Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Does Continuum support Escorted or double card swipe requirements? Environment ACX57xx, AC1 range Cause Some specifications call for 2 valid cards to be presented before the door is released, also called the 2 man rule. Resolution Continuum does not support the requirement for escorting or double card swipe requirements, if a valid card is swiped at a door it will release. One possible workaround could be to have 2 readers (doors) each opening an output relay. Then wire the two relays in series, such that both outputs need to be On to power the door magnetic lock. So the personnel and the supervisor (or Escort) both need to present their card to their respective readers at the same time to open the door.

Issue After upgrading the database from version 1.74 to 1.81 and converting the NC1 to NC2 all the doors produce the following error on reload. Infinity controller error: Feature has not been enabled in this controller  An error was detected while attempting to set an attribute in a remote Infinity object.   Environment CyberStation CX9680 ACX5720 ACX5740 Cause New CardFormats2 column in the door table contains incorrect value. Sending a door object from the database to a text file shows the following InstanceId : 7001/7004  CardFormats : 4  CardFormats2 : 1246576928 <------------------------ this attribute should have an initial value of zero.  Description : DOOR 1.04   Resolution Run the following SQL query to set the initial value of the new CardFormats2 column in the database to zero update Door Set CardFormats2 = 0

Issue What limitations are in there when entering the SQL Server name in database initialization? Environment Installing Continuum Cyberstation and Web Client Cause The number of characters is limited in the database initialization screens for Server, Workstation and Stand Alone installations. Resolution When entering the SQL server name in Database Initialization this is limited to a maximum of 30 characters. Should your server name exceed this you can use the servers IP address, or map a network drive.

Issue Site has existing CX/bCX with many i2s/b3s on field bus that need to be moved to a different CX/bCX, want to create a dump file from the existing CX/bCX that can then be imported into the new CX/bCX to create the devices and then do a 'Send to database' from the devices once they are online in the new CX/bCX. Environment CyberStation CX9xxx bCX4xxx bCX9640 Cause Documentation Resolution In the Continuum Explorer expand the existing CX/bCX then click on the InfinityInfinetCtlr folder. Pull down the 'Options' menu and set the 'Send To Text File Options' to DO NOT DUMP CHILD OBJECTS Select ALL the field devices on the right pane, right click and perform a 'Send to Text File' operation The resultant .dmp file when imported into the new CX/bCX will create all the field devices using the same names and ids they had in the old CX/bCX NOTE: The file may have to be edited to match the Network/Controller name.

Issue When installing or upgrading Cyberstation, is the SQL sa password required? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Cyberstation and Web Client installation or upgrades Database Initialization application SQL 2005 and 2008 versions as per the compatibility matrix for the version being installed V1.9x Cause Sometimes the database initialization asks for a "sa" password, other times not, what determines this? Resolution During first installation of SQL it will ask for a new System Administrator (sa) password to be created. When creating a new Continuum database the SQL sa password will be asked for or another password with full domain administrator rights could be used. When updating an existing database you will sometimes be asked to enter the sa password, this is determined by the Database Initialization application. If the version it is upgrading from requires changes to be made to the SQL table structure, a new table created or new stored procedures to be created, then the sa password will be required, otherwise it will not be asked for. NOTE: The "Andover97" account is not an "sa" account. The "Andover97" account needs to be the owner of "ContinuumDB" database and must have full access to it.

Issue Doors need to be released when a fire alarm is triggered. Environment Continuum Access Control Doors on ACX57xx, AC1 range, CX9702, ACX7xx Cause Automatic door release is required. Resolution Doors can be released either electrically by releasing the power to the doors directly from a Fire system or other 3rd party system output. Alternatively it can be done in software, Use the "Door Force Unlock Schedule" in the Door options tab to link to an Input point or Numeric value that signifies the doors should be released. When this point turns on the door will be released. Multiple doors can be linked to the same point if required. No Schedules or Plain English programming is required to achieve this functionality. Note: Always ensure any fire alarm control is in accordance with local regulations and legal requirements.

Issue Trying to create an Infinity Schedule under ACX5720, when saving the object an error window comes up. The error window does not contain an error message, only the word ERROR and an OK button. The error happens even if creating the object in offline edit mode. No problem creating the object under a different controller. Environment CyberStation Cause Corruption in database. Resolution Dump the controller to an ASCII file then delete the controller. Import the dump file into the Continuum network to re-create the controller. Deleting and re-creating the controller clears up the corruption in the particular controller object in the SQL database.

Issue WAV file is attached to Alarm Enrollment (Feedback page) but sound file does not play when point goes into alarm. Environment Feedback Audio Sound file Alarm Enrollment Event Notification Cause Configuration was not completed. Resolution Whether the audio file is attached to the Alarm Enrollment or to the Event Notification, the Play Audio checkbox must be selected on the associated Event Enrollments Action page. Note: A sound file can configured to play when an alarm is received by Cyberstation either by attaching the audio file to the Alarm Enrollments Feedback page or by attaching the audio file to the Event Notification Feedback page.  If an audio file is attached to both the Alarm Enrollment and its associated Event Notification, the Alarm Enrollment audio files take precedence.

Issue The ability to add a second card is available in webclient, but there is no where to add the second card Environment Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause Steps are needed to configure dual credentials to show in webclient, but those steps have not been completed. Resolution Steps to configure dual credential access in webclient: 1. Right click on Continuum icon in the system tray and select Allowed Credentials and select 'Credential1And2' Note: Say yes to enable on the controllers and distribute 2. Open Personnel Manager, click configure, click the right arrow to add ‘Card#2’ and ‘Card2 Type’, click Ok 3. Once that is done, go back into webclient and you will now see an additional tab added called ‘Credential2’

Issue Creating an InfinityController fails with error  "The object type specified is invalid" Environment CyberStation Cause CyberStation with duplicate NetworkId in the Continuum SQL database. Resolution From the Continuum Explorer delete the offending CyberStation object then delete the folder associated with the CyberStation.

Issue Will there be any problems wiring two HID iClass RP40 readers to one reader channel?  Environment ACX57xx, AC-1 Cause Need two readers on a vehicle entrance at different heights Resolution Tested (2) HID RK40 (iClass with keypad). The RP40 uses less power but should be very similar. Not recommended to power the two readers from the same reader input unless you are sure the reader input can handle the combined peak mA rating of the two readers. ACX5720 - worked fine. The RK40s were powered with different reader channels and then just doubled up the 1-DATA, 0-CLK and LED1 terminals on the ACX with the DATA1, DATA0 and Green LED leads from the readers. AC1 - worked fine. The AC-1 terminals are small so a single piece of wire was used off the DATA/1, CLK/0, and LED terminals of the AC-1 and landed on a terminal block with DATA1, DATA0 and Green LED leads from the readers. The RK40s were powered with an external power supply.  

Issue Five of the controllers are reporting access events while the sixth is not. Environment Access Evens Subnet Controller configuration Cause The subnet scheme on the network had significant subnetting errors. Resolution Resolve IP address and default router scheme.

Issue Edit VideoServer object and Learn button is greyed out. Environment CyberStation 1.94 Video Cause The Learn key in the CyberStation Security editor under VideoServer had been changed to a 'lock'. Resolution The Learn key in the CyberStation Security editor under VideoServer had to be changed to a 'key' for user Group 128. Note: there is an unconfirmed possibility that this occurred as a result of an upgrade, as the Admin user was using Group 128 and typically a change to user security during an upgrade would default to a 'key' for Group 1 but a 'lock' for all other security groups.

Issue How to enable / disable Personnel Manager in Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation version 1.93 and later Cause The Personnel Manager is enabled by default at each Cyberstation workstation version 1.93 and later. However, users can choose to enable the Personnel Editor, a dialog similar to other Cyberstation dialogs (used in earlier versions of Cyberstation), instead of the Personnel Manager. Resolution To enable / disable the Personnel Manager: 1. In Continuum Explorer, right click your workstation folder, and click Open   2. Select the Preferences tab of the Device editor   3. Scroll down to the preference setting, Use Personnel Manager, and select True to enable or False to use the old Personnel Editor   4. Click OK

Issue When attempting to initialize Cyberstation on a workstation PC, Database Initialization says that it cannot access the database. Environment SQL Continuum CyberStation Continuum Database Initialization Cause An incorrect path and name was used in the Server Name field. Resolution Open the database up in SQL Server Management Studio. Right click on the top of the explorer tree and select Properties. The SQL server path and name will appear in the Property Window title bar.

Issue Is there a way to activate a function which requires a cause note, action note to be added to every I/NET alarm? Environment I/NET SmartStruxure Alarm User Action Cause Need to document user actions in SmartStruxure when an I/NET alarm changes state. Resolution Create a Change of State alarm and bind it to the I/NET alarm object in SmartStruxure. Create a Change of State alarm. On the User Action page of the alarm configuration attach a Cause Note Group, Action Note Group or Checklist. Bind the alarm object to the Alarm attribute of the I/NET Value.

Issue Enabled xdriver support on the controllers with the xdriver flash file.  Comm port mode has been set to xdriver, but when the xdriver fill is attached the following error occurs. The uprev code could not open the specified UDP file Environment xdriver Comm port Cause Incorrect file path or file name used. Resolution Rather than typing in the xdriver file path and location, select the browse button and browse to the file location.

Issue Under ideal conditions how long should it take for a Graphic panel to update it's active objects with live values based on the number of active links? Environment Continuum v1.94 Pinpoint Cause Site Graphics seem to be taking a long time to update all active objects. Not sure how quick this should be in an ideal environment. Resolution Initial testing was done with a LAN configuration, SQL Server 2008 with two Cyberstations, and one bCX1 controller. Three graphics were created, one with 100 active object links to numerics on the bCX1, one with 200 active links, and  one with 300 active links. (Note that we suggest a maximum of 100 active objects per graphic for stability and speed). See article #11478 . When viewing these graphics on one Workstation at a time it was taking on average about 1s per 5 objects to initially load all values the first time the graphic was opened. 100 object graphic - 20 seconds 200 object graphic - 40 seconds 300 object graphic - 50 - 60 seconds After the initial pass was complete though, any subsequent updates were updating in 1 - 2 seconds after the values were being changed. (Note that each active objects update rate was still at the default 1000ms setting).

Issue Most PCs are now shipping with Windows 8 and many drivers for Windows 7 do not exist for the hardware.   Environment Windows 8, CyberStation Cause New PCs and laptop are shipping with Windows 8 and Windows 7 drivers are not available for some newer hardware.   Resolution At this time CyberStation 1.94 and 2.0 are the versions that are shipping and no versions of Windows 8 have been tested with CyberStation. It has not been determined whether a future version of CyberStation will be qualified on Window 8. Refer to the Software and Firmware Compatibility Matrix for the operating systems compatible with CyberStation.

Issue Cyberstation V1.94 on a Windows 7 64 bit PC does not display all of the Analyzer results Environment Cyberstation V1.94 Windows7 64 bit O/S Cause This system combination runs all of the tests but not all results are shown. Resolution This issue is rectified in V1.94 Service Pack 1. V1.94 SP1 is to scheduled for release April/ May 2013.