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PCEDCSA place for people to share ideas for Process Control Engineering

DeltaV Problems and Solutions

WARNING Invalid system ID in License String

This error has been seen when trying to load license �les to a DeltaV virtual machine being used for the �rst

time. The license binding is from the original copy of the DeltaV system needs to be broken and rebuilt. To do

this:

1)In Physical network, select your simulate node, right click->licensing->unassign license

2)In System Con�guration, select licenses, delete the licenses.

3)do a download

4)restart your virtual machine

5)Ensure your dongle key is in the machine

6)ensure the license �le that goes with the dongle is on your machine.

From DeltaV explorer

7)File->licensing->Load License File

8)In Physical network, right click your simulate node->licensing->assign license

Active Support License is Required for this Hot�x

1) Ensure you have the latest support license loaded to your system’s proplus.

2) You must be at the machine you are installing the hot�xes to. It is not possible to install DeltaV hot�xes

remotely.

CIOC Not Communicating With Controller

Flashed upgrade the controller with issue with the latest software revision

Newly Installed CIOCs Cannot be Identi�ed

Removed the extender cables

Flash Upgrading Controllers

For �ash upgrades, you just have to use the upgrade utility of DeltaV. For your redundant controllers, there

should be no issue. But for your simplex controller, you’ll have to look for a window to do that so as not to

a�ect a running process.

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Would there be any adverse e�ect if the controllers are not immediately �ash upgraded after installing any

controller hot�x bundle?

There would be no e�ect if the �ash upgrade of controllers is delayed until the next plant maintenance. The

customer can install the controller hot�x bundle in their workstation and schedule the �ashing of the

controllers at a later time.

Installation Instructions for DeltaV Systems

For documents on setting up a server for DeltaV, log into guardian and have a look at the KBs

KB AP-0600-0151 Windows XP and Server 2003 Installation Instructions for DeltaV Systems

KB AP-0800-0136 Windows Vista and Server 2008 Installation Instructions for DeltaV Systems

If you plan to make an application station a domain controller that already has deltaV installed, you will need

to remove deltaV and then promote the machine as a domain controller. Then, reinstall DeltaV. This also

holds for installing remote terminal services and possibly microsoft o�ce.

Adding Windows 7 Workstation to System

I. Instructions/KBA for setting up a windows 7 box to run DeltaV 11 (Similar to XPHelp.zip but for version 11

and windows 7)

KB AK-1000-0068 Windows 7 and Server 2008 Installation Instructions for DeltaV v11 Systems

KB AK-1000-0092 Windows 7 and Server 2008 Operating System Manual Installation Instructions

II. Procedure that speci�es an order for adding machines to a DeltaV network

Aside from the KBA’s above, you can check on the DeltaV Books Online speci�cally the topic of “Con�guring

Other Workstations” for details.

Basically here are the procedures,

1. On the DeltaV Explorer in the ProPlus, create a new node with its type depending on the type of

workstation that you’ll be adding to the network.

2. Create a workstation con�guration �le

3. On the new workstation, install the OS and set-up the machine as stated in the KBA’s above.

4. Join the workstation to the domain �rst (through Windows) before installing DeltaV.

a. Login (locally) to the operator station and use Windows to join it to the Domain (My Computer |

Properties | Computer Name tab).

b. Once the workstation is successfully joined to the domain, logo� locally and then re-login as a Domain

Administrator, then install DeltaV.

ProPLUS Swap-out Procedure in a Server 2003 Domain Environment

KB AP-05000-0005

InSight Throws OPC Errors and Will Not Load

No OPC connection. Unknown Error: Couldn’t get error string from server.(-2147312566)

ERROR – Failed to Connect To Opc Server.

This application’s database connection has been lost or the server has stopped.

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Fix:

1. Open a command prompt, type net stop deltav

2. Type regall /register

3. When the SERVPWD window opens, either enter the password or click the set to default depending on

which is used in your DeltaV system. Please use the same DeltaVAdmin password as the rest of workstations

on the DeltaV System.

4. Wait for the utility to �nish then restart the machine.

After the reboot, try to use PHV and OPCWatchIt. Also try starting DeltaV InSight.

Having Issues Joining Machines to Domain

Event ID 409

Fix:

http:/technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc735694(v=ws.10).aspx

Event ID 4007

Fix: Note- be careful with this and know how your domain is supposed to look

http://www.techtalkz.com/windows-help/89812-event-4007-unable-open-zone-psstemp-deleteme.html

Removed keys from HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DNS Server\Zones (any key

beginning with server name were removed)

The operation fails because the active domain server installation wizard was unable to convert the

computer account ZZZ to an active domain controller account.Access denied

see KBA NK-1100-1055

The security database on the server does not have a computer account for this workstation trust

relationship

Remove machine from the DeltaV domain and put it on mshome network, restart

Put machine back on deltav domain, restart

Enabling DCOM

Type “dcomcnfg” on windows>Start>Run.

Then on the component services right click on “My Computer” and Select “Properties”

On “My Computer Properties” select the “Default Properties Tab”

Verify if the option “Enable Distributed COM on this computer” is checked. (Check if not)

The RPC Server is Unavailable

The issue was due to the “workstation hardening” in DeltaV 11.3.1. It was resolved by clearing the check

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boxes for the Network Security items in the Group Policy on the Proplus, then rebooting the Application

Station for the change to take e�ect.

Experience Freezing in the Displays for all the Operator Stations

The issue was resolved by changing the SCU paths in the a�ected workstations.

The SCU con�guration interface is rather ancient but its simple and easy to use.

DeltaV->Installation->DeltaV Operator System Con�guration Utility

Choose the folder tree button and you will be presented with the path the workstation is using to reference

the graphics.

Failed to Update Current Dataset for alarms and Events Seen on Proplus Diagnostics

Recreate the Alarms and Events Database by performing the �procedure.

1. Launch Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and connect to the Event Chronicle server (ProPlus).

2. Expand the database folder and delete the Ejournal and EJOver�ow databases by doing a right-click then

select Delete. Ensure that the option Close existing connections is selected.

3. Close SQL Server Management Studio and launch Windows Explorer. Make sure that the folder

DeltaV\DVData\CHRONICLE does not have any Ejournal or EJOver�ow �les.

4. Stop the DeltaV service from the Windows Services console and then wait about 5 minutes.

5. Restart DeltaV service. This will create a new empty Event Chronicle database.

6. Verify that the new Event Chronicle database has been created by using SQL Server Management Studio.

The new Ejournal and EJOver�ow databases should now be seen under the SQL databases directory.

Do DeltaV Smart Switches Support VLANS?

No

I do have to give Emerson credit though, the web interface for their switches is pretty nice.

and no, they will not give you the password to go into ss enable mode for the switches.

Setting up Smart Switches

The use of serial communications is necessary back in DeltaV V10.3 because there is still no Smart Switch

Command Center (SSCC).

In v11.3, the DeltaV Smart Switches are commissioned, locked, unlocked, monitored using the SSCC.

The Smart Switch Command Center will create a control module for each switch automatically during

commissioning. It is asking for information on which Plant Area this control module will be saved and which

Workstation/Node will it run at. You can select AREA_A and the Proplus as a default.

How Yellow Pages Works Graphics auto Update

See KB AP-0500-0084

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The graphics will be propagated to the other workstations as soon as you perform a set-up data download. If

you don’t want this to happen, uncheck the Displays & Charts from the Auto-Update Service Control. Select

the workstation that you don’t want to have the graphics from the list of workstation on the Auto-Update

Service Control.

Personally, I like my grpahics to be propagated as soon as their added to a node. I use a script to push the

�le out to all the pic folders instantly (no download needed) it can be done from any workstation.

If Right Click Menu no Longer Appears in IFIX- Administrator Mode

add the following script to whichever graphic the menu is not working

Private Sub CFixPicture_MouseDown(ByVal Button As Integer, ByVal Shift As Integer, ByVal X As Double,

ByVal Y As Double)

On Error GoTo ErrorHandler

If Button = vbKeyRButton Then

‘Track #36546 – Removed IEPOP1 on : 12/3/01

frszCreateAnEPMMenu Me, False

End If

Exit Sub

ErrorHandler:

frsHandleError

End Sub

How Many Datasets are There Per Port in a VIM card

Each VIM is seen by the controller as up to 4 Virtual DeltaV Serial Cards. Each card has 2 port. Each port has

16 datasets and therefore, 32 datasets per card. Each data set can support 100 register values. Therefore,

each port can have a maximum of 1600 register values.

OPC Mirror Not Communicating Magenta Values

Ensure installed hot�xes are the same on all DeltaV network consoles.

OPC Point Usage

DCS DeltaV OPC Points Usage

SQL Using a Lot of Memory on PROPLUS

The SQL performance is not dictated by DeltaV, this behavior is typical and is an intended behavior of the

SQL Server bu�er pool. Please read on the following link for further explanation.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321363

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To see the users currently logged in to each DeltaV WorkStation

1.In the Proplus, open DeltaV Diagnostics.

2.Right-click on a workstation, then select “Remote Client Diagnostics”

3.A window will open showing the active and inactive connections for that particular workstation.

What Constitutes a DST

The following are the function blocks that create DST counts.

AI – Analog Input: One AI DST

ALM – Alarm Detection: One AI DST

AO – Analog Output: One AO DST

CALC – Calculation: One AI DST

DI – Discrete Input: One DI DST

DO – Discrete Output: One DO DST

FFMDI – Multiple Discrete Input: Eight DI DSTs

FFMDO – Multiple Discrete Output: Eight DO DSTs

PIN – Pulse Input: One DI DST

Which Ports and Protocol Does the SOA use to Con�gure a Firewall

Documentation for setting up SOA can be found from \DeltaV\hlp – SOAAdminApp.chm and

SOAGateway.chm. Details about port information and guidelines can be found from Troubleshooting SOA

Web Services.

DeltaV Excel Add-In

For this to work, you must be running excel 2003 SP3 or 2007 SP1 or SP2. It must also be runing on a deltaV

workstation.

DeltaV Extra Programs

Installation �les for these can be found on Disc 1 of your DeltaV installation discs

E:\DV_Extras

BH_Server

Campaign Manager Operator Interface

DVWebServer

DeltaVReporter

HistoryAnalysis

OPCMirror

OPCPager

OPCRemote

SOA Gateway

SoftPhaseTemplates

VIMNetExplorer

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WebServices

Xi Reporter

IOPCBrowseServerAddressSpace::BrowseOPCItemIDs() failed:c0040803

This happened when we had a virtual environment for our DeltaV network. We had a backup of the virtual

machine APPS and decided to reload it. When you do this, the proplus gets confused because it already had

an identical machine with the same name on the network. Therefore, it will be necessary to

1) Remove the APPS machine from explorer on the proplus, do a download.

2) remove apps machine from network (join to mshome or something other than deltav domain)

3) recreate the apps in proplus explorer, assign licenses

4) export workstation con�g

5) join apps to domain

6) run workstation con�g from export in 4

7) download changed setup data from proplus

8) opcwatchit should then be able to brows deltav opce database

DeltaV Operate 10.3 Freezes at 26% Load

Error Number: -2147212502 (8004232a)

A network transaction is in progress

Followed by

Error Number -2147467259 (80004005)

Unspeci�ed error

For some reason when I ran the initial DeltaV install, the hot�xes that came on Disk II wouldn’t load. After

manually installing them, the errors in operate went away.

If you are getting the same error in DeltaV, ensure hot�xes DeltaV_103_83333 and DeltaV_103_84615 have

been installed from Disk II. After hot�x installation and reboot, check the Microsoft Control Panel to ensure

the hot�xes are installed properly. No doubt the latest hot�xes from Emerson would also do the trick and

would probably supersede these.

DeltaV and Dell Open Manage

DeltaV is compatible with Dell Open Manage- for details, see KB AP-0700-0071

Certain Versions of DeltaV require certain versions of Internet Explorer that may not be compatible with

certain versions of Open Manage. So, we just installed google chrome on all of our servers and use that to

interface with Open Manage.

“Failed to Update Current Dataset Information” in DeltaV Diagnostic

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For this issue- recreate the Event Chronicle database. If you need the datasets from this existing database,

back them up using Event Chronicle Administration You can also use SQL Server Management Studio to

backup the EJournal and EJOver�ow databases.

Here is the procedure to recreate the SQL Event Chronicle Database:

1) Launch Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and connect to the Event Chronicle server: (Machine

Name)\DELTAV_CHRONICLE.

2) Expand the database folder and delete the Ejournal and EJOver�ow databases by right click/delete. Before

clicking the OK button, make sure the “close existing connections” is selected.

3) Close SQL Server Management and launch Windows Explorer. Make sure that the folder

DVDATA\CHRONICLE does not have any Ejournal or EJOver�ow �les.

4) Stop DeltaV service from the Windows Services console (Start > Run > net stop deltav) and then wait about

5 minutes.

5) Restart DeltaV service (Start > Run > net start deltav). This will create a new empty database.

6) Verify that the new Event Chronicle database has been created by using SQL Server Management Studio.

The new Ejournal and EJOver�ow databases should now be seen under the SQL databases directory.

Refer to KBA AP-0900-0012 “Backing Up and Restoring the Alarms and Events Database on DeltaV v9.3 and

Later” for further detail.

How to add a speci�c workstation node on “Con�gure Event Chronicle” of Process History View

For you to able to add the workstations on the drop down menu of “events data” you have to enable the

Event Chronicle of speci�c workstation.

The Events Data selection may be any workstation in the system with an Event Chronicle enabled.

To do this, right click on the alarms and events of speci�c workstation then check the enabled box. A

separate license is required if you want to use it in di�erent operator or application station. Check the

licensing properties of DeltaV system from the Proplus node and see how many Event Chronicle license you

have on the system.

Location of Ejournal File

\d$\DeltaV\DVData\CHRONICLE

4 thoughts on “DeltaV Problems and Solutions”

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VLANS in DeltaV and the Smart Switch

The reason the smart switch does not support VLANS is because the DeltaV network does not support

VLANS. Sure you can use other switches and create a VLAN if you want canT prevent it – not sure why

though as you should not be bridging the DeltaV network directly to the plant LAN (this is why people use a

VLAN) as it creates a signi�cant security risk and DeltaV is not tested and supported with a VLAN on the

network.

Also you can’t get the password as they do not want you to change the switch con�g from what is

supported.

Bob

May 18, 2013 at 5:12 pm

well, we had a situation where we had no �bers left and couldn’t get the money to run a new line. We needed

a plant lan. So, we took out the DeltaV switches, put in ciscos on eigther end, made vlans out of the plant lan

and primary and put them together in a trunk. Primary and plant lan now share the same �ber pair while

maintaining isolation of network tra�c. seems to work alright.

admin

May 22, 2013 at 2:39 am

Post author

I have forgotten deltav main server machine administrator password.

Kindly help me if any one can

Thanks

saeed

October 13, 2013 at 5:05 pm

admin

October 19, 2013 at 9:02 pm

Post author

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Try Hiren’s boot disk. It will allow you to blow away the administrator password on any windows box. It also

will piss o� the IT department if you do this at work on machines they manage >:]