Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue A Vista OPC client on a Windows 2008 server is not getting a OPC server on a XP online. It is possible to browse the OPC server and read values with OPC tool but it is not possible to get it online in Vista. Environment Vista 5.1.6 Windows 2008 Windows XP Cause Not sure why but after have checked the DCOM settings over and over again we found out that we had to create a Local administrator with the same password on both computers. And set up the dcom settings for that user on both computers to get it to work. The computers was in a domain but it was not possible to use a domain user from the Windows 2008 computer. It worked with domain users from a Windows XP. Resolution Create a Local administrator with the same password on both computers. Set up the dcom settings for that user on both computers. Run Vista with that user.

Issue If the license file (.plf) is lost, it is necessary to recover it for reinstall. Environment TAC Vista versions from version 3.30 to 4.50 Cause The license file is necessary for the system to run. In case of crashed PC or similar, the license file needs to be reinstalled together with its matching dongle. Resolution As long as the dongle ID or Order no. can be presented, it may be possible to regenerate the .plf license file. Please contact the Product Support Services for further assistance. Official support of Vista IV licensing has been suspended as of 1/1/2012.

Issue Public time sync Servers for the United States Product Line Andover Continuum, Satchwell MicroNet, Satchwell Sigma, TAC IA Series, TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment IP Level Devices USA Cause Time synchronization is required for accurate alarming and reporting Resolution Here is a web site referencing several US based Time Sync NTP Servers. http://tf.nist.gov/tf-cgi/servers.cgi

Issue Xenta Server installation on a LON network Environment LNS Network Cause Installing a Xenta Server on a LON network Resolution The Xenta Server can be installed anywhere along the LON channel as long as the terminators are located at each physical end of the wire. The server will function the same as any other LON node.

Issue Does TAC plug-ins work with NLStart? Environment TAC Plug-ins NLStart Cause NLStart is a non LNS based binding tool for small networks from Newron systems. Since the tool is not LNS based out plug ins will not work Resolution You can not use NLStart and TAC plug ins

Issue Get "An unhandled exception occurred in the application" when browsing objects from Vista's OPC server. Vista OPC server (TACOPC.exe) crashes when browsing tags on an OPC client. When checking with OPC tool, the server (TAC Object Server OPC DA) can be browsed but when opening folders the Vista OPC server crashes. Environment TAC Vista 5.1.X Vista OPC server 1.6.X OPC tool 3rd Party OPC client. Cause Incorrect characters such as '\" (backslash) have been used in either the folder names in Vista or the variable names. Resolution Rename the variables/folders avoiding special characters such as '\', '#', '/ ' etc.

Issue How many LonWorks groups is it possible to have in one LON network in Vista? Environment LNS Vista networks Cause When designing a LON network, it is important to consider both the physical and the logical organization of the network. When dividing controllers into logical LonWorks groups, the limitations should not be exceeded. Resolution There is a limitation of 50 LonWorks groups in one LON network.

Issue Modbus values are not not working reliably and are not updating as expected. Product Line Andover Continuum, TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment Xenta controllers 511, 527, 701, 711, 721, 731 and 913 Cause The amount of Modbus points being polled is excessive for the controller. Resolution The product data sheets indicates no limit to the Modbus points but only 31 Modbus devices over RS-485. With a practical install, a limit of 300-400 Modbus points per Xenta server  would be applicable. If you exceed this level, communications become slower than acceptable. Network performance can be affected when a large number of connection objects are in use ( direct transfers between Modbus and other protocols). There is no documented limitation, but the recommendation is not to exceed 300 connection objects per Xenta Server. Connection polling period should also be considered with a large amount of connection objects.

Issue What to do and who to contact when a controller needs to be repaired or upgraded. Environment All Product Repairs Cause Require information on what to do and who to contact to arrange repairs of defective product, order Controller option upgrades, order Cyberstation option or software version upgrades. Resolution   PROCESS FOR CONTINUUM REPAIRS   NOTE: Repaired items are set-up in Pronto with the part number prefixed by “4-“. This is done to allow visibility for follow-up if required and costing.   Engineer completes “Andover Continuum Hardware Return Authorisation Form”; one for each controller requiring repair. Email completed form/s to TAC AP – Logistics Replenishment ( NOT the US Repair Centre). Do nothing with the controller/s at this stage. Logistics email the completed forms to US Repair Centre requesting cost to repair and turn-around time. Repair Centre replies with cost, turn-around time and RA number/s Logistics pass this information to the requesting engineer who will decide Y or N. If yes, the engineer enters a Sales Order in Pronto, informs Logistics and forwards the goods to Melbourne DC. Logistics raise a Purchase Order on Repair Centre and instruct Melbourne DC to despatch goods. After the goods are repaired they are returned to Melbourne DC where they are receipted and despatched to requestor.   Repair Forms Fill out one of the forms below (whichever applies) and send to local Logistics. Andover Continuum Return Authorization Forms - Americas & APAC OR Andover Continuum Controller Upgrade Forms - Americas & APAC

Issue Vista - Log database offline Access denied Environment Vista SQL Cause Receiving an alarm in Vista about "log database offline," means that the DSS writer has somehow failed to read to SQL Database. Every time this happens,  an application event should be created in the Windows Event View. It can be caused by several different reasons, but the most common are: SQL is not reachable A virus scan is under progress for the created event under the $queue folder Resolution These steps may vary slightly depending on the operating system installed on the PC. These steps describe the process in Windows XP. Highlight "My Computer," right-click, and choose Manage Choose Event Viewer and click on "Application" Check for Type "Error" and Source "Vista" at the same time range as the alarm in Vista Double click on the alarm and read the explanation for it If a virus program is installed, make sure the $queue folder is in the exception list.

Issue Locating partners Environment Partner Vista Cause Require engineer to visit for maintenance, servicing, installation or advice. Resolution Click here to be linked to the available UK and Ireland Vista partner list.

Issue When a OPC client is connecting to Vista the updates of values in Vista get really slow. The OPC client is asking for values from a Lon network Environment TAC Vista 5.1.7 Vista OPC server IFix OPC client in this case but could be any Cause The problem here is that the OPC clients asks for more values per second from the Lon network then the Vista server can deliver. The Visa server can read around 40 values per second using a Loytec network interface in a classic Lon network.  Resolution Make sure the OPC client doesn't read more then maximum 30-40 values per second from Vista.

Issue There is a limit of allowed rehosts per year. If this limit is reached and a rehost is attempted, the following error message is given: "The rehost of the fulfillment is denied by the rehost policy because max rehosts exceeded " Environment Vista 5.x Cause If the rehost is motivated and necessary, the policy can be overridden by PSS. If required, please contact PSS Malmö. Resolution Manually override rehost policy by using Administrative rights on the Licensing web.

Issue Error message: 'Illegal value'  when displaying Xenta Server trend logs in browser. Environment Xenta 731 Xenta 721 Xenta 711 Xenta 701 Xenta 511 Cause Log space in trend log definition set to 0. Resolution Set trend log space to be greater then the size of the log interval. 

Issue 'Unable to request license' message when using Demo license with Remote Workstation. Product Line TAC Vista Environment Vista 5 Vista 4 Cause The Demo license only works when installed on the same PC as Vista Server. Resolution Install demo license on the Vista Server PC and run Workstation on the same PC.  If remote Workstation operation is required or the license server is on a different PC to Vista Server, purchase an end user license.

Issue How many alarms are stored in a standalone Xenta? What happens with alarms in a programmable Xenta if no Vista is connected? Environment TAC Xenta 301, 302, 401, 281, 282, 283 Cause There is a limit on how many alarms a Xenta can store before the memory gets full. Resolution The TAC Xenta will store up to 20 alarms after that it is "First in first out", meaning that when the 21st alarms comes in the oldest alarm will be overwritten.

Issue When any LON device is power cycled the nvi values will change to invalid / null / last changed / default value.   Environment LON Devices Cause Using the device for the first time or after re-flashing the firmware. Power cycling the device. Resolution If nvi has any binding it receives the value from source nvo. If nvi does not have the binding then manually set the value. If nvi is a multistate SNVT it returns to default value.

Issue Method for increasing the security of Vista Webstation. Environment Vista Webstation 5.1.7 Internet Information Server (IIS) Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA) Cause Increased Webstation security is limited by the security of  Internet Information Server (IIS). Webstation is only a web application running on the IIS, therefore to make webstation more secure is to make the connections to the IIS more secure. Resolution Security can be increased by using an Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA). The IIS would then reside on a computer behind the ISA server.

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 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.