Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue When the database (default.db) reaches 2.5MB in size, the MPM is not able to save the data to flash any longer. Environment SmartStruxure Lite Multi-Purpose Manager Cause MPM is not able to save very large databases Resolution Reduce the size of the database by removing the least important trends or by decreasing the buffer size to 50.

Issue TAC AF24-SR is obsolete and needs to be replaced. Environment TAC AF24-SR Cause Replacement of obsolete actuator.  Resolution The TAC AF24-SR damper actuator is replaced by the MD10SR or MD20SR actuators – in the USA it is also possible to use the MS41 actuators     replaced by the MD10SR or MD20SR actuators – in the US they would make this cross but we do not really sell the US MS41 actuators   replaced by the MD10SR or MD20SR actuators – in the US they would make this cross but we do not really sell the US MS41 actuators

Issue NL220 Data base will not open and an error, "Database cannot be accessed you may be in single user mode NS #22" is produced. Product Line TAC Vista Environment LNS LonMaker Vista NL220  Cause Administration rights are not granted to the Microsoft server computer user preventing the database from opening. Resolution To work around admin access from IT: Close NL220 Right-click Relaunch using "Run as Administrator"

Issue Is it possible to determine when a Continuum Security Key was removed from a Continuum Cyberstation? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation Continuum Security Key Cause A Security Key is removed from the Continuum Cyberstation. Being able to pinpoint when it was removed may help in investigating who has taken the key. Resolution It is not possible to determine when the key was physically removed from the PC with the Continuum or Windows Logs. There is no information in the Continuum Error Logs on this removal and in the Windows logs, the disconnect/connect messages for USB devices don't indicate what the device actually is.

Issue When opening the WorkPlace Tech Editor in Workstation the list of Applications is empty or some of the applications are missing. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment WorkStation 1.5.0 and up Cause Buffer overflow condition Resolution When this condition occurs; with the Application list displayed hold down the ALT key and click on the refresh icon This will bring up the following information message. Due to a buffer overflow, the System Tree has been collapsed and your unsaved changes have been reverted back to what is currently saved in the server. To navigate to objects again, expand the tree as needed. Click OK and the Application list will be reloaded from the AS and all existing application files will be displayed .

Issue During the installation of Workstation on a PC that didn't previously had any SmartStruxure software installed, you can get the message: "Failed to install XXXX redist, error: 3010" Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Workstation Cause One of the build in Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributeable (VCRedist) installers (2008, 2010, 2012) is failing for some reason. Resolution Restart the PC and start the installer again Note: There is a similar issue but with error 1603, if you get this please see Getting the error "Failed to install XXXX redist, error: 1603" during installation.

Issue What are the RS-485 parameters used for Infinet communications? The baud rate can be set but the other parameters are not exposed in the Comm Port settings. Environment Continuum Infinet Cause Values not exposed in Comm Port settings dialog. Resolution The Infinet Protocol RS-485 parameters used:   1 start bit 8 data bits No parity 1 stop bit No flow control

Issue Some AIC objects are pre-configured for the most common thermistors used in the industry. However in Building Expert, i cannot see the description of the AIC object until it has been added. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Expert Environment Multi Purpose Manager AIC Cause Feature not available on the MPM Resolution The description of each of the AIC object is available below. AIC1 to AIC10 = Empty (Manually configurable objects) AIC11 = 10kOhm Type II Thermistor Celsius AIC12 = 10kOhm Type II Thermistor Fahrenheit AIC13 = 10kOhm Type III Thermistor Celsius AIC14 = 10kOhm Type III Thermistor Fahrenheit AIC15 = 1 KOhms Pt1000 Platinum RTD Sensor Celsius AIC16 = 1 KOhms Pt1000 Platinum RTD Sensor Fahrenheit AIC17 = 100 Ohms Pt100 Platinum RTD Sensor Celsius AIC18 = 100 Ohms Pt100 Platinum RTD Sensor Fahrenheit AIC19 = 1 KOhms Ni1000 Nickel RTD Sensor Celsius AIC20 = 1 KOhms Ni1000 Nickel RTD Sensor Fahrenheit

Issue A huge number of BACnet Alarms stating Duplicate network identifier are being generated Environment BACnet Cause This has been seen when two Continuum bCX1-4040 units were inadvertantly connected together on to a single MSTP network Resolution Correct the wiring, restart the Enterprise Server and the alarms stop

Issue After editing an MNL-800 application with the WorkPlace Tech Tool Editor, an error is displayed indicating that the application file could not be saved. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Workstation >1.4 Building Operation WorkPlace Tech Editor Cause The name of a LON Network Variable (nvi or nvo SNVT) or a LON controller configuration constant (nci SNVT) contains a space. Echelon standards do not allow spaces in network variables or configuration constant names. Resolution Edit the application file removing any spaces or other non-supported characters from network variable and configuration constant names. More information is contained in the SBO WebHelp topic "WorkPlace Tech Editor"

Issue Need to know the maximum length of a DNS name for an EcoStruxure Building Operation server Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment EcoStruxure Building Operation Enterprise Server EcoStruxure Building Operation Automation Server Domain Name System (DNS) Cause Configure DNS names for EcoStruxure Building Operation servers and need to understand if there are any limitations Resolution Domain names (including the names of domains, hosted zones, and records) consist of a series of labels separated by dots. Each label can be up to 63 bytes long.  The total length of a domain name cannot exceed 255 bytes, including the dots. Please see the Address section of EcoStruxure BMS Server Communication for additional information. 

Issue i2887/ b3887 Cool starts on Power failure Environment i2887, b3887 i2887-L-230, b3887-L-230 i2887-L-115, b3887-L-115 Cause The i2887 and b3887 do not have a RAM battery backup. Resolution The i2/b3887 is one of the range of low cost i2/b3 controllers that does not have a RAM backup battery. It has no concept of a Warm start that would save working values in the RAM. It does however have Flash Memory that allows the controller to save all of its points and programs. After a power outage these points / programs will be copied into RAM and start running from their first line (if they are Autostart) in what is called a Cool Start. Its ACCRestartMode mode will be ACCCoolStartOnly.   Other i2/b3 controllers that do have a RAM backup battery will allow the ACCRestartMode to be changed as required.

Issue When submitting a license request for a G3 SoftJace installation, because the HostID provided is for an Enterprise Network Server instead of a SoftJace. Environment I/A Series G3 SoftJace version 3.7.106 I/A Series G3 SoftJace version 3.8.x Cause Installer error.  The nre.properties file is not created properly during the installation. Resolution The nre.properties file should be edited to remove the duplicate softjace product type definition. The file to be edited is c:\niagara\rel\lib\nre.properties which will contain the following text: ######################################################## # # File: nre.properties # # This file contains properties which used # the NRE launch executable # # Revision History # 17 Feb 04 Brian Original # ######################################################## # The list of options separated by spaces to pass thru to the VM java.options=-Xmx256M -XX:MaxPermSize=128M -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8 -Xss256K # This property is used to toggle how the hostid is calculated # for the current installation. If true on a Window's box, then # the hostid will be prefixed with "WinSJ" softjace=false #This is a SoftJace softjace=true To correct the issue, open the file in a text editor and delete the line that reads: softjace=false After saving the file, you can verify that the SoftJace HostID is now generated properly by using the following procedure. Open the SoftJace console window by selecting "Console" under the "TAC IA Series ENC SW" entry in the Windows start menu. In the console window enter the following command: nre -hostid Verify that the displayed HostID begins with WinSJ-  instead of Win-

Issue What is the Operating System used in the Continuum Controllers? Environment Continuum Field Controllers Cause Customer wants to know if a common Operating System is used. Resolution The Operating System for the Continuum Controllers is a proprietary Operating System developed in-house specific for each Controller's Hardware platform. 

Issue Can the MPM be connected to the Internet (ie: given a public IP address)? Environment All MPM models Cause Request from end customer Resolution Although current versions come with Digest Authentication, the MPM must NOT be connected directly to the Internet or any other public network. It should only be made accessible over the Internet by using VPNs, firewalls, and remote software with strong passwords. This Application Note provides the above information in official terms.

Issue The Extended Trend Logs stop updating in Enterprise Server.  When the ES is rebooted the trend logs resume. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Enterprise Server Cause The Extended Logs Maximum transfer interval is set too low causing it to trigger again before it has managed to finish the last read. Resolution Increase the Maximum transfer interval setting of the Extended Log.

Issue The PIM seems to be timing out or bouncing Online and Offline, indicating loss communications. Environment Schlage Integration with Continuum Version 1.94 Cause The PIM seems to be timing out or becomes unresponsive due to invalid setting of Parameter 5, it needs go be set at 0 and not 1. Resolution The resolution for this is as follows: NetControllerII - ONLY Comm2 (RS485) is supported for this application, with Parameter 5 of the Global Config set to ZERO, regardless of the symptom or setup. ACX57XX - ONLY Comm1 (RS485) is supported for this application, with Parameter 5 of the Global Config set to ZERO, regardless of the sympton or setup. Once changes have been made, open the Global Config Numeric and change the value from 3 to 99 Apply the changes and then click on the Refresh Button until the value comes back to 3.

Issue Installing StruxureWare Building Operation Workstation fails The following error message is displayed when installing Workstation:     Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Workstation Earlier versions Cause This issue occurs if the PC has a newer version of Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime Language Pack previously installed than the one in the Workstation installer, which will abort the installation. Resolution Uninstall the Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime Language Pack from "Add or remove programs" in Windows. Run the Workstation installer again. It should now complete successfully. Before step 1 (uninstalling) you may first check which version of Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime Language Pack you have installed, this is also found in "Add or remove programs".  After finishing step 2 you may download the latest  Runtime Language Pack separately from Microsoft, or even the complete Runtime.  Note: This resolution only applies if you specifically get error 1603. There is a similar issue but with error 3010, please see Getting the error "Failed to install XXXX redist, error: 3010" during installation.     StruxureWare Building Operation

Issue Unable to determine whether the time on the MPM is synchronized with the server after enabling the SNTP functionality Product Line EcoStruxure Building Expert Environment SmartStruxure Lite Multi-Purpose Manager Cause Time synchronization confirmation not available on MPM. Resolution To enable the SNTP functionality on the MPM, follow the below steps: Make sure the MPM has outbound activity; meaning that the MPM should be connected to the internet via a "hub or a "switch" (versus being connected directly to the computer) From the SNTP1 object, tick the Enable box Note: In object SNTP1, Server 2 will be used when Server 1 is unavailable only if Server 1 is a domain name. Server 2 will not be used if Server 1 is an IP address. In the ETH1 object, make sure that sure that the settings on the MPM matches those of the network, especially the DNS, Gateway and the Netmask (Subnet Mask) fields. These parameters can be found by typing "ipconfig /all" in command prompt or by contacting your IT personnel. Navigate to the CFG1 object, then using the "Date Configuration" box, set the date to today and the time to within 15 minutes before or after the actual current time. click save. Wait a few seconds and watch how the "current time" gets synced with the server's clock. Note: If SNTP was already active before changing the time manually, the clock will not be synced to the server unless you perform the following steps: Navigate to SNTP object. Uncheck the "Enable Box", then click save. Check the "Enable box", then click save again. Navigate to CFG object to verify that the time has been synced.

Issue Need a quick way to find all the analog inputs under all the b3s in the system that are out of service. Environment Workstation Enterprise Server Automation Server b3s Cause Documentation Resolution Create a Search object at the ES or AS level and configure as follows...   In this example the search object is in the ES and it will search for b3 inputs in all of the Automation Servers under the ES.   The search can easily be modified to search for other types of objects that are out of service by changing the class filter.