Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue When setting up a Continuum Workstation or a CX/ bCX controller some IT departments wish to use DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) allocation of IP addresses. Environment Cyberstation workstations and all Ethernet level controllers (CX9200, CX9400, CX9702, CX9900, bCX1, ACX5740, ACX5720, CX9680. Cause Continuum Workstations and Controllers do not support DHCP addressing. Resolution A fixed and unique IP address and subnet mask must be allocated in every controller and workstation, this value must also be entered in the database in offline editing for all controllers. For routed networks the correct address for the Default Router must also be entered in each controller and the database. When creating a new workstation, once the Workstation initialization has completed and the Workstation has started, verify that in Offline Editing that the IP address for the workstation matches the fixed IP address as defined in the Windows Network card settings.

Issue Cannot delete personnel profiles from personnel manager. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum 1.81 Cause Personnel profiles have become corrupted and can not be deleted. You can not rename areas without removing/replacing them in the profile. Resolution Procedure to remove corrupted personnel profiles: Start Continuum Run ACDEVApp.exe from the Continuum directory. Click Generate. Replace the 3 lines: <REQUESTOPERATIONS> </REQUESTOPERATIONS> </IACDEVREQUEST> ... with the following 6 lines, only replace the word ProfileName with the name of the profile being deleted: <REQUESTOPERATIONS> <DELETE> <OBJECT PATH="ProfileName"/> </DELETE> </REQUESTOPERATIONS> </IACDEVREQUEST> Press the "Process Request" button

Issue The New Search window shows a set of predefined attributes to search on, can additional attributes be added to this list? Environment Cyberstation Personnel manager, Versions 1.80 and above. Cause There is no option to add/ remove fields from the New Search window. Resolution 1) The New Search Window entries are fixed, there is no option to add / remove fields in this window. 2) To search on one of the other attributes not listed; use a List View of Personnel to show the required attributes and use a Qualifier on that attribute to prompt the user for the search criteria. 3) The * character can be used as a wildcard, so for example if searching on the Vehicle Info attribute entering Ford* would find all Ford vehicles if the field is used to hold the make & model of vehicles.  

Issue Cannot open Create/Edit Badge in Personnel Manager even though badging is enabled on Security Key Getting error message "Cannot init license" Environment Continuum Personnel Manager Cause Windows user does not have enough permissions to run EPI Designer (EPI the Print/Badge Program installed with Continuum) Resolution Change the Windows login to one that has sufficient permissions to run EPI Designer (the Print/Badge Program) The standard Windows User does not have permission to run EPI Designer (the Print/Badge Program) whereas a standard PowerUser or Administrator does have permission. NOTE This was an Windows XP issue, similar issues may still be present in newer Windows versions Continuum v1.92 was used for this document

Issue Can I change the display of an attribute using the old Personnel Editor or in the Personnel template editor Environment Continuum Cyberstation Cause Change the display of a personnel attribute. Resolution The old personnel editor or the personnel template editor there is no way to change the attribute name. In the new Personnel Manager you can change the display of an attribute name. Example:  Changing attribute Info1 to BuildingNumber Open up a personnel record Select configure and select customize attributes Select the display name for the attribute to be changed Change the display name and select Ok.

Issue Should managed switches be set to half duplex or full duplex? Prorduct Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation 2nd Generation Controllers BCX 4040, 4000, 9640 NC2 9680 ACX 5740, 5720 1st Generation Controllers CMX 9924 CX 9900, 9901, 9940 Cause Configuration for managed switches. Resolution Most sites will have managed switches set for Auto Sensing 10/100 For sites that must use a designated configuration, our 1st generation controllers communicate 10 half duplex while the 2nd generation controllers communicate 100 full duplex.

Issue Error "The selected path type is invalid" when configuring a path in a list view of access events. Environment CyberStation Cause Access events reside only at the root thus a device is not valid path for a list view of access events. Resolution Use a database qualifier to have the list view display access events by device id. Example: (DeviceId is LocalNetwork\ACX5740East id).

Issue Do we provide Unattended Installation files for Continuum Software Upgrades Environment Microsoft Xp, 2003 Server Continuum 1.9x Cause Continuum Upgrade Procedures Resolution We do not provide Unattended Installation files for Continuum Software Upgrades

Issue Unable to delete the default profiles (i.e. Employee) in the Personnel Manager Environment CyberStation Personnel Manager Cause By design the default profiles can be modified but can not be deleted Resolution This is FAD (Function as designed)

Issue 1. Performing a learn on the Infinet port finds only a fixed number of infinet devices (10,32,64). 2. Refreshing the Field Bus Controllers window in the Infinet commport shows the devices appearing online for a second and then disappearing. 3. Error "Duplicate name" is displayed. Environment CyberStation CX9640 CX9702 CX9900 CX9680 ACX5740 ACX5720 Cause Maximum Infinet controllers limit has been reached due to: 1. No key attached to CyberStation (demo mode). 2. CX controller option limit. Resolution 1. Attach a CyberStation key to get out of demo mode. 2. If the CX's Max Infinet Controllers have been reached, no additional Infinet controllers can be learned until Infinet controllers are deleted or controller's limit is expanded. The controller's max limits can be viewed from the controller's editor by going to the 'Options' tab.

Issue Need to install Continuum or webClient but do not currently have the security key. Environment Continuum webClient Cause Need to install Continuum or webClient without the security key connected to the PC. Resolution Yes, you will can install Continuum or webClient without the security key connected to the PC. You will however, require the key to be installed to actually run the Continuum Cyberstation or webClient server.

Issue Want to install Continuum or webClient remotely using Remote Desktop or VNC applications. Environment Continuum Cyberstation webClient Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Cause Doing this remotely using Remote Desktop or VNC type applications has been known to cause problems with the installation, especially with the configuration of IIS on the webClient server. Resolution Do not install Continuum or webClient remotely. Continuum Cyberstation and webClient should always be installed locally with Administrator privileges and firewalls / anti-virus disabled during the install.

Warning Potential for Data Loss: The steps detailed in the resolution of this article may result in a loss of critical data if not performed properly. Before beginning these steps, make sure all important data is backed up in the event of data loss. If you are unsure or unfamiliar with any complex steps detailed in this article, please contact Product Support Services for assistance. Issue After upgrading, it now asks for the security key when launching Continuum. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cause Continuum stand-alone is not working in Demo mode after upgrading. Resolution Completely uninstall Continuum and re-install using the following steps. Warning: Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. At the very least, you should back up your current settings and any valued data on the computer before making changes to the registry. Go to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs. Remove Continuum. Reboot the PC. Remove EPI Builder Run-Time. Reboot the PC. Remove Sentinel System Driver Installer if installed. Reboot the PC. Remove the Continuum entries in the registry using Regedit. Start > Run > regedit Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Andover Controls. Select the "Andover Controls" key, right-click and select "Export" to backup the reg key. Select the "Andover Controls" key, right-click and select "Delete" to delete the reg key. Reboot PC. Install Continuum without a security key attached to the PC.  You should now be able to start Continuum in stand-alone demo mode.

Issue Continuum 1.93 was installed on a workstation connecting to a SQL Server 2008 LAN server. When the Database Initialization for a LAN server was run, but it fails to initialize a new database. An error is displayed that the SQL Server login failed or the SQL Server does not exist. Environment LAN site with multiple workstations running Windows XP with service pack 3 and a server class computer running SQL Server 2008. Cause Continuum 1.93 was installed on a workstation connecting to a SQL Server 2008 LAN server. The Continuum Database Initialization for a LAN server was started but it fails to initialize a new database, displaying a "Server login failed or the SQL Server does not exist." error is displayed. The ODBC Connections utility in the Windows XP Control Panel was unable to connect to the SQL server, but the SQL Server would respond to a ping. Resolution The SQL Server 2008 had not been configured to allow Named Pipe connections. After the SQL Server was changed to allow Named Pipe connections, a new database was initialized and a backup of the site database was restored.

Issue Adding entries to the Web.config file during installation. Environment WebClient installation. Cause Unclear instructions in webClient Planning and Installations Guide. Resolution When modifying the Web.config file located in: C:\\Program files\Continuum\DNWACServerFactory Add the following lines before the close Configuration tag <system.webServer> <security> <requestFiltering allowDoubleEscaping=”True”/> </security> </system.webServer> </configuration>

Issue How to troubleshoot email from controller Environment CX 9680 BCX 4040, 4000 BCX 9640 Cause Troubleshooting SendEmail function. Resolution Below are the error codes that can be returned when using the SendEmail function. Sample code: Example 1 Program File 'Fall-thru program that sends a simple email message to a recipient Numeric EmailStatus Sending: EmailStatus = SendEmail ("addr1@abc.com", "Lights", "We need to save energy") Checking: If EmailStatus is 0 then EmailErrorString = Success"     Error Code Description 0 No error 1 Not called from a program 2 Illegal argument value 3 Illegal argument count 4 Not enough memory to complete the operation 11 Failed to create SMTP user session to the email server 13 Email queue is temporarily full. The user should retry later 14 Cannot connect to the email serve 15 Error in sending the sender information 16 Error in sending the TO recipient information 17 Error in sending the CC recipient information 18 Error in sending the BCC recipient information 19 Error in sending the subject 20 Error in sending the message 21 Error in sending the end-of-message 22 Error in disconnecting from the SMTP server 23 Failed to resolve SMTP server address 24 Invalid dialup settings 25 Failed to connect remote SMTP server 26 Modem port is in use 27 Email settings are not configured

Issue How do I configure Continuum to enforce entry/egress anti-passback only when a credential holder attempts to re-enter the same area she/he is already in? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment CyberStation CX9702 CX9900 CX9680 ACX5720 ACX4740 Cause Doors configured to enforce strict entry/egress anti-passback. Resolution On doors configured to enforce entry/egress anti passback go to the door editor's entry options/exit options tabs and check the box labeled "Anti-Passback Violation Only on Area Re-Entry" This is known as relaxed entry/egress anti-passback. When configured this way, at validation time Continuum does not check which area the person was last allowed into as long as it isn't the same area they are attempting access to.

Issue When a card format needs to be changed on multiple doors it can take a long time to go to each door individually to make card format changes. A way to update multiple doors at one time would save time. Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows 7 Windows Vista Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause Editing every single door on a large access site to change the card format can take a long time. Resolution Before making any changes to the database, it is recommended to get a good database backup. The card format attribute is available in the All_Doors listview, but is not available in the set attribute drop down, so unfortunately this method cannot be used.  One way to make the change to multiple doors is to do the following: Edit the All_Doors listview and add the card format attribute Highlight the doors that you would like to change and select Object> export all or selected to a .csv (name and save the file)  Edit the .csv file to reflect the new card format for all the doors and save the file. (Textpad editor works well) The card format numbers are listed below: Inf 37=1 AC4+4= 2 Wiegand26=4 CK34=8 Custom=16 G31 bit=32 HIDCorp1000=64 * If you have more than one card format selected on the door, they are added together Ex. Infinity 37 and HIDCorp1000=65 Import the edited .scv file and verify the changes have been made. It is recommended to verify this procedure on a small subset of the doors to ensure the process is working as needed before applying it to a large number of doors.

Issue How do I wire two card readers in parallel? Environment ACX57xx AC1X ACX78X CX9702 Cause Configuration of parallel readers. Resolution Use KIM board Part #01-0009-059 to wire the readers in parallel.

Issue Can no longer see BACnet point values at the Cyberstation.  BCX will not communicate with Cyberstation after IP addressing changes to the system. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Cyberstation 1.74xx and up BCX 40xx Cause This can happen if the controller needs to be reloaded when accessing some, but possible not all objects. This can also happen if you change the BACnet Port Number - UDP in the bCX configuration webpage.  Resolution Edit the BCX and Cyberstations BBMD registrations Correct the invalid IP addresses. After adding the BCX bbmd entry, reload the controller.