thru the poll list. Vista can maximum read around 40 values per second. So depending on how much other communication there is on the Lon interface it can take several minutes before Vista will see that the value have changed. Resolution Analyze how much communication there is in Vista via a Communication log and try to reduce the communication on the Lon network interface.

Issue In 2006, a new line of damper actuators was presented, replacing the previous generation. Environment M-AM230 (871-0000-010) MD20B-230 (875-1021-000) Cause Replacing old series damper actuator with new. Resolution The M-AM230 (871-0000-010) is replaced by MD20B-230 (875-1021-000). For a complete list of replacements, please see MA-430_0

Issue Sigma - Short Text displaying correctly on local client but not displaying on the remote client Environment Sigma Version 4 releases Cause In version 4 Sigma the short text file is located in C:/Sigma/Data/Locality/English United_Kingdom (IF UK)/ This folder location is set by the regional settings of the PC. If there is a difference between the Sigma Client and Sigma Server then if new short text entries are added they can display on some clients but not on others. An example of this would be if the server is set to UK locale then any short text added via the local client would appear in the UK short text folder. If you then have a remote client with the locale set to US then it will read the short text from the US short text folder which will not have the correct entry. Result will be an incorrect object display. Resolution Check the Regional Settings for all Sigma PC's installed on the system. For Windows XP and Server 2003 go to Control Panel>Regional and Language Options. On the first tab make sure the Standards and Formats and Location are set to the correct location. On the third tab Advanced make sure the Language for non-Unicode programs is set to the correct location. For Windows 7 and Server 2008 go to Control Panel>Region and Language. On the first tab Formats make sure the Format is set to the correct location. On the second tab Location check the location is set to the correct location. On the last tab Administrative make sure the current language for non-Unicode programs is set to the correct location. In summary all Sigma machines connected to each other need to be set using the same regional settings

Issue Vista appears to run normally, but when creating a backup using the $backup_VDB object no backup is created. The message "Unable to copy $thisdb\*.*" appears in b0cfglog.txt in the $log folder, but there are no other indications that the backup has failed. Environment TAC Vista 5 Cause An additional folder has been placed in the $thisdb folder, possibly while manually copying or moving the database.  The folder name is not important, but any change in the internal structure of $thisdb prevents Vista from taking a backup.  Additional files in $thisdb do not have this problem. Resolution Delete any sub-folders from the $thisdb folder.

Issue When you have a PE program in bCX controller which is quite long and works good in the controller.  But when you open the editor of the program to modify it,  you get the error code 5227 ( 0x0146B ) and cannot  open the editor.  Environment Continuum workstation. BCX4040. BCX9640. Cause When editing a long PE program of  the controller in online mode, the controller fails to respond to workstation when the controller is too busy due to high scan rate or the busy network.  Resolution Resolution 1) - Modify / change other existing PE programs to alleviate the controller's CPU load ( reduce the scan of the controller ) enough for the controller to respond to workstation in time.  Resolution 2 - Edit the long PE program of the controller in offline mode ( offline workstation ) , and then reload the program to the controller from online mode ( online workstation) .

Issue How to create a new Tool for an application to run. Environment All versions of I/Net Seven. Cause How to create a new Tool to be functional on a graphic page. Resolution User Tool Type TAC I/NET Seven displays this dialog when you add, copy, or modify a tool from the User Tool Configuration editor. Use this dialog to define a name for a tool, and to choose the tool type. Define a Name for the tool (up to 50 characters). Choose a tool type. The following options are available:  Event – Choose this tool to execute an event sequence defined in a controller.  Shortcut – Choose this tool to launch another application, run a batch file, open a file, visit a website (via a batch file), etc. Select OK to accept these settings. If you chose Event in the previous step, TAC I/NET Seven displays the Event Selection dialog. If you selected Shortcut in the previous step, TAC I/NET Seven displays a file selection dialog, allowing you to choose the file or application to be launched by the tool. Example of Creating a Tool to Open a URL The following example describes how to create a tool that will open http://www.msn.com in your system's default web browser. Using Notepad, create a new text file and type the following line of text: start http://www.msn.com Save the file to your PC as OpenMSN.bat. Add a new tool using the steps described at the beginning of this help topic. Use the following guidelines:  For the tool type choose Shortcut.  When the file selection dialog appears, select the OpenMSN.bat batch file that you just created.

Issue How to change a door name when there is an * in Netcon. Environment All versions of I/NET Seven Software Cause The name that the save file has does not match what is currently in the controller. The * represents a change either on the controller's database or what is currently on the resident I/O Points. Resolution Verify that the name on the Resident I/O Point is the correct one that is needed. Connect to the controller and penetrate down to the DPU Level. There would be an * next to the door in question. Modify the door and change it to the desired name. It can also be deleted and a + sign will be displayed in the cnf column. Saving that plus sign ensures that everything is system is correct again. Note: When the delete is used, it will remove this door not from the Tenants, Groups and Individuals. They would have to be revisited and saved again.

Issue Can I use the new STR500 Continuum Room Temperature Sensor on a Smart Sensor port? Environment Continuum Controllers Cause Need an extra temperature input and the Smart Sensor port is not being used. Resolution As well as the Smart Sensor, the Smart Sensor port can support 10Kohm temperature sensors. The STR500 is a 10Kohm temperature sensor for the Continuum controllers. It will work on the smart sensor port but will only be usable as a temperature input, it will not have the full Smart Sensor abilities. 

Issue WebPinpoint does not work through external network connection. Receive Pinpoint error: "Unknown error. Server:http://:/DNWACServerFactory/WACServerFactory.soap". This error is not seen when the WebClient browser machine is connected to the same LAN as the WebClient Server. Environment Continuum WebClient Browsing through a Firewall using port forwarding. Cause Port forwarding was used to forward external port 16540 to the WebClient Server to overcome the fact that port 80 (normally what is used for IIS) was being used by another Server on this LAN. Resolution Change the internal port in IIS to use 16540 (or any other unused port) instead of 80. On the router, route external port 16540 to internal port 16540. Reboot the WebClient Server. Connect to the WebClient server specifying the new port: http://serveraddress:16540/    

Issue Continuum application fails to start with error 1001 could not load file or assembly Sorttbls.nlp Environment CyberStation Cause .Net corruption. Resolution Uninstall and re-install .net May have to re-format the hard drive and re-install windows if problem is not fixed by the above.

Issue Using special characters or certain regional characters in the VisiSat Points gallery Environment special characters regional characters VisiSat Points gallery alt Cause This issue is specific to VisiSat version 2.1 Build 185. VisiSat 2.1 older releases (Builds 14, 17,137,148 sp1) are not affected. Example of some of the special characters available: Ù, Ú, Û, ©, è, é, ®, ±, ¼, ½, ¾, Ò, Ó, Ô, Õ. ° (Degree “alt+248”) Resolution Details of the issue and some options available to you are covered in TPA-SACH-12-0005.00 - VisiSat Build 185 Pointlist issue.

Issue Primary access server stops logging access events. A list view of access events shows that no events have been recorded in days even though doors are working file and people get access. ACCTrace taken at the primary access server shows the events are received but there is no line indicating that the events are logged. (Don't see line AccDataServices, Logger, SUCCESS logging access event) Environment CyberStation Cause The module that takes care of logging the access events in the Primary Access server has stopped working even though all other functionality in the CyberStation seems to be working fine. Resolution Close CyberStation Reboot the machine Re-start CyberStation

Issue Door goes to Secure mode even when there is no ATS on it. Environment All versions of I/net Software. Cause The software puts the door in the secure mode by default. Resolution The access control functions within TAC I/NET Seven depend partly on schedules to determine when access will be granted to individuals or groups. The following door related schedules are used for access control: 1. Mode Schedules — You can assign a mode schedule to each door in order to control what mode the door will operate in during specific times of the day. When a door is in the Locked mode, access will not be permitted regardless of any other schedules. 2. Personnel Schedules — You can define up to 31 personnel schedules for each door. Personnel schedules are only used to control access when a door is operating in the Secure or PIN Enable mode. Mode Schedule A door Mode Schedule controls the operating mode of the door at specific times of the day. The following door Mode Schedule actions are available:  APB Reset — Use this action to reset anti-passback memory for this door.  Lock — This mode inhibits entry and exit through the door. All readers and release buttons for the door are disabled while this door mode is in affect.  Unlock — This mode allows open access through the door.  Secure — This mode allows access only after a valid key/card has been read. All key/cards will be validated based on personnel schedules, tenant, key/card issue number, anti-passback, and access level.  When a door equipped with a PIN pad is operating in the "Secure" mode, the PIN pad will not be enabled (that is, entry of a personal identification number will not be required in order for an individual to gain access).  PIN Enable (firmware version 3.20 or earlier)  OR Sec/PIN (firmware version 3.21 or later) — When this mode is active, the PIN reader on the DPU will be enabled. This mode is the same as the "Secure" mode except that it also requires the individual to enter a valid PIN after a valid key/card read. If an individual enters an invalid PIN, the setting of the PIN Retry Count parameter in the Door Extension Editor will determine how many retries (if any) the individual can use to enter a valid PIN.  You can schedule a door's PIN pad to become disabled without unlocking the door by following this mode with a "Secure" mode. When the "Secure" mode becomes active, individuals will no longer be required to enter a PIN in order to gain access through the door.  Sec/Code (firmware version 3.22 or later) — This mode is similar to the "Secure" mode; however, rather than using a key/card to gain access, the user simply uses the PIN pad to enter the door's assigned code. If the individual enters the correct door code, the door will open.  When the door is operating in the Sec/Code mode, user-definable door attributes or PIN pad functions are not available. Note: If the door needs to be unlocked then they can manually be unlocked for that period then return to the secure mode when needed.

Issue At times there is a need to display Pinpoint graphics on multiple displays from one Cyberstation Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows 2003 Windows 2008 Cause There is a need to display multiple graphics, but opening multiple graphic panels opens them in the same Pinpoint window Resolution Open up one pinpoint graphic normally through Cyberstation Start>Programs>Continuum>Pinpoint  then File>Open and select the graphic (launches another session of pinpoint.exe) Drag and drop the second pinpoint session to your second display Repeat Caution: Pinpoint.exe can be resource intensive, so opening multiple sessions will increase the number of resources consumed at least by the number of sessions that are open. This method does not get tested in QA.