Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue The drop down menu to select WorkPlace Tech help manuals does not function in Internet Explorer 11. Environment WorkPlace Tech 5.8.6 Internet Explorer 11 Cause Internet Explorer changes how they handle compatibility mode for websites and webpage used to access the help files requires updating in a new version of WorkPlace Tech. Resolution Use one of the following options to access the help files Access them directly by going to the folder they are stored. On a Windows 7 (64 bit) operating system this is C:\Program Files (x86)\WorkPlace Tech\Help by default. Modify the index.htm, BACnet.htm, LON.htm, search.htm, Sensors.htm, and Software.htm files found in the C:\Program Files (x86)\WorkPlace Tech\Help\bin directory. Add the following line in front of the first "meta http-equiv=" line:   <meta content="IE=EmulateIE8" http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" />   <meta content="IE-EmulateIE8" http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" />

Issue Is it possible to acknowledge an alarm from a third party HMI? Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Cause The only way to acknowledge an alarm in SmartStruxure is via the Workstation/Webstation or EcoStruxure Web Service. Resolution The only way to acknowledge an alarm in SmartStruxure from a third party HMI is via EcoStruxure Web Service.

Issue How often is a SNVT in a Lon device polled if an StruxureWare Building Operation alarm monitors that variable? What happens if a shunt variable is used - is the polling rate still the same? Environment Lon Device StruxureWare Building Operation Cause Alarms are to monitor SNVTs in a Lon device put polling may overload the network. Resolution An alarm monitoring a SNVT will be polled every 100 ms. If a shunt variable is then activated the pollrate will drop to 5 000 000 ms. This can be seen in the variable manager: Go to Server 1/System/Modules/RuntimeDBManager/VariableManager/Variables in Workstation Locate the variable in question and ensure that the Imposed Pollrate column is shown.

Issue What SNVT_temp_p value in the AS local node is required to force an MNL controller to fallback to a Not Active (NA) condition?  The AS station is configured to use degrees Fahrenheit and standard SNVT_temp_p definition uses degrees Celsius. Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Cause SNVT_temp_p is defined by the standard as a degrees Celsius temperature with a range of - 273.17 to + 327.66 Deg C (0.01 Deg C).  A value of 327.67 Deg C (0x7FFF) will cause the MNL controller to fallback to an NA condition.  The AS station is configured to use degrees Fahrenheit the value must be entered in Deg F. Resolution Sending a Not Active (NA) To write SNVT values, one is to write from programming logic to the local node out of the mirrored network variable to the controller SNVT.  Example: Mirrored variable, local node -> Vav??? -> nvoSetpoint, writes to VAV??? nviSetpoint [MNL-V2RV3] Go to the local node Find the nvoSetpoint Expand to Temperature value Right-click and select Properties Under Basic tab, General Information Section, Limit Section, locate the Invalid value Use the following value for NA in your programming [for SNVT_temp_p it is 621.81]

Issue Receiving an 550 Unable to relay alarm in StruxureWare Building Operation alarm list when sending an alarm via email. Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Enterprise Server 1.4.0.4020 Cause The SMTP email server restricted sending to external email addresses Resolution Contact the IT department to resolve configuration. Until resolves restrict email messages to email addresses on the SMTP server.

Issue How many SQL client licenses to run SQL if SQL 2008 is used to run Report Server? When Report Server is installed, is there a connection between SQL and the Enterprise Server. Environment Report Server Licensing Cause Licenses must be purchased for supporting software (OS, SQL, etc). Resolution Because SQL and Report Server have to be running on the same machine, there is only one sequel user that requires licensing.  There is no connection between the Enterprise Server and SQL when Report Server is installed.

Issue Unable to log into Reports Server after upgrade Environment Reports Server Cause The Enterprise Server Address must be correctly entered in the required fields during the upgrade. If this is left as the default, the application will not function correctly. Resolution Browse to the SE.SBO.WebReports.Installer that was used for your original upgrade attempt. Right click on this and select "Run as administrator" In the Setup Type select the Upgrade option Follow the Prompts and be sure to enter the correct site information Under the Reporting Agent Section change the Enterprise Server URL to the correct Enterprise Server location and port. You may need to verify this on the ES PC. Complete the installation and attempt to log into web reports again.

Issue The thermostat appears to be in OFF mode and can't be cycled through the modes as indicated by the manufacturer's directions.   Environment Venstar T2700, VST2700 thermostats for red-wire control connected physically to a controller Cause It seems that the polarity of the dry contact was set to the default Normally Open (NO) state. Using the Venstar EZ-Programmer to apply the correct settings for use with an occupancy point did not overwrite the polarity of the Venstar's dry contact, but did overwrite the Dry Contact Operation. Also, by wiring everything up first, we did not power up the thermostat to change the mode before it got the closed dry contact command from the BAS. So when we did power everything up, the dry contact was closed, but the thermostat understood that this was an "unoccupied" command since it was still set to NO. Even though the security settings allowed the mode to be changed, when Dry Contact Operation is enabled, the mode can only be changed in occupied mode. When the thermostat goes unoccupied, it stays in whatever mode it was in previously, and controls to the unoccupied setpoints. By not realizing that the EZ Programmer didn't overwrite the polarity, we assumed the dry contact operation and polarity were correct and a closed dry contact would enable the occupied mode.   Resolution This issue can be resolved by powering up the thermostat before connecting the dry contact relay and changing the mode to "auto". If already wired, make sure the dry contact polarity is set to Normally Closed (NC) and Dry Contact Operation is "Yes". Then the modes can be cycled while occupied. < acc0432manualrev1.pdf="" manuals="" support="" www.venstar.com="">

Issue What version of LONMARK Resource Files are used within StruxureWare Building Operation? Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Cause SBO documentation currently does not provide this information.  The LONMARK Resource Files define the standard SNVTs and SCPTs that are supported by the platform. Resolution StruxureWare 1.2 ... LONMARK Resource Files version 13.02 StruxureWare 1.3 ... LONMARK Resource Files version 13.02 StruxureWare 1.4 ... LONMARK Resource Files version 13.20 StruxureWare 1.5 (next release) ... LONMARK Resource Files version 14.00

Issue Managing servers with Microsoft System Center Environment A site with Schneider Electric SmartStruxure Cause Microsoft System Center is a set of server products aimed specifically at helping corporate IT administrators manage a network of Windows Server and client desktop systems. Microsoft Servers (previously called Windows Server System) is a brand that encompasses a line of Microsoft server products. http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter  Microsoft Software Asset Management (SAM) Is there a way to integrate Microsoft System Center with Schneider Electric SmartStruxure? Resolution Integration of Microsoft System Center with Schneider-Electric SmartStruxure has not been tested, nor is it supported. With System Center, the management of Server environments is outside of the installation and use of Schneider Electric SmartStruxure.

Issue When the AS is connected to the ES we never have problems to login but sometimes when the AS have been disconnected from the ES it is not possible to login to the AS. Environment StruxureWare Building operations 1.4 Cause If a user do one invalid logon attempt this account will be locked until the AS is connected to the ES again. Resolution If the AS is not connected to the ES don't do invalid logon attempts. Make sure to type in the correct password. 

Issue AS reboots when opening a Function block program in webstation Environment AS 1.4.1 Webstation Cause There is a issue in the AS that causes it to reboot when you view a Function Block program from webstation Resolution There is a Hotfix that solves this issue. Contact Product support to get it. Please ask for hotfix 1.4.1.4302, this hotfix is for the specific problem.  

Issue Installed language pack on PC but the language doesn't change Environment SmartStruxure Workstation Cause The operating system language of the computer on which WorkStation is installed determines the language that WorkStation displays in. For example, if the language of an operating system is Spanish, WorkStation is displayed in Spanish, provided that the Spanish language packages are installed Resolution You have to have the same language on the Operating system as the Language pack.

Issue A "Save Error" message that says "Not enough quota is available to process this command" is displayed when trying to save graphics.  Environment SmartStruxure Workstation  Cause The error message indicates that there not enough virtual memory (VM) available.  Resolution Close some applications and try again. If the error message is still being displayed, try increasing the virtual PC’s memory. Windows XP: 1. Open “Control Panel” and click on “Systems” 2. Select the “Advanced” tab 3. Under the “Performance” header, click on the “Settings” button and then “Advanced” tab. 4. Click on the “Change” button under “Virtual memory” 5. Increase the size of the virtual memory and click OK to save. Since Virtual Memory is dynamic in Windows 7, this error message is not common to a Windows 7 operating system. However, if running a lot of apps or the system has minimum requirement, it is possible that you can see it here. The following are steps to increase the VM for Windows 7. Windows 7: 1. Open Control Panel and click on Systems 2. Select the “Advance systems settings” 3. Under the “Performance” header, click on the “Settings” button and then “Advanced” tab. 4. Click on the “Change” button under “Virtual memory” 5. Increase the size of the virtual memory and click OK to save. VM uses the hard drive for storage.  

Issue DDC lines from I/NET sublan devices are not showing up in StruxureWare Workstation Environment I/NET to StruxureWare integration Cause I/NET ASC devices, particularly the MR-VAV series, can sometimes be configured as MRs. When this is the case, most of the I/NET processes will function, so that this is easy to overlook. Resolution Open I/NET Workstation Connect to the controller that is not showing the DDC lines from the subLAN Select Edit>Controller>MCU Configuration Change any controller that is an MR-VAV to an ASC Change any MRxx series controller to an MR. Perform a Station Save Open StruxureWare Workstation Right Click on the Selected Controller and select Upload Check to see if the DDC lines are now showing up If not, you may need to update I/NET Network Configuration, then deleted and rediscover the I/NET devices affected.

Issue Showing all points in the StruxureWare Database. Environment Enterprise Server Automation Server Cause In some instances you may need a complete list of I/O or values on a site. Resolution This process will show you the majority of objects on the system. It is possible that some will not be listed. For EACH Server on the system. In the System Tree Pane, expand the System Folder Expand to the Modules/RuntimeDBManager/VariableManager folder Click on the Variables Folder Copy the Contents to an Excel Document and repeat for each AS on the system.

Issue Backing up b3 controllers to flash. Environment BACnet b3 controllers Backup to Flash Cause B3 Backup to Flash does not operate as expected. Resolution The b3 controller Backup to Flash operates as follows; System variables that indicate the status of Flash / Backup. StatusBackup – Indicates if backup is needed, has been done, or is in progress. StatusFlash - Indicates that the flash is empty, valid or has failed. LastBackup – Indicates the time and data of the last backup.   Backup to Flash Operation. Downloading a controller will clear the flash memory. Resetting a controller will clear the flash memory. A download to a controller which fails, will clear the flash memory. Setting the controller "RestartMode" variable to Cool Start, will reload the controller from flash memory on power up, assuming there is a valid backup available..   Downloading a single object to the controller does not clear the flash memory.

Issue How are BACnet b3 controllers established as being Online / Offline? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Online Offline b3 Cause Controllers show Offline, but they can still be communicated with. Resolution The BACnet device online/offline status is managed by the BACnet plugin device manager. The device manager handles all BACnet I-Am messages and used these information to build the device table. Here are the rules: When a new device is discovered, an entry is added to the device table. A new entry is probed up to four times at a 5 second intervals. If it does not respond in that time, it is declared offline. To detect b3s going offline, StruxureWare Building Operation uses the MSTP dev driver, and watches token passing. 3 missed tokens = device offline . Once detected offline, then the probing rules apply: StruxureWare Building Operation will send a who-is message every 60 seconds. Offline devices are probed at 60 second intervals, indefinitely, until they respond. Online devices are never probed. Once resolved, a device is considered online until it fails to respond to a request and its status is then set to offline.

Issue How long does PSS support a product after it is released? Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC IA Series, TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment All Schneider Electric Buildings Business software platforms Cause After a few years, the majority of issues with a release product are documented in the Knowledge Base.  At this point, if the customer is having issues requiring Product Support, we ask that they upgrade to the current version. Resolution Please read the following Product Announcements: PA_00271 Software Support Policy - General Overview.pdf PA_00272 Software Support Policy - Supplementary info for_Andover_Continuum.pdf PA_00274 Software Support Policy - Supplementary info for TAC Vista.pdf PA_00279 Software Support Policy - Supplementary info for TAC INET.pdf PA_00280 Software Support Policy - Supplementary info for TAC IA Series.pdf

Issue In a TAC Vista server Network is a TAC Vista SmartStruxure Interfaces needed for each server? Environment TAC Vista Server 5.1.8 or later TAC Vista SmartStruxure Interface SmartStruxure Cause Do I need to set up a TAC Vista SmartStruxure Interface per TAC Vista server or can I use just one for all Servers? Resolution You don't have to set up an TAC Vista SmartStruxure Interface per server but you can have several if you want to reduce the server to server traffic.