Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue When editing an EBO graphic in Webstation rather than Workstation, there is an inherent feature which allows a user to zoom in and out of the graphic using the mouse scroll. They can also pan around the page by holding down the left mouse button as they move. In many cases however, this feature is not wanted and makes the graphic more difficult to use. Image Zoomed Out  Image Zoomed In and Panned Right Product Line Building Operation Webstation Environment Graphics Cause Pan and Zoom in Webstation are features that are enabled by default in all TGML Graphics Resolution Edit the graphic object and select the top TGML root of the page properties. There is a 'Disable Pan and Zoom' option which by default is set to False.  Setting this option to True and then saving turns off the Pan and Zoom functions for that graphic

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 for assistance. Issue Issues upgrading Automation Servers (AS, AS-B, AS-P) connected to an Enterprise Server (ES) from versions prior to 2.0.x to a version that is 2.0.x. ES and one Automation Server will upgrade but no others connected to that same ES will upgrade and will show an error while attempting to download the new software.  Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Automation Server v1.9.x Building Operation Enterprise Server v1.9.x   Cause If the Automation Servers within the ES environment are not uniquely named, and/or are the same name as the ES, an error will be received if upgrade is attempted stating "Deploy upgraded database failed". Resolution As found within the Enterprise Central section of the 2.0 Release Notes, "All servers must have unique names".   *NOTE* Renaming the Automation Server will break any paths to that Automation Server, as such they will need to be corrected.   Follow these steps to address this issue: Prior to upgrading any devices within the environment, check for and find any servers with non-unique names Detach the Automation Server (with the naming identical to the ES or any other server) from the ES Rename the Automation Server with a unique name Correct any binding path issues Reconnect Automation Server to the ES Upgrade the environment to 2.0.x

Issue Copying objects from one MP-X device to another results in a validation error. "Property value '<object type>' already assigned"     Product Line MPx series EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Workstation Building Operation Multi-purpose Controller Building Operation Multi-purpose VAV Cause The Object ID is already used within the destination device Resolution This functions as design. To resolve this:   Manually enter the Object ID when creating files that may be copied to other MP-X devices. One may choose to use blocks of IDs up to 64,999.   2. Utilize the import/export function within EBO which will import the BACnet objects using the next available Instance IDs.

EBO doesn't support save from controller for B3s

Issue The datasheet for DO-FA-12 says: Contact rating .......................250 VAC/30 VDC, 2 A, Pilot Duty (Power Factor 0.35) What does "Pilot Duty" mean? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Automation Server Bundled (AS-B) Building Operation IO-module Cause The datasheet specifies the rating class of the relays.  Understanding what "Pilot Duty" means is needed in order to know what load can be controlled by the relay. Resolution A "Pilot Duty" rating means that this relay is made for a specific highly inductive load, such as controlling the coil of another relay or contactor. Contacts with a "Pilot Duty" rating have passed standardized testing to prove they can reliably control a "Pilot Duty" load. In another example the datasheet of a device may say: Relay contact rating 250 VAC / 30 VDC, 2 A Pilot Duty (C300) In this case C300 indicates the rating of the relay, according to the UL 508 standard. The start current of a motor could damages the relays in case the current is too high. The start current could be up to 8 times the rated current, or more.

Issue Information concerning Linux releases used within the Automation Server.   Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Linux Operating System (OS) Building Operation Automation Server Building Operation Automation Server Premium Cause Questions concerning Linux releases used within the Automation Server. Resolution AS versions to 1.4.1 run Linux kernel 2.6.25.1 AS versions 1.5 to 2.0.2 run Linux kernel 3.0.101 AS-P versions 1.7 to 2.0.2 run Linux kernel 3.5.0-lsp-3.3.1 For questions concerning what type of Linux...i.e. Red Hat, Ubuntu, openSUSE - There is no linux distribution in the automation server just vanilla linux kernel. For further reading, download some documentation about the kernel from their website www.kernel.org  

Issue How to change the IP address of the Automation Server and ensure proper communication. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Enterprise Server Automation Server Building Operation Device Administrator Building Operation Workstation Cause At times the IP address information for an Automation Server must be changed after being added to an Enterprise Server to accommodate changes in IP network design, correction of incorrect data, or any other reason. Changing the IP address needs to be done in the proper method to avoid artifacts and confusion after the change. Resolution To avoid complications, follow this process to modify the IP address of an Automation Server that is already communicating with an Enterprise Server. In the Building Operation Device Administrator connect the AS controller via USB or IP.  WebHelp Topic Connect to SmartX Servers Right-click on the AS and select Network Settings Modify the IP address settings to the new values Additionally, this can be changed through PuTTY with the "setip" command. Power Cycle the Automation Server (If a power cycle is not completed the AS will still have invalid data for network settings despite the physical network interface running with the new settings) Start Building Operation Workstation and log in to the Enterprise Server Select the Enterprise Server and open the Communication Tab Highlight the Automation Server that needs to be changed and modify the address field for the IP address of the device. (The Communications settings tab is enabled by selecting the Show/Hide tick icon). Click the Save button The Enterprise Server should now automatically establish communication with the AS, but if you want to speed this process you can right-click the Enterprise Server and select the "Advanced\Repair Server Communication" option. IMPORTANT: As of 1.41 if the IP address is changed on a server that is configured with a BACnet interface, the IP address and possibly the broadcast address of the IP Network under the BACnet interface must be updated manually. (see below)

Issue Micronet BACnet (MNB) AV and BV objects in G3 are purple indicating they are overridden. The AV and BV objects are read only, how can they be overridden? Product Line TAC IA Series Environment Niagara G3 Micronet BACnet MNB-300 MNB-VAV MNB-1000 Cause Purple BACnet values (I/A Series R2 and G3 graphic override color) are internal BACnet points that can not be modified (display only). This behavior is normal and began to appear in MNB controller firmware versions 1.2 and higher. Per the BACnet specification, read-only type points must be set to indicate an override condition. The root cause is a design change required by the BACnet specification to bring the controllers into compliance for BTL certification. The ASHRAE BACnet Specification 135-2004 specifies that the "read-only" type objects (e.g. Analog Value, Binary Value, etc.) OVERRIDDEN flag is: Logical TRUE (1) if the point has been overridden by some mechanism local to the BACnet device. In this context "overridden" is taken to mean that the Present Value property is not changeable through BACnet services.In this case, the override is meant to indicate to Niagara that the point is locally overridden (by the controller) and cannot be changed by the Niagara BACnet service (or user).When the ENC learns the device it reads what "Protocol Services" it supports. If it supports COV then the "use COV" flag is set to true in the device object and when the proxy points are brought in they are defined as COV and once subscribed they will send their present value and status flag values to the ENC. In this case the AVM & BVM (being read only) objects will show overridden along with their value and be purple by default. Resolution All MNB devices support COV so the use COV property is set to true when they are discovered in the ENC.If the use COV property of the Device object is changed to false the ENC will use readPropertyMultiple (if supported in the device) to poll for data. If readPropertyMultiple is not supported in the device the ENC will read one property at a time. Now when the points are learned they will be defined as polled and when polled only the present value (PV) is requested (by default). Hence the AVM & BVM objects will show their value but not show overridden because their status flags are not known at the ENC. If the use COV device property is set to true after the AVM and BVM proxy points are defined in the ENC they will show overridden and purple after they are successfully subscribed. Turning the use COV property in the device to false at this point will cause these objects to be polled but their status is already known so they will continue to show overridden along with their present value. The only way to change that is to delete and re-learn them while the device use COV property is sent to false.

Issue How is a subnet defined? Environment Refer to "TCP/IP Network Administration" by Craig Hunt, O’Reilly & Associates, Inc. Cause Sectioning network communication by subnets. Resolution A subnet is defined by applying a bit mask (subnet mask) to the IP address. If a bit is on in the mask, that equivalent bit in the address is interpreted as a network bit. If a bit in the mask is off, the bit belongs to the host part of the address. The subnet is only known locally.