1. The network is not working - why?

Answer:
This is not an Adroit problem, contact your network administrator.

2. How do I configure the Performance Log file in Windows NT?

Answer:
Follow this procedure: 1) Ensure that the Agent Server has been started. 2) Run the Performance Monitor,by entering "perfmon" in the Start\Run dialog and clicking Ok, to open the Performance monitor window 3) Press the 'View output Log file status' toolbar button, to enable the logging mode of the Performance Monitor and then press the 'Add counter' toolbar button, which enables the data to be included in the performance log, to be specified by displaying the 'Add To Log' dialog. 4) Select the objects that are required to be logged. Note multiple Objects can be selected by: simultaneously pressing the Ctrl button and selecting the required objects using the mouse. The following Objects are required for the Adroit Performance Log: Adroit Agent server, Memory, Objects and Process. Once these are selected press the 'Add' button, then press the 'Done' button to complete this step. 5) Configure the Log File Settings by pressing the 'Options' toolbar button, which opens the 'Log Options' dialog: 6) Specify the location of the log file by browsing in the desired location; then enter the name of the Adroit performance log file in the File Name edit box, which is called "PerformanceLog.log"; then specify that the file is to have a Periodic Update and set the Interval (seconds) to be 300. Then press the 'Start Log' button to begin logging events to this file. The 'Log Options' dialog will then close. 7) Press the 'Options' toolbar button again, to ensure that the correct logging options that have been set for the file. 8) Click the Cancel button and minimize the Performance Monitor by pressing the minimize button on its title bar. 9) Operate Adroit until you experience the problem, and then open the Performance Monitor. Then press the Options' toolbar button, and press the 'Stop Log' button to stop logging to the file; locate the log file and compress it using a file compression program such as Winzip (which can be obtained from www.winzip.com) and email this file to the Adroit Technologies support desk along with a description of the problem. For more information, search for this Adroit Help topic: How to Create a Performance Log file.

3. How do I communicate to Step 7 PLC's on L2/profibus or on H1 or even over MPI directly to the programming port?

Answer:
The Adroit S7 Functions driver will do just that, originally developed using Siemens simatic net or Softnet drivers to communicate to S7-300 controllers via L2, the driver also supports H1 and the MPI protocols, but not PPI, hence this driver cannot talk to the S7-200 models. The driver uses special function-blocks built into the PLC on the model 300 upwards, making communications easy to troubleshoot, as well as fast, because our driver uses the power of Siemens softnet directly. The driver is available on our CD or can be downloaded from our website at www.adroit.co.za/drivers/drivers.asp.

4. Why is the PC so slow, it takes 5 minutes before an agent appears - why?

Answer:
An Expression or Script may have gone into a loop. If the culprit is a Script agent then disable all of your scripts, save and re-start adroit, through elimination process, find and then rewrite the script. If the culprit is an expression agent, then either rewrite the expression or change the 'Evaluation' method 'Continuous' mode to 'Triggered' mode, in which the expression is only updated, where there is a change in the trigger input slot.

5. Is it recommended to install Adroit on a SQL Server 6.5/7.0 clustered server?

Answer:
No, since this will involve the installation of Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.5x or later, which may cause a catastrophic failure of the SQL Server cluster, SQL Server Agent or other SQL Server services. For more information, please see Microsoft the Knowledge Base article 820754.

6. What are the questions that should be asked whenever Adroit begins to crash or fail?

Answer:
Did Adroit work yesterday, if so what has been done recently to change things? and Do I have a backup? (if so try using the backup files).

7. Why does the Adroit Script Editor not launch but displays an error dialog instead?

Answer:
The Adroit Script Editor relies on the fact that the Micrsosoft's Script ActiveX Control is installed on this computer. If not, this can cause the above problem.
Therefore, ensure that the "msscript.ocx" does exists on this computer (this should typically be in the Window's system32 folder). If this file DOES exist then type the command "regsvr32 msscript.ocx" from the command-line to register it and then retry running the script editor.

8. How can I add my own tags to the Adroit demo, because every time I add tags to the adroit demo, save the WGP, and then exit and run the demo again, the tags are gone?

Answer:
To save your tags in the adroit demo, do the following: 1. Start the demo and add the necessary tags. 2. Save your agent configuration (click on save with the configurator open) and shut down your agent server. 3. Then go to the adroit\demos directory. 4. Rename adroit.dat to adroitold.dat 5. Rename adroit.wgp to adroit.dat 6. restart the demo and your new tags will be there.

9. How can I get RAS to work with Adroit?

Answer:
A number of possible methods can be used, each having their own advantages and disadvantages: ONE: Using a direct connection from a UI to an AS: When a UI connects over a slow connection, it usually slows down the agent server because the agent server has to honor subscriptions across a slow link. This slows down all other SCADA operations performed by the server most importantly scanning. The agent server tries to guard against this happening by disconnecting the client if it takes too long to feed it subscription data - this is known as a "slow client" event, which is recorded in the eventlog. A registry setting (see Advanced Registry Configuration in Adroit Help) is available to cut off slow clients if subscription updates take longer than a certain amount of time. Advantages: This method is best suited for when there are only a limited number of changes being sent across the RAS connection i.e. less than 8 changes per second (this of course depends on the speed of the RAS link) and when the number of tags per mimic are limited to less than 50. Disadvantages: It is not possible to open trends and large mimics because of the large amount of data that needs to be transferred during these operations. TWO: Configure WANLink on both sides of the RAS connection. WANLink facilitates the transfer of tag values over a RAS connection between a live agent server and a dummy agent server. Advantages: This slow link does not affect the live agent server that you are connecting to because the live server is polled by WANLink at the best speed possible. Disadvantages: You are unable to configure your live agent server and you are unable to view historical trend data. Logging of the tags in the dummy agent server is possible but it will not be at the resolution of the live server. THREE: Using a 3rd party software product such as VNC or PCAnywhere VNC or PCAnywhere allows you to take control of a remote PC by taking control of the remote mouse and keyboard. Advantages: The agent server remains unaffected and trends can be viewed on the remote machine. VNC and PCAnywhere both have inbuilt security to prevent indiscriminate access to the remote machine and remote agent server configuration is also possible. Disadvantages: Only one connection can be made at a time and the remote computer is "taken over" by the user connecting over RAS.

10. How do you get the PC to shut down properly. It hangs when the message “please wait while your computer shuts down” appears - why?

Answer:
This is not an Adroit problem, it is usually a problem with your operating system, contact your network administrator. If the problem persists, shut down Adroit before you shut down the computer (i.e stop the Agent Server service if needed), check for Adroit in the task list, and then shut down Windows.

11. How can the Agent Server and/or the User Interface be started automatically?

Answer:
Put copies of the icons in the Startup Program group or install the Agent Server as a service.

12. How do you run a batch file with more than one command line?

Answer:
Use the start command in front of every line. For a detailed description of the use of the START command type in "start /?" At the command prompt.

13. Why are network connection very slow on Agent Servers and Adroit User Interfaces?

Answer:
One possible reason for this is that your domain server can have more than one network card with the same IP range (for instance: 10.10.10.101 for Card 1; 10.10.10.102 for Card 2, and 10.10.10.103 for Card 3), which creates a loop on the network.
Please ensure that if your domain server has more than one network connection, that each is being used to connect to a DIFFERENT network (with a different IP range – for instance:  10.10.20.xx and 10.10.10.xx)

14. Why cannot I browse the network, even though our DNS is working?

Answer:
When I try to browse the network, I am told that I don’t have the rights or privileges to access it..

But our DNS IS working because I am able to open the Start/Run dialog and type in a computer name ( e.g. \\COMPUTER1) and the computer’s shares are displayed OK.

You may need to enable your NETBIOS, especially when you have a WINS role configured on your Domain Controller.

You may need to enable your NETBIOS, especially when you have a WINS role configured on your Domain Controller.

Note:  The following procedure applies to Windows XP.

1. Click the Start menu.
2. Select the Settings menu and click on Network Connections.
3. Right-click the Local Area Connection and click on Properties.
4. In the General tab, scroll down the This connection uses the following items list and select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) item.
5. Click the Properties button.
6. Click the Advanced button.
7. Select the WINS tab of the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog.
8. Click the Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP setting.
9. Click OK to all the open dialogs.
10. Select the Settings menu and click on Network Connections.
11. Right-click the Local Area Connection and click on Properties.
12. In the General tab, scroll down the This connection uses the following items list and select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) item.
13. Click the Properties button.
14. Click the Advanced button.
15. Select the WINS tab of the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog.
16. Click the Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP setting.
17. Click OK to all the open dialogs.
18. Right-click the Local Area Connection and click on Properties.
19. In the General tab, scroll down the This connection uses the following items list and select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) item.
20. Click the Properties button.
21. Click the Advanced button.
22. Select the WINS tab of the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog.
23. Click the Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP setting.
24. Click OK to all the open dialogs.
25. In the General tab, scroll down the This connection uses the following items list and select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) item.
26. Click the Properties button.
27. Click the Advanced button.
28. Select the WINS tab of the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog.
29. Click the Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP setting.
30. Click OK to all the open dialogs.
31. Click the Properties button.
32. Click the Advanced button.
33. Select the WINS tab of the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog.
34. Click the Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP setting.
35. Click OK to all the open dialogs.
36. Click the Advanced button.
37. Select the WINS tab of the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog.
38. Click the Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP setting.
39. Click OK to all the open dialogs.
40. Select the WINS tab of the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog.
41. Click the Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP setting.
42. Click OK to all the open dialogs.
43. Click the Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP setting.
44. Click OK to all the open dialogs.
45. Click OK to all the open dialogs.
46. Restart your computer.

You should now be able to browse the network, if not then some other networking issue is preventing you from doing so.