Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue DCX250 goes blank appears to stop operating. Environment Infinity DCX250 Plain English Programs Cause The DCX250 uses Point to Point communications (not Import/ Export) for all of its communications, this relies on the other controllers being online and communicating at that time. Resolution The DCX250 uses point to point comms (not import / export) for all communications with other controllers, this should be done in a single import/ export mapping program to local numerics that is protected by an E: line or a First Aid program. The display programs should then use these local numerics for the screens, this ensures the user interface programs will still operate correctly in the event of a network problem. Also check the Infinet for Reconfigs to ensure network is operating correctly, verify correct cabling and grounding of equipment

Issue How are the licencing requirements for SQL Server 2008 determined when being used on a Continuum LAN installation with multiple workstations.  Environment SQL Server Continuum Licensing. Cause Determining the licensing requirements for SQL Server can be a very complex undertaking, and not something that we can help you with at Product Support. This is because there are a number of variables that must be factored in to the final determination.  Web servers and Marathon virtual servers add their layer of complexity. Even determining the requirements for a simple multi user LAN system with one database server and ten workstations can be tricky since one has to factor things such as how many processors each machine is running as well as how many machines will be connected to the database.   Resolution The following guide is a starting point. To bid a job however, I would recommend working with Microsoft to determine the requirements. SQL Server 2008 Licensing Guide.pdf

Issue After Continuum workstation install, Cyberstation displays white screen on startup. Environment Cyberstation Windows 7 Cause Installation was not done using an administrator level user account. Resolution   Do a full uninstall of Continuum using the following procedure. Uninstall Continuum from Control Panel. Delete  ProgramFiles\Continuum with all files and folders. Delete Andover Controls Folders from the computer registry.  Note: A backup should be made of the registry before making any changes to the registry. Reboot the computer. Logon using a Local Administrator user. From Disable the following services... Virus Protection, Anti-Spyware, FireWall software, Windows Defender, Windows Software Protection Services From User Account Control Settings and set the protection level to Never Notify. Install Continuum.

Issue The transmit and receive lights on BCX comm 2 stay lit continuously minutes or hours after the Infinet bus is connected. Environment BCX9640 i2920 Infinet Cause Electrical interference or noise being introduced into the Infinet bus. Resolution Removed the to i2920 controllers from the infinet.  Since these were the only controllers powered by 120 volts it seemed likely that they were a potential source of interference from the power wiring to the Infinet cable. 

Issue Unable to launch WebPinpoint graphics on client machines and/or at the webserver. Receiving the following errors when trying to launch a graphic in WebClient Could not connect to server.  Cause: The remote server returned an error: (404) Not Found Could not create ACWPPServerProxy Application on the remote server. Server: http://0.0.0.0/DNWACServerFactory/WACServerFactory.soap. Environment IIS WebClient WebPinpoint Cause In IIS, the DNWACServerFactory authentication was failing when configured for Passthrough authentication.  Resolution Deselect Passthrough Authentification.  (In Windows 7 you'll find this in IIS under DNWACServerFactory Basic Settings. Use Windows Authentication Enter the Windows User and Password. The connection should succeed. Reboot the IIS Server The accwppserverproxy process stays up and graphics launch properly.

Issue Is it possible to restrict user access to a specific attribute of an object. Environment Continuum Access Control Cause Need or requirement to limit user access to view personnel card numbers but not be able to modify. Resolution There are two ways to restrict user access to Continuum: User Level Security: Restrict access per object class  Object Level Security: Restrict access to specific objects or folders It is not possible to restrict user access to a specific attribute of an object.

Issue Controller Error Log shows error code 5128. Environment Error Log Error Code NetController BCX ACX Cause An Infinity Controller is dropping offline. Resolution Controller error code 5128 (0x00001408) is an indication that the controllers network comm buffer is out of memory.  Normally the network transceiver will shut down when this happens to protect the controller.  This is generally an indication that the controllers comm buffer is being overtaxed.  This can happen when there is a data storm present on the network. 

Issue When trying to access the serial number off a Continuum key using MMC or Excel, all fields come up blank or with 0. Environment Continuum Security Key MMC Excel CyberKeyWriter2 Cause Cannot access Continuum Key serial number using Excel or MMC. Resolution From My Computer, navigate to Program Files\Continuum. Launch the application CyberKeyWriter2.

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 Is it possible to downgrade a Continuum Database from one version to an older version? Environment Continuum Cause Want to go back to a previous version of Continuum after upgrading Cyberstations and the Continuum Database. Resolution No, this is not possible. You cannot downgrade a Continuum Database to an older version . You can upgrade but not downgrade. If you have a database that has been upgraded for a specific version of Continuum and you want to go back to using an older version of Continuum, you will need to use a backup of your original Continuum Database that was initialized for that older version...or upgrade all Cyberstations to the newer version. The Database structure is different between different versions of Continuum; corruption of the Database can occur if the above is not adhered to.   

Issue Using Database Initialization to create a new ContinuumDB but get a login error for Andover97. The ContinuumDB is then actually created on the server but is only a shell with no tables existing. The MDF and LDF files are also created. Environment Continuum SQL Server Cause Continuum had been uninstalled and then installed again with a newer version ( v1.94). The problem was due to the previous install of Continuum. Due to this the Andover97 user was already created in the SQL Server and  at some point the password for this user was changed from the default. Resolution After changing the Security\Logins\Andover97 user's password to the default and deleting the ContinuumDB shell, the database was able to be created successfully. 

Issue 3rd Party RS485 to Ethernet or other connection types are available. Will they work with Infinet? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Infinet networks Infilink 200, Infilink 210 Cause Sometimes existing cabling is available on a site, using this could reduce install costs. Resolution Third party converters and extenders are not supported on Infinet networks. It is not possible to use most 3rd party devices as the latency (delay) times will be too long for the protocol to operate correctly. This will include: RS485 - Ethernet converters RS485 Tied line Modems Any other type of Modem Any GSM packet modems Other RF devices

Issue How to log / create an alarm for Continuum invalid login attempts. Environment Continuum Cyberstation Cause Need to log and / or create an alarm for when there are invalid attempts from a user to login to a Continuum Cyberstation. Resolution We have the ability to monitor the Continuum user logins for a specific number of failed attempts, to log an alarm event in the Database, and also send this alarm to Cyberstation recipients. 1. Configure the number of failed attempts using "Setting 16 - Maximum consecutive invalid login attempts before alarm is triggered" located in the Continuum General Preferences. 2. Then configure the EventNotification at Root\Templates\LogonStatus with Recipient Workstations on the Delivery tab. 3. When the number of user logon attempts reaches the number you specified in step 1, the user is forced to restart the process and an alarm is generated and sent with a description similar to below. "User acc has exceeded the maximum number of invalid logon attempts at workstation AdamWS1!" An operator at another Cyberstation can then determine if the user flagged in the alarm needs to be locked out by disabling the user object or some other activity is required.  

Issue When the firmware in a Continuum second generation controller is changed via uprev flash file, the controller adds an informational item in its error log that includes the FROM and TO versions. This article describes how to get those revisions from the error log. Environment bCX CX9680 ACX5720/40 Cause Documentation Resolution Following an uprev operation there will be three new Informational entries in the error log Example: 6660 I 01/01/1989 00:00:00.00  0x00006409 0x09289b00 0x0190da1c 0x00008748 0x0000d384                                         Software revision change 6661 I 01/01/1989 00:00:00.00  0x00006409 0x09289b00 0x0190da40 0x000025d0 0x00200b3f                                         Software revision change 6662 I 01/01/1989 00:00:00.00  0x00006409 0x09289b00 0x0190da64 0x000025d0 0x00200b41                                         Software revision change The last column in the entries contains the version number information. The first entry with a value of 0x0000d384 in the example above can be ignored The second entry specifies the FROM version, in the example above the controller was flashed FROM 2100031 (0x00200b3f) The third entry specifies the version the controller was flashed TO. in the example above the controller was flashed TO 2100033 (0x00200b41)

Issue Photo export Environment CyberStation Cause Need to export photos in personnel records. Resolution When a personnel record in Continuum has a photo included, the photo can be exported as a JPG file by doing a "Send to Text File" for that record.  The JPG file will be created with the following naming convention:  NamePhoto.jpg where name is the object name (uiname).    The JPG file will be created in the same directory as the DMP file. If multiple personnel objects containing photos are dumped out, a JPG for each will be created in the directory of the DMP file.

Issue Using European (and other non U.S.) date formats are not recognized by a list view prompt. Environment European Operating systems with DD/MM/YYYY date format. Cause List view user prompts are configured for U.S. date format. This applies to default list views like "Personnel_Expired Cards" that prompts the user for a date and time. Resolution When entering a date and time in a list view prompt box, it must be entered in the following format for all operating system language configurations: MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS

Issue What are the replacement battery part numbers? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum and Infinity controllers i2, b3, CX, bCX1 SCX920, LCX810, LCX800, TCX850 Cause Replacement part numbers required. Resolution All the i2/b3 controller battery types are covered on pages 48/49 of the b3 Controller Technical Reference The CX9200, CX9400, and CX9900 all use 2 off: 12V 6.5A lead acid gel cells, Part number: 01-2100-423 The Part number for the bCX1 battery is: BCX1-BAT-KIT The Part number for the ACX57xx battery is: ACX2-BAT-KIT The Part number for the NC2 battery is: NC2-BAT-KIT For the older Infinity Controllers: SCX920, LCX810, LCX800, TCX850 – ½ AA 3.6V 850mA-Hr  e.g. LS14250

Issue A large number of programs disabled due to errors when the controller time changed to February 27, 1990. The controller time corrected itself by the next error entry. Environment BCXxxxx CX9xxx Time Synchronization Cause The system time was changed manually on the Cyberstation that is in charge of administering time synchronization. Cyberstation ran a time synchronization routine during the period of time before the time server corrected the system time on the PC. Resolution Adjust the user account permissions such that users do not have the ability to change the system time on any Cyberstation PC.

Issue Technical support contact information for Design 360 and Studio 360 Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Operation, Field Devices, Other, Satchwell MicroNet, Satchwell Sigma, TAC IA Series, TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment Design 360 Studio 360 Cause Design 360 or Studio 360 has issues requiring technical support assistance which is not provided by PSS. Resolution Schneider Electric Employees should contact PSS who will provide you with your Branch Administrator and Technical Expert contact information. Partners may contact Smartware directly for any support of the tool at: Email: techsupport@smartwaretech.com Phone: (716) 213-2222

Issue Third party device does not provide a place to terminate the shield on the comm bus cable. Environment MSTP Infinet Cause Comm cable shielding is required for MSTP and Infinet buses but a controller does not provide a termination point for the shield. Resolution The shield on a comm cable works something like a drain, by redirecting any electrical interference to ground. rather than allowing it to degrade the data signal. If there is more than one grounding point on a shield conductor, often there is the potential that the two ground points have difference of electric potential.   Such a situation could cause the shield to actually introduce electrical interference as the current passes from the point of greatest potential, through the cable and to the point of lowest potential.  For this reason a shield should always be grounded on one end but never be grounded at both ends.  These days many field bus controllers include non grounded shield terminations that simply serve to connect all shield wires as one continuous conductor that are drained by the master controllers shield termination point which is grounded. Where there is no shield termination, simply make sure that the shields from two comm cables are connected together.  

Issue Methods to edit output files from the Report object to customize reports. Environment Continuum Report Object Cause The Reports generate .PDF and .SVG files when configured as a chart. How can these files be modified to produce a tailored report? Resolution There are four file formats that can be produced with a Report object. Text HTML Easily editable with a text editor such as Notepad or Word. Text XML Easily editable with a text editor such as Notepad, Excel, or Word. Chart - PDF Typically, PDF files are not easily modified but you can use Adobe Acrobat Professional to add  simple text to your Report or export to a Microsoft Word format where you can then edit the report as much as you want. The downside to this is that Adobe Acrobat can be an expensive purchase and the end result from these conversions is that some text fields are cut off or displaced.  Chart - WEB (SVG) Another option is to use the Web format for your Report, configured from the Output tab of the Report object, to save the Report chart as a .SVG  (Scalable Vector Graphic) file. This format is very similar to XML and can be edited with a simple text editor. There are also SVG Editors available that allow creating / editing SVG files in a graphic canvas such as what Illustrator provides. One such application is Inkscape Open Source application available at the link below. http://inkscape.org Information on the SVG format can be found on the Wiki at the link below. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalable_Vector_Graphics