Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Can more than one Modbus device be mapped to the same IP Address? Product Line Satchwell Sigma Environment IC3 Modbus TCP502 Cause Configuration not documented in release note Resolution More than one device can be mapped via the same IP Address.  For example the gateway.txt file can be: 1,1,3,1,1,0x0001,0,0,1  ;Modsim1 40001 2,1,3,2,1,0x0001,0,0,1  ;Modsim1 40002 3,2,3,1,1,0x0001,0,0,1  ;Modsim2 40001 4,2,3,2,1,0x0001,0,0,1  ;Modsim2 40002 5,3,3,1,1,0x0001,0,0,1  ;Modsim3 40001 6,3,3,2,1,0x0001,0,0,1  ;Modsim3 40002 7,4,3,1,1,0x0001,0,0,1  ;Modsim4 40001 8,4,3,2,1,0x0001,0,0,1  ;Modsim4 40002 OUTPUT ; IP_ADDRESS_TABLE 1,10.158.72.254 2,10.158.72.254 3,10.158.72.254 4,10.158.72.254 ;Do not write below this line   Note: The IC3 Modbus can only be mapped to a single IP Gateway or PC application, and it is not possible to map to two applications on the same PC.

Issue Unable to connect to a Xenta 527 or Xenta 527-NPR  with a newly installed computer on a Remote-Client Configuration Environment I/NET Xenta 527 Xenta 527-NPR Remote Client Site Cause Routing Table is not updated. Open I/NET Configuration Modify the Active configuration profile Click on the NPR button and the bottom of the screen Verify that the Xenta 527 or Xenta 527-NPR is not showing up in the listed NPR devices At the top of the screen click the checkbox for online devices and look for the NPR in the offline list If the device is not in either place then the Routing Table does not contain the address of the offline device Resolution Open I/NET Configuration Modify the Active configuration profile Add the IP address of the Router to the Reference Host list restart the I/O server Connect to the NPR using a web browser Modify the I/NET Configuration Add the IP address of the Workstation to the Reference Host list. Save and Restart the Xenta device Wait 2-3 minutes for the Xenta device to boot up Connect to the router in I/NET

Issue Every so often one or two programs on the Continuum workstation stop working. Editing the program results in: A Cached Program cannot be opened while it is being written. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment CyberStation WebClient Continuum Programs Cause CyberStation was not installed properly. Too many demands are being placed on the workstation. Resolution If the problem results from a problem with the installation of Continuum Cyberstation, refer to Problems installing Continuum. Once Continuum has been properly installed, the problem may result from placing to many demands on the Continuum workstation.  Some questions that should be asked are... How many programs are being run on the Cyberstation concurrently. The default setting for Run on any workstation when a workstation program in created is false. This property should be checked for all workstation programs whether they must be run from another workstation or not. This setting can be found in the Program properties editor. An a cached program cannot be opened while it is being written error may occurring when a report program is writing to disk. Verify that the Cyberstation PC conforms to the Continuum Compatibility Matrix for the Continuum version. How many PE programs are running on this workstation, how complex are these programs and are high level commands such as: Rotate, Run, Shell, OpenFile, OpenList, GetName, GetObject being used frequently. How many report programs are running concurrently.  Is the report workstation 100% dedicated to running reports and nothing else; no alarm reporting, no schedules, no extended log downloading, no Access server functions? Is the workstation hardware and operating system sufficient for the work CyberStation is expected to do. Managing these demands may involve sharing the reporting load over several CyberStations and/or adjusting the timing of processor intensive programs so that the workstation is executing fewer tasks at any given time.  In some cases program performance may be impaired due to insufficient memory allocation. See Getting a Smart Heap error when starting Cyberstation or not all processes start and Cyber doesn't open.

Issue  Setting the values of the X Driver points that is set up for Function code 15 (Force Multiple Coils) does not send out data. Environment bCX1 4040, 9640 Netcontroller II with X Driver, XDriver, X-Driver. Cause As an array of bits has to be transmitted to the 3rd party system it has to come from the Annex point not the X Driver point itself. Resolution The data to be sent to the 3rd party Modbus device is held in a manual array in the AnnexPoint not the X Driver point itself. Create an X Driver point on the required Comm port and define: The correct slave number Function code 15. Define the Start channel address Enter the number of Bits to be written in the "Number Of Channels" In the AnnexPointName enter the name of the separate Numeric point that will hold the data to be written. Ensure that the Annex point has a manual array of at least the size of the number of channels (bits) to be written. Fill each of the array entries with 0 or 1 as required to be sent. This can be done through Command line or Plain English: For example if the system is writing to 4 relay outputs, through command line you would enter the data as: Annexpt = 1      'Relay 1 = On Annexpt[1] = 1 'Relay 2 = On Annexpt[2] = 1 'Relay 3 = On Annexpt[3] = 0 'Relay 4 = Off   Then change the value of the X Driver point to force the data to be sent.

Issue Is it possible to see how many users are logged in to Webstation? Product Line TAC Vista Environment TAC Vista Webstation 5.1.X Cause The number of users logged into Webstation at one time is limited by the number of available licenses.  Need to have a way to monitor this resource. Resolution There is no built-in function in TAC Vista Webstation to see how many users are logged in at a certain time. The only way to see how many users are logged in at the same time is to use the License Server Webpage. There it is possible to see how many Webstation licenses are in use. To access the License Server webpage: Open a browser and type in localhost:8888 Open the "Dashboard" and click on "Concurrent" See also Using Lmtools in Windows Vista/7/Server 2008 for Windows Vista/7/Server 2008 OS.

Issue Communications cabling Environment Sigma Cable LAN Belden Cause Communications wiring Resolution Belden 8762 cable or an  equivalent cable should be used for standard on pair communications. Belden 9502 cable  or an  equivalent cable should be used for isolated LAN communications. Click here for the Belden 8762 data sheet. Click here for the Belden 9502 data sheet.

Issue Configuration and understanding 32 bit values. Environment Sigma IC3 Modbus 32 Bit values Cause Correct configuration when reading the 32 bit value.   Resolution Below is a list of the actions carried when attempting to interface an IC3-Modbus to a third party Modbus device. The device instructions were not clear, and therefore this process was worked through. The gateway.txt  had been configured as had been suggested, but an error messages indicating the function code 4 was not allowed was received.  Modified the gateway.txt to use function code 3 which corrected the function code error, but now the register address still caused an error. Changed the gateway.txt string to 304,3,3,0xC652,1,1,0,0,0 and this eliminated the address errors, but did not return the correct value. Changed gateway entry string to 304,3,3,0xC652,1,0x0202,0,0,0 which is 32 bit unsigned value data not swapped. This still returned an incorrect value. Changed gateway entry string to 304,3,3,0xC652,1,0x1202,0,0,0 which is 32 bit unsigned value data swapped. This returned the correct value. For a copy of the Gateway.txt file click HERE.

Issue Documentation on the MSC-P-1500 Series Microsmart controller. Environment Microsmart controller MSC-P-1500 Cause Obsolete controller Resolution Click here to view the installation instructions on the MSC-P1500.

Issue The Echelon U10 USB LON adapter (part number ECH-75010R) does not include an interface cable.  Is a cable available with the proper connector for the MNL series controllers? Environment Echelon U10 LON network adapter Cause The Echelon U10 USB LON adapter (part number ECH-75010R) does not include an interface cable.  Is a cable available with the proper connector for the MNL series controllers? Resolution WPIA-CBL-1 This cable is available via iPortal.

Issue What is the advantage of having a Doubly Bus Terminated Topology segment VS Free Topology in a LON FTT 10A setup? Environment CX9900 CX9680 LON IOU Modules Cause Unknown Resolution The advantage is bus distance, with the doubly terminated bus you can have a bus length of up to 2700 meters (depending on type of cable used), with the free topology the maximum would be 500 meters. (see page 22 in the Continuum I/O Reference document). The disadvantage is the Doubly Bus Terminated method is that it does not allow free topology, nodes must wired in a bus topology (just like in the LON RS-485 485) to limit electrical reflections.

Issue Will a certain badge printer, signature pad or capture device work with Continuum? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment CyberStation Cause Certain badge printers. signature pad and cameras that have been tested and approved by ImageWare are supported. Resolution Note: ImageWare is a third party add on for Continuum, all support on compatibility questions should be directed to ImageWare at the following ImageWare Support Link. Please check the EPISuite compatible hardware list to verify whether a badge printer, signature or capture device has been tested by ImageWare. See also current device driver download page. Update as of August 2015 direct from ImageWare Systems EPI Builder Updates NEW QR Code barcode plug-in ImageWare has recently built a plug-in that provides the ability to create QR Code barcodes within EPI 6.x Designer. If you are interested in testing out this update, please let me know and I will provide you with a link for download. Camera Hardware Compatibility List: Canon cameras EOS Rebel XS, EOS Rebel T3, EOS Rebel T5 and EOS Rebel T5i Tested on Windows 7 (32-bit & 64-bit) and Windows 8.1 (64-bit) Requires IWS custom software plug-in to provide direct control and image capture from the client workstation to the camera. Plug-in is licensed and sold per client workstation. Videology cameras 1.3 MP USB Color Box Camera Tested on Windows 7 (32-bit) Camera can be used out of the box with its TWAIN driver (TWAIN data source SFT-10011 REV2.1.18). No additional IWS software plug-in is needed. 5 MP USB 2.0 Camera with Synchronized Flash and Auto Focus (24C708AF) Tested on Windows 7 (32-bit & 64-bit) Test PENDING for Windows 8.1 Camera can be used out of the box with its TWAIN driver (TWAIN driver version 2.1.22). No additional IWS software plug-in is needed. Sony camera (PENDING IWS custom plug-in release) EVI-D70 Pan/Tilt/Zoom Color NTSC Video Camera Tested on Windows 7 (32-bit & 64-bit) and Windows 8.1 (64-bit) IWS custom software plug-in provides direct control and image capture from the client workstation to the camera. Plug-in is licensed and sold per client workstation. Camera requires the dPict Aexeon LT video capture card hardware to be installed within the client workstation. Webcams EPI Builder works with most Webcams with compatible TWAIN drivers. IWS has worked with both the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 and C920 camera models. Most webcams can be used out of the box with its TWAIN driver. No additional IWS software plug-in is needed. Signature Pad Hardware Compatibility List: ePad-Ink Signature Pad VP9805 Tested on Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit) and 8.1 (64-bit) Requires IWS custom software plug-in to provide direct control and image capture from the client workstation to the device. Plug-in is licensed and sold per client workstation. Topaz SigPlus Signature Pad -L-460-HSB, T-LBK460-HSB-R and T-S571-HSB Tested on Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit) Requires IWS custom software plug-in to provide direct control and image capture from the client workstation to the device. Plug-in is licensed and sold per client workstation. NOTES EPI Builder typically supports the generic TWAIN driver, as well as Video For Windows (VFW). Furthermore, EPI also indirectly supports the WIA drivers, which Windows ports internally to the TWAIN driver. Each device manufacturer will provide drivers of some or all of these types with an implementation of their own specific functions. WIA is supported under certain circumstances. In each case the functions that will be present depend on the Manufacturer's implementation of these drivers. If you would like to internally evaluate any IWS EPI capture plug-in, please let me know and I will supply you with a 30 day evaluation license. Printer Hardware Compatibility List: Below are some of the current printers which we have received in house for testing.  Datacard SR300 Tested on Windows 7 Tested Mag encoder Digital Identification EDIsecure DCP360+ Tested on Windows 7 Fargo DTC 4500e Tested on Windows 7 and 8.1 Tested Mag encoder Fargo HDP 5000 Tested on Windows 7 Tested Mag encoder Magicard Rio Pro Duo Tested on Windows 7 and 8.1 Tested Mag encoder Matica Technologies XID 8300 Tested on Windows 7 Tested Mag encoder NiSCA PR-C101 Tested on Windows 7 Tested Mag encoder Zebra ZXP Series 7 Tested on Windows 8.1 (Windows 7 testing is pending) Tested Mag encoder Zebra ZXP Series 8 Tested on Windows 7 and 8.1 Tested Mag encoder IDP SMART-50L M N Tested on Windows 7 and 8.1 Tested Mag encoder POINTMAN USA  Test PENDING for October 2015 NOTE: We have tested other printers on Windows XP and they may be supported in Windows 7 and 8.1 depending on the available drivers. Also, other printer make/models are being used with the EPI software, but we only list printers that we've received in house for testing. If you are interested in having IWS test a specific make/model printer, please let us know and we will try to work with you and the manufacturer to obtain a demo printer in house to run through compatibility testing.

Issue How does Visitor Management work in V3? Product Line EcoStruxure Access Expert Environment Hosted Premise Version 3 Cause No directions on how to configure Visitor Management in V3 Resolution In order to use Visitor Management in V3, here are the steps to get it configured: Open up a Chrome browser and enter this url http://ax.accessxpert.com Once the site comes up, enter the instance name and necessary user credentials From the AX Header, Select Visitor Management Tab Select the Kiosk Tab and Enter the visitor's name and email address and click Next to proceed Enter the person who the Visitor is seeing, system will automatically pull up the person, click on Next Capture the Photo of the Visitor and Crop accordingly Sign into the Window and click on Check in to see "Person" An email will be generated to that person to let them know that they have a Visitor A badge will be shown on the screen which has the Visitor's Photos and information Click on the Print Button to Print a badge that can be displayed on the Visitors body Depending on the printer (eg. Dymo being used), there are some settings that may need to be set for a good picture to be captured and Printed Choose the right paper source as well as scaling value.  In this case, it is set to 70 Once everything is correct click on the Print button to send to the respective Printer Attach to the Visitor for duration of the Visit Upon completion of the Visit, select Check Out and this will Check the Visitor Out of the system

Issue Need the procedure to create an Unlock Door Schedule. Product Line EcoStruxure Access Expert Environment Version 2 Hosted Version 3 Hosted Premise Cause How to create a schedule for a door to unlock during business hours and then relock afterwards. Resolution To unlock a door or doors during a particular time, a schedule needs to be created for that duration and then assigned to the Mode of the necessary doors. The following steps describes how this should be done: 1. Create a schedule for the time duration 2. Select the particular doors from the Hardware Tree 3. Select the Mode Tab on the door editor 4. Add Mode to the Door based on what is being accomplished 5. Click on the Schedule Icon to add the necessary Schedule    6. Add Schedule, Action and Access Method  7. Save and Close the Editor 8. Once the controller verifies the configuration, the Door will follow the Mode

Issue Compatible GSM Modem for use with the I/A Series G3 SMS Driver Environment I/A Series G3 Cause An externally purchased GSM modem is required to be used for sending out alarms in an I/A Series G3 system via the G3 SMS driver. Resolution The SMS driver has been tested with Siemens MC35 GSM modem. Technically the driver should work with any GSM modem providing the GSM standard has been implemented properly by the manufacturer. Product Support have tested the Siemens MC35 equivalent modems from Cinterion with the G3 SMS driver (https://www.gemalto.com/m2m). The Cinterion devices, MC35i and MC55i have been used on several sites with no issues reported.

Issue Public time sync Servers for the United States Product Line Andover Continuum, Satchwell MicroNet, Satchwell Sigma, TAC IA Series, TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment IP Level Devices USA Cause Time synchronization is required for accurate alarming and reporting Resolution Here is a web site referencing several US based Time Sync NTP Servers. http://tf.nist.gov/tf-cgi/servers.cgi

Issue Cannot login with Admin level Continuum user.  Password either lost or restricted by Object Level Security. Environment Continuum CyberStation WebClient Cause Admin level user password has been changed and/or forgotten. Object Level Security is inhibiting access to Continuum Users. Resolution Contact Schneider Continuum Product Support Services to arrange to have database sent in for repair.  The cost of this repair varies depending on the nature of the problem.

Issue Unable to commission an I/A Series JACE-6 or JACE-7. The commissioning wizard cannot locate the sun-jre-qnx-ppc distribution file required for the installation process. Environment I/A Series G3, JACE-6, JACE-7 Cause The sun-jre-qnx-ppc distribution file was not included in the initial TAC release of build 3.6.31.6.  in addition, the Sun Hotspot Virtual Machine (JVM) for the QNX operating system included with the 3.6.31.6 build was found to have timing issues. Review TPA-IA-11-0005.00 for more details. Resolution The initial TAC release of build 3.6.31.6 was removed for download within a few days of original release.  The software was replaced by TAC build 3.6.31.7 (dated 09/29/2011). For those using I/A Series G3 Release 3.6 you must take the following actions: Discontinue using G3 release build 3.6.31.6.   Download and install the latest build, G3 release 3.6.31.7 from The Exchange Download Center.   For those instances where deployment has already occurred in the following JACE platforms JACE-6 or JACE-7, an upgrade to G3 3.6.31.7 is required. Note: The version of the Sun Hotspot JVM can be verified using the Workbench Platform tool – Platform Administration. The Java Virtual Machine (sun-jre-qnx-ppc) should indicate Sun Microsystems Inc 1.5.0.16.21 or higher.   The Enterprise Network Server, ENC-410, ENC-520, and JACE-2 platforms do not utilize the Sun Hotspot Java Virtual Machine (JVM) for QNX.  These platforms are not affected by the issue. However, it is strongly recommended to upgrade to G3 3.6.31.7 to maintain compatibility with the same version of Workbench and associated files.

Issue Receiving message that KB2919355 must be installed when installing SQL Server 2016 on Windows Server 2012R2 Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC Vista Environment Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Windows Server 2012R2 Cause To Install SQL 2016 on Windows Server 2012R2 you must have KB2919355 installed. Resolution To install KB2919355 you must first install KB2919442.  Once this patch is installed then you will need to install KB2919355.  After this patch is installed you will need to restart the server.  After the reboot you should be able to restart the SQL server install and complete it. Links for the required patches Download Windows update KB2919442 Download Windows update KB2919355

Issue Verification of BBMD broadcast table list Product Line Andover Continuum Environment bCX CyberStation Cause Where is the location of BBMD broadcast table list. Resolution Using a web browser connect to the bCX using the IP address and login. Select the "BBMD Configuration" option to the left.  (If this in not available then BBMD is not enabled). The BBMD Configuration page lists the IP address, broadcast mask, and network port for each BBMD that the bCX knows of. After a successful "Save All To Flash" has been executed from the BBMD Configuration webpage the "Saved" buttons will be checked off. After a "Teach" has been executed from the BBMD Configuration webpage, the Teach Results webpage will be displayed. If there is an entry in the BBMD Configuration webpage that has a "rejected" status on the Teach Results webpage, either continue to troubleshoot until the teach is successful or remove that entry from the BBMD Configuration webpage.

Issue The delay on and delay off functions do not work correctly inside of the 700 Menta alarm block. Instead of delaying the signal for the configured amount of time, the signal is delayed for a random amount of time before being passed on or turned off. Environment Vista XBuilder Menta Xenta Server 701, 711, 721 and 731 Cause Documented defect in 700 Menta alarm block. This defect has been confirmed in XBuilder 5.1.5 through 5.1.7. Resolution This 700 Menta issue has been corrected in XBuilder 5.1.8. If using a version of XBuilder 5.1.5 through 5.1.7 the following workaround can be used. Leave the delay on and delay off settings in the alarm block at zero. Add a delay block in front of the alarm block. Set the desired delay on and delay off values in the delay block.