Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Some engineers are being issued with new HP Probook 6570b laptops, running Windows 7.  The Loytec NIC_USB100 network interface does not work with these machines, even when the latest Loytec drivers (version 4.1.4) are installed.  Environment Lonworks Windows 7 Cause Plug'n'Play does not recognise the NIC_USB100 when it is plugged in and fails to install the drivers. Resolution As a workaround, install a virtual machine running Windows XP on the HP Probook 6570b.  Install the Loytec software on the virtual machine.  The NIC_USB100 is then recognised and the drivers install correctly.

Issue Cannot get changed I/NET point or controller name to update in StruxureWare Building Operation Environment SmartStruxure I/NET integration Cause There is a designed feature for integrated I/NET objects within Building Operation.  Once an object is imported into SmartStruxure, it can be re-named and given description with more options than on the I/NET controller.  For this reason, when changing a point or controller name through the I/NET interface, it will not be updated in SmartStruxure.  All name changes should be done through the Building Operation Workstation interface. Resolution If you wish the StruxureWare Building Operation names to match the changed I/NET name, you have 2 options. Change the name manually in Building Operation Delete the point and re-upload the controller, or delete the controller and re-discover it NOTE: Do not change point names in SmartStruxure until after all converted graphics have been imported.  The import process requires the SmartStruxure name and I/NET name to match.

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 Typically the master controller is at the end of the bus, but is it possible to place it in the middle? Environment AS b3 Cause Depending on the buildings wiring there could be a need to place the AS in the middle of the bus. Resolution The AS can be placed in the middle of the bus, but the terminating resistors must then be placed at both ends of the bus. This method wasn't officially tested in this manner by SQA, but it works similar to how a BCX 4040 does which can be placed in the middle of the bus in this fashion.

Issue In which medias can a SPP110 be mounted? Environment SPP110: 004702020 004702040 004702060 004702080 004702100 004702120 004702140 Cause Depending on media, some sensors may not be suitable. Resolution SPP110 can be used with any media suitable with stainless steel.

Issue Unable to assign a foreign address to the I/A Series R2 Configurable Analog Input object to expose for BACnet use. Environment I/A Series R2, Analog Input, Configurable Analog Input Cause The native I/A Series R2 Analog Input object is designed to not pass an NaN from input to output. The output will hold the last valid value when the input is NaN.  The Configurable Analog Input object, available from the programLib, can be configured to pass the NaN. Attempting to assign a foreign address to the I/A Series R2 Configurable Analog Input object to expose for BACnet use generates the following warning example. WARNING: Unable to export object: no BACnet equivalent object type for SpaceTemp [/B12B4_5/services/BACnetService] Resolution Only native I/A Series R2 objects (AI, AO, BI, BO, MSI, MSO calendar and schedule) can be exposed as Bacnet points using the foreign address inside the properties of the Niagara object.  Even though the ConfigurableAnalogInput is derived from the base AnalogInput class, the associated BACnet module is not designed to process as native object. The only workaround is to replace the ConfigurableAnalogInput object with a native AnalogInput object and adjust the application accordingly.

Issue I/NET alarms not coming into StruxureWare Building Operation as Alarms, but are showing up in Event Window Environment SmartStruxure StruxureWare Building Operation Cause In order for an event to register as an Alarm in SmartStruxure, there must be a SmartStruxure object in the Enterprise Server Resolution Ensure all Controllers generating desired alarms are visible in the I/NET interface. If they are not, use the device discovery feature to import them. Ensure all Controllers are up to date.  Right click upload any that are not. For alarms that originate from a Host or NPR, you will need to add these to the I/NET interface System Folder.  Right click on the I/NET Interface/System folder and add either a host or link as applicable.  Set the correct host or link number in the properties window.

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 There is a position feedback signal feature on the Forta series actuators, how do I connect to it? Environment Forta series actuator Cause How to correctly connect the wiring for the position feedback signal. Resolution Connect between block "Y" and "MX" to get the feedback signal. It's a 0-100%, 2-10V, where 100% always refers to full open position.

Issue Need an Android application for Vista Need an iOS application for Vista Need an iPhone application for Vista Need an Tablet application for Vista Environment mobile tablet Cause Some people have asked for an application to control Vista via Android phones or iPhones and tablets. Resolution There will probably not be an application for mobiles or tablets for the Vista environment. There are plans in work on implementing web services in to Vista. This means that with the help of a StruxureWare Building Operation frontend you can use the StruxureWare Building Operation application for tablets and phones to work with Vista.

Issue HTML5 Java Environment Java HTML5 Webstation Vista Cause Java is not installed on PC and customer does not want to install it. Resolution There are no plans for Vista to stop using Java and move to HTML5  

Issue RAM Remote Alarm Manager message: Alarm on GSM modem - Unable to reset GSM modem - modem did not accept reset command Environment Sigma RAM Windows 7 64bit Cause Infrequently a GSM modem interface message is generated and the modem stops working. The GSM modem is using a serial PCI / PC express card. Resolution The modem fails to respond to the reset command. Firstly try to resolve by checking the modem type and set up, including (in the "Advanced" tab) extending the number of re-tries and time to respond. If issues continue then a possible work around is to try a USB to serial RS232 adaptor.  Ensure the driver used for the USB to serial device is for the device. e.g. StarTech FTDI USB to Serial RS232 Adaptor (part no. ICUSB2321FIS) uses the FTDI driver and not the Prolific driver. In the Windows > Device Manager, a serial com port is created assigned to the USB device, assign the GSM modem to this com port in RAM.

Issue After logging on to I/NET, an error comes up saying "Verifying Database. The database file "RptASample" has changed. Proceeding to fix up the report." Environment I/NET upgraded version 2.4X Cause The table structure that was saved with the report is different than the current database table structure. Resolution There is no resolution as there is nothing wrong with the report. Click on the OK button and the report will be generated. The original report's structure is different and Crystal Reports recognizes it then alters or realigns them to work in the new format.

Issue Diagnosis of a full Vista database shows that trend log storage size the culprit. Environment Vista trend logs SQL database Cause Excessive trend logging can quickly fill a database. Resolution This search will show both Xenta trend logs declared in Workstation/Menta and Vista Server logs. Search for ‘Type of devices or objects: Logical objects – Files – Trend Logs – Trend Log Vista’ Set Property Value – Status – Equal to ‘On’ Deselect the ‘interrupt if more than 1000 results’ if large Db with need for many logs. Once search populates right click on any result, Additional Property Value – Log space. This will add a column showing this setting in seconds.  Sort column to identify any trends that are set to store more than the desired amount of values and could be causing issues.  Note: 604800 sec = 1 week

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 SysmanSMS stops sending SMS from Vista Environment SysmanSMS Vista   Cause It is not uncommon that anti-virus software perceives perfectly clean files as viruses. This is a growing problem as the amount of viruses are continuously growing, and the likeliness that they may share similarities in the code with a SysmanSMS file thereby increases.   Resolution Check if the terminal is running an antivirus, and look in its quarantine. Recent updates to some antivirus applications incorrectly identify parts of the Sysman application as a risk. Investigate the antivirus' quarantine folder and note the files and paths which they originally came from. Restore the quarantined files either using the antivirus' restore feature, or manually return them to their original locations. Restart the Sysman services In Windows services, restart TAC Vista Server and Workstation  

Issue Is it possible to configure the On/Off output as a PWM output? Environment Viconics SE7200 SE7200C5545W Cause In some applications its desirable that the output is configured as PWM. Resolution The main On-Off outputs cannot be set as PWM, they go up to 8 CPH. However, the BO5 output can be On/Off (4 CPH) or PWM (10sec. cycles).

Issue I/A Series G3 Security Alert Security Patch Released for 3.5 and 3.6 to remove a directory traversal vulnerability allowing a user with a valid user account or guest privileges to escalate his or her privileges on a Niagara AX based system. Product Line TAC IA Series Environment IA Series G3 - Versions 3.5.xx and 3.6.xx Cause The patch addresses a new vulnerability that was publicly disclosed in January 2013 at a security analyst conference by two security researchers – Billy Rios and Terry McCorkle. The patch removes a directory traversal vulnerability allowing a user with a valid user account or guest privileges to escalate his or her privileges on a Niagara AX based system. Resolution Schneider Electric strongly recommends all customers apply the security patch to any existing 3.5 or 3.6 systems to correct this vulnerability. Customers with systems running a version of I/A Series G3 released prior to 3.5 should purchase an upgrade to the latest version of the Niagara Framework software in order to take advantage of the latest security improvements. Download and review TPA-IA-13-0003.00 Technical Product Advisory that details the vulnerabilities and security patch installation instructions. Security patches are available for download from The EcoBuilding Download Center: Security Patches. Note: The patch does not affect any standard Niagara configuration or functionality. The only impact of the change is to remove the vulnerability.

Issue Additional log sample that shows 0 between each log sample Environment Vista Xenta Cause In our trendlogs in the Xenta 700 we have a log sample with the value 0 just before each valid sample. Resolution Synchronize the Xenta so it has the same time as Vista / PC