Panel Server - Known bugs by firmware

[Sam_Vosch]

Hello All,

To prevent others from falling into the same issues as we have with this range of devices, I have compiled a short, list of bugs in the recent PAS firmware that we have encountered. These bugs are centered around file drop, accurate of file timestamp logging and ETL. 

Firmware 1.6.0

1. NTP functionality is working but not reporting in the web page correctly. Web page Reports 'OK' but the 'Last Date and Time Synchronization' does not update making it appear like it hasn't synced in a long time. Looking into the logs we can see it is syncing. The .CSV file drops are correctly timestamped but are in UTC+0 timezone.
2. The .CSV format issue. The PAS .CSV file includes "" around every field. This causes all sorts of issues to .CSV extractions tools such as ETL. This was introduced in 1.6.0.

Firmware 1.5.1

1. NTP functionality not working. Reports 'OK' but never syncs time. Even when a completely random manual IP is used it reports 'OK' 🙂
2. When a SmartLink is added, SFTP fails after 1-3 weeks. Appears to be centered around the PAS losing SmartLink settings (according to the PAS logs). Reboot will make file publication work again BUT without some SmartLink device names in .CSV file. Data extraction tools like ETL cannot process the files without a devices name.

Firmware 1.5.0

1. Same bugs as 1.5.1

NOTES:

A temporary work around for the 1.6.0 .CSV " format issue can be achieved using a PowerShell script and Window Task scheduler. It's not ideal and may be prone to fail when windows update.

Other minor issues:

• Still no native support for Schneiders PM5350 meter after many firmware releases 😞
• The Time zone settings limited to 0+ UTC. Difficult to work with when you don't live in 0+ UTC
• SFTP File publication only supports 1minute, 2 minutes, 10minutes and 1hour. There is no 15minute interval.
• When manually exporting data from the PAS800, the .CSV file format is incredibly hard to work with compared to the ComX510. Most customers cannot use the .CSV exports as the Panel Server in the way the marketing material suggests, but require either Energy Hub or PME to work with it.

[UdhayakumarAK]

Hello @Sam_Vosch 

Thanks for highlighting these points. For NTP time sync issue, have you raised any customer support case? If not would recommend you to raise a support ticket with logs & screenshots.

For csv file format issue, as you mentioned temporary solution is to use the PowerShell script & this will be addressed at system level in ETL tool hotfix releasing this month end.

https://www.se.com/in/en/faqs/FAQ000259575/

Thanks & Regards

Udhay

[Sam_Vosch]

Hello UdhayakumarAK, thank you for your reply.

I raised the issues with Power Solutions Global Expert Technical Support weeks ago (logs included), and you replied to the issues. As you know from my latest reply, some of these issues are still ongoing as we find out more about the issues.

The main purpose of this post is to inform the wider community of the issues with the PAS devices. I have not seen a bulletin or post informing the community of the community of serious firmware issues that will compromise data into their PME/PSO systems. Hopefully this community post will help other Schneider partners and prevent others finding the same issues the hard way.

[Sam_Vosch]

Further point on firmware 1.5.1: 

We found that Firmware 1.5.1, while it also has the same sync issues as 1.6, it does not add the UTC time offset to the .CSV file.

This can cause serious erroneous data entries into customer sites. Essentially, if ETL or similar applications are used, it will input the data 12 hours up to into the future (if you are in +12 GMT). 

Special care will need to be taken if the site uses consumption data for billing purposes.

[Guillaume_Evrard]

Hello NTP is working well using 1.6, why are you saying it is not ? There was an issue with the SE NTP server, that should have been fixed.

[Sam_Vosch]

Hello Guillaume,
I have been working with support and it looks like NTP functionality is working but not Reporting in the web page correctly. Web page Reports 'OK' but the 'Last Date and Time Synchronization' does not update making it appear like it hasn't synced in a long time. Looking into the logs we can see it is syncing. The .CSV file drops are correctly timestamped but are in UTC+0 timezone.
I will update the original post.

[Eric_HAVAS]

Hello Sam,
It s been reported in web page but only when time difference between PaS time and ntp time is signifiant.
Regarding CSV, the "" were added following customer complains regarding "special" characters used commonly in their country causing unexpecting behaviour in csv export of SFTP transfer.