Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue  The Platform Software Manager shows that the History module is installed in the ENC, but a HistoryPointList object cannot be added to the ENC.   The error message “drop failed: java.baja error” is displayed in the Program Director window. Environment Niagara G3 all version, ENC-410, ENC-520 Cause The HistoryPointList object requires that the ENC’s Module Content Filter be set to  ui+runtime. Resolution Set the ENC’s Module Content Filter Level to ui+runtime. 1. Open the ENC’s Platform and click on Set Module Filter 2. Select ui+runtime and then click on Finish. The HistoryPointList object can now be added to the ENC.

Issue Does the UNC-5x0 controller support the OPC driver? Environment Niagara R2 Cause Integration request from end customer Resolution The OPC driver is not supported on any embedded platform (UNC-410 or UNC-5x0). It will operate on an Enterprise Server .

Issue When attempting to restore a BACnet device backup into a new device, I get an error indicating that the device to be restored cannot be found. Environment MNB family controller WorkPlace Tech Commissioning Tool, release 5.7.2 or newer Controller backup created with WPCT Cause The restore processing program verifies that the configuration of the replacement controller matches the configuration of the controller backed up. Resolution To restore the database into the new controller, the new controller must first be commissioned as a replacement for the original controller.  The name and instance number of the replacement controller must be identical to the one being replaced. In addition, if the controller is an MNB-1000, the device properties must have the same IP, Ethernet and MSTP configuration as the original controller.  As a reminder, although you can backup a group of controllers in one operation, you can only restore one controller at a time.

Issue "Fail to start communication" window pops up tunneling application fails. Environment Niagara R2 Niagara G3 Cause The Trend Micro antivirus program can prevent the tunneling service from starting, if no exceptions have been added to allow the tunneling service to run. Resolution Contact the local IT department  and request the addition of exceptions or permissions for the tunneling service to run and tunneling port to connect.

Issue Unable to perform a backup or copy files from an I/A Series G3 station - indicates: Error parsing list of remote modules.      javax.baja.sys.LocalizableRuntimeException: Error parsing list of remote modules Environment I/A Series G3 (all versions) Cause The backup and copy processes include a scan of the remote station's module directory.  The software is encountering a file that is not a module and does not have the .jar extension.  A user may have transferred a non-module into the directory by mistake. Resolution Locate and remove the file causing the issue. Using Workbench, connect to the platform of the ENC, JACE, or remote station and run the File Transfer Client. Navigate to the /niagara/modules directory that will list out the modules (jar files) installed in the station. Review the list to locate the file that is not a module (jar extension). Highlight and delete the file.

Issue A Niagara R2 Enterprise Server's hardware was replaced.  The new hardware does not include a parallel (25-pin) RS-232 printer port for the existing dot-matrix printer which is used for printing out alarms.  It was connected with an adapter to a USB port instead.  Alarms will not print out. Does the server support USB-connected printers? Environment Niagara R2 Cause pc hardware replacement Resolution Niagara R2 does not support USB-connected printers. The dot-matrix printer needs a connection via a RS-232 serial port or a standard (25-pin) parallel port.

Issue What is the drive-open and drive-close time for the internal actuator in a MNL-V1RVx, MNL-V2RVx, MNB-V1 or MNB-V2 controller? Environment  MNL-V1RVx, MNL-V2RVx, MNB-V1 or MNB-V2 VAV controller Cause Customer request for the information. Resolution According to the specification data sheets, F-27340 for the MNB series controllers and F-26365 for the MNL series controllers, the drive time for the internal actuator is 3 minutes when the controller is powered with 60hz power and 3.6 minutes when the controller is powered with 50hz power.  This drive time is specified for 90 degree travel in either the Open or Close direction of travel.

Issue Unable to learn McQuay device objects on a MSTP network under an ENC/UNC. Environment Niagara R2 Niagara G3 Cause McQuay APDU defaults to a length of 1476 bytes.  This length needs to be lower for an MSTP network.  McQuay has identified this problem in firmware 8.14. Resolution Contact McQuay to install new firmware with an APDU length of 480 bytes.

Issue Unable to log in to the localhost, while all user names and passwords associated with the PC have been tried. Product Line TAC IA Series Environment I/A Series G3 software installed on Windows computer. Cause To log into the LocalHost Platform via the I/A Series G3 Workbench, a username and password needs to be used that is defined in the local Administrator's group of the computer on which the software is being used. Many times, the user accounts on a computer will be Domain based accounts rather than local accounts. The I/A Series G3 software cannot authenticate with Domain based accounts. Resolution If logged into the computer as a user that is a member of the Administrator's group, you should be able to create a new user account and assign that user to the Administrator's group. Below is the procedure for creating a new local user and placing that user in the local Administrator's group on a Windows XP system. Right-click on the "My Computer" icon and select Manage. Click on the [+] box in front of "Local Users and Groups". Click on "Users". Right-Click in the righthand window and select "New User". A New User window will open. In the New User window, enter IAAdmin in the User name field. In the Full Name field enter "IA Admin" In the Description field enter "Local Administrator for I/A Series R2" In the Password field enter P@ssword. In the Confirm Password field enter P@ssword Uncheck the "User must change password at next login" option Check the "User cannot change password" option Check the "Password never expires" option Click the [Create] button then click [Close] to close the "New User" window. In the righthand window, right-click on the user IAAdmin and select Properties. In the IAAdmin Properties window that just opened, click the "Member of" tab. Click the [Add] button In the "Enter the object names to select" box, type in Administrators and press Enter. Click the [OK] button to save the changes. Close the Computer Management window. When the Platform is opened and a login is attempted on Localhost, enter "IAAdmin" for the user name and enter "P@ssword" for the password.

Issue Is there an I/A Series G3 object that calculates sunrise and sunset? Environment I/A Series G3 (versions 3.5.xx and higher) Cause Requires calculated sunrise and sunset times for automatic control of lighting, etc. Resolution The SunPosition object can be used to calculate a wide variety of sun metrics. Calculations are based upon a provided longitude, latitude, and date time.  The SunPosition object can be found in the I/A Series G3 weather module. Note:  The use of the SunPosition object does not require that the ENC, JACE, or Enterprise Server have Internet access, nor that it be located within the United States. The data provided is generated within the station using mathematical calculations based upon the current date, time, and a location provided in degrees longitude and latitude. The following data is available as output slots of the object: Day Length Sunrise time Sunset time Astronomical noon Astronomical midnight Current sun elevation Maximum sun elevation (at solar noon) Minimum sun elevation (at solar midnight) Current sun Declination Current sun Azimuth Current sun Right Ascension

Issue Microsoft Security Update KB2744842, issued on September 21, 2012, prevents Internet Explorer 9 from remotely executing possibly malicious executable code contained in web pages. This security update prevents the Java applets used to display the G3 graphics from being downloaded into the browser.  After this security update is installed the graphic page will be displayed as a blank white page with or without a boxed red X in the upper left corner of the graphic page. For more information on the vulnerability, refer to Microsoft Security Bulletin MS12-063, available from the Microsoft web site. Use of alternate web browsers such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are not affected by the installation of this update. Environment I/A Series G3 ENS or ENC with web access Internet Explorer 9 being used to display the graphics pages. Cause Microsoft security update prevents Internet Explorer 9 from executing potential malware infected modules. Resolution If the ENC or ENS station is running the I/A Series G3 software release 3.4 or earlier, there is no module upgrade available to correct the issue.  A new web.jar module is available that allows Internet Explorer 9 to download and execute the Java applets used when displaying I/A Series G3 graphics. If the site is running G3 release 3.5.34, you will need to upgrade to release 3.5.39 with the latest security patches before installing the 3.5.403 web.jar file. If the ENC or ENS station is running I/A Series G3 release 3.5.39, upgrade the web.jar to release 3.5.41.1.  If the ENC or ENS station is running I/A Series G3 release 3.6.x, upgrade the web.jar to release 3.6.48.1. The upgraded web jar files are available on The Exchange Download Center. After installing the new web.jar module, the following cache folders must be cleared on any computer that has been used to attempt to view the G3 graphics from an unpatched G3 station running on an ENC or on an ENS-1 system. Clear the IE9 "temporary internet files" cache using the following procedure: From within Internet Explorer 9, select Internet Options from the Tools menu. On the General tab, select Browsing History then click [Delete]. Uncheck all check boxes except "Temporary internet files" then click [Delete]. Close the Internet Options window. Delete the wbapplet cache folder.  The location of the folder is  //users//niagara where is the login name of the current Windows user.  This folder can be accessed by typing the location into the Windows search box on the Windows Start menu. Clear the Java browser cache using the following procedure: Open Java from the Windows control panel. Click the [About] button on the General tab to verify what version of Java is installed. If running Java 6, On the General tab, in the "Temporary Internet Files" section of the window, click [Settings] then in the "Delete Temporary Files" window, make sure that "Downloaded Applets" and "Downloaded Applications" checkboxes are checked then click [ok] to delete the files.  When the delete process is complete, click [ok] to exit.. If running Java 7, On the General tab, in the "Temporary Internet Files" section of the window, click [Delete Files...] then make sure that "Downloaded Applets" and "Downloaded Applications" checkboxes are checked then click [ok]. Close the Java Control Panel window.  Note: These three caches must be cleared regardless of the browser being used if the web.jar file is been updated on the ENS or ENC being accessed.  If accessing some systems with the old web.jar file and some systems with the new web.jar file, it may be necessary to clear these caches any time you switch from accessing a system with the old web.jar file to a system with the new web.jar file.    There are two ways to resolve the issue when running G3 release 3.4 or earlier: Upgrade the installation to a newer I/A Series G3 software release (3.5.x or 3.6.x or when available, 3.7.x).  This is the preferred option because these newer releases correct many known issues with the release 3.4 and earlier versions. Use a browser that is not affected by the Microsoft Security update.  The known unaffected browsers include Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7 or 8.

Issue Microsmart controllers not following commands from a Niagara R2 schedule Environment Niagara R2 (all versions) Microsmart controllers (all versions) Cause Power failure in building The UNC does a 'graceful' shutdown, using its backup battery, 60 seconds after main AC power is lost.  If the power failure in the building lasts less than 60 seconds, the Microsmart controllers come back online.  The UNC never shuts down and thinks the Microsmart controllers are online.  Meanwhile the Microsmart shadow objects in the station are no longer updating.  The link between them and the points in the Microsmart was lost (during the power failure) and does not automatically recover. Resolution Reboot the UNC

Issue Command Request / Command Response window not available in the Niagara G3 DMS driver Environment Niagara G3 Microsmart driver Cause Not carried over from the Niagara R2 driver Resolution Only option is to tunnel to the Microsmart controllers with OPRIF

Issue An unknown automation error occurred while upgrading the application [-1:-1] Environment WorkPlace Tech 3.2 service pack 1 Visio 2000 Cause File corrupt File opened with a different version of Visio (than the one used with WorkPlace Tech 3.2sp1 which is Visio 2000) Resolution Use a backup file or rebuild application from scratch. Copy paste anything that can be re-used.

Issue An unknown automation error occurred while upgrading the application [-1:-1] Environment WorkPlace Tech 3.2 service pack 1 Visio 2000 Cause Corrupt file (perhaps opened/saved with a different version than Visio 2000) Resolution Use a backup copy or build a new application file from scratch (copy/paste any programming from existing file -- if possible -- to save time)

Issue A repair of the power and communication boards for the LCM-84000 and GCM-84000 is being considered.  Before contacting the repair company, the part numbers are needed to reference the right boards.  What are the part numbers? Environment Network 8000 LCM-84000 GCM-84000 Cause Existing boards in disrepair. Resolution The part numbers are as follows: LCM power card - part# LCMA-103 (referred to as the UIO or Universal Input Output card) communication card - part# LCMA-116   GCM power card - part# GCMA-106 (referred to as the SIO or Serial Input Output card) communication card - part# GCMA-105  

Issue Can the ASD driver of the I/A Series UNC or ENC be connected to the ASD bus actively operating under a GCM? Environment I/A Series R2 and G3 ASD driver Cause Attempting to directly communicate to the ASD devices with two different systems simultaneously. Resolution The I/A Series UNC / ENC acts as the master of the ASD bus replacing the communications function of a GCM.  Do not connect the GCM's ASD bus with the UNC / ENC's ASD bus.  Connection of both devices to the same ASD bus will cause severe communications conflicts and improper bus operation.

Issue Obix stops polling data randomly Environment G3 Niagara Cause The niagara Obix driver jar has recently been updated to address this issue. Resolution Go to The Exchange Download Center and download the latest niagara Obix driver jar file 3.6.47.9

Issue What is included when the PIR option is ordered? Environment SE7300 series controllers Cause The SE7300 series controllers can be ordered both with and without the PIR option Resolution If the PIR sensor functionality is ordered as included from factory, code 55 (example: SE7600A5545E) should be used. If PIR functionality is not required, code 50 (example: SE7600A5045E) should be used. PIR functionality can be retrofit at any time. For details and part numbers, please see related documentation.

Issue Modbus TCP/IP Server is not an option when programming a Modbus Gateway in an Xenta Server. Environment Xenta 913 Xenta 7xx XBuilder Cause There are only 3 Modbus Interface configurations for Modbus in an Xenta Server. Modbus RTU Client ("Master"), Modbus serial line master on a network Server ("Slave"), Modbus serial line slave on a network Modbus TCP Client ("Master"), Modbus TCP client to a server or router on a network Modbus TCP Server is not possible. Resolution Modbus TCP/IP can only be configured to be a Client (Master) in an Xenta Server. A solution if TCP Server is absolutely necessary would be to use an IP to 485 converter, such as an EGX100, and use the RTU interface.