Archive for the 'Utilities and tools' Category

How to Create/Access Subfolders In TortoiseSVN

Published by cpascu March 15th, 2010 in Database and Utilities and tools. 0 Comments

Note: This article assumes that the user already has full access to the repository.

  1. Within a folder already linked to the root URL of the repository (http://www.yoursvn.com/CVS/ ), create a new subfolder (e.g. Project).
  2. Create a completely new folder at a different location, which will link to the newly created subfolder in the repository. (e.g. Backup)
  3. Right-click the folder and select SVN Checkout…
  4. For the URL of the repository use the rootURL/subfolder (e.g. http://www.yoursvn.com/CVS/Project/)
  5. Select OK.
  6. Enter the username and password.
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Where are the debug files located – CAS BACnet Explorer

Published by Steven Smethurst March 12th, 2010 in Utilities and tools. 0 Comments

When sending support a bug report for CAS BACnet Explorer please include these three debug files.

  • C:\Users\<user>\Documents\CAS BACnet Explorer\Debuglog.txt
  • C:\Users\<user>\Documents\CAS BACnet Explorer\mstp_log.txt (If BACnet MSTP)
  • C:\Users\<user>\Documents\CAS BACnet Explorer\packets.pkt (If BACnet IP or BACnet Eth)

These files will help us tremendousness to find a solution to your problem. These files are plain text and they should compress down to 3-4mb with 7-Zip (free and opensource), or WinRar (free unlimited demo)

Packets.pkt can be opened with Wireshark.

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CAS BACnet Explorer – USB Key updater

Published by Steven Smethurst March 10th, 2010 in Utilities and tools. 0 Comments

The KeyUpdater.exe is an application at is used to update the USB product keys for CAS BACnet Explorer.

Directions:

  1. Extract the three files included in the Zip archive to a temporary directory (C:\temp\)
  2. Run the ‘KeyUpdater.exe‘ application
  3. Insert the USB product key, It should look similar to this. A green LED should illuminate if property connected.
  4. Click the “Update Key” button

If the key was updated correctly you should get a dialog that says “Done”

This error message can happen for the following reasons.

  • The USB key is not plugged in. Please ensure that the USB key is plugged in and the internal LED is illuminated.
  • The wrong USB key is used. The USB product key looks like this. Ensure that you are using the correct USB key.
  • The USB key is plugged in to a USB hub that does not have enough power to program the USB key. Plug the USB key directly in to the PC.
  • The applcation is missing the two included DLLs. This application requires two DLLs included with the application to run property.
  • The application is run from with in an Zip file instead of a temporary directly. Some Zip application do not extract all the files from a archive before running the EXE. extract the files to a temp directory before attempting to run this applications.

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How to change the default BACnet port (47808) in CAS BACnet Explorer

Published by Steven Smethurst March 9th, 2010 in BACnet and Utilities and tools. 0 Comments

Question: How to change the default BACnet port (47808) in CAS BACnet Explorer?

Answer: You can change the default BACnet port for CAS BACnet Explorer in the settings dialog. The default BACnet port is  47808 or 0xBAC0 (HEX)

Note: You can change the default port that wireshark uses to detect and decode BACnet messages. See this artile for more information Monitor any port using any protocol with Wireshark

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CAS BACnet Explorer USB/Software activation problems

Published by Steven Smethurst March 4th, 2010 in BACnet and Utilities and tools. 0 Comments

Some common problems with activating CAS BACnet Explorer with the USB or Software product keys. This article is based off of CAS BACnet Explorer v2.01aH

Software product key

Err #3: invalid product key. Please request a new product key

The software key is long and complicated, do not try and type it in manually. Instead you should copy and past it in to the licence dialog from your email. It should be all capital letters and numbers. no spaces, no special characters, or line brakes. If you copied the product key incorrectly you will get an error message dialog like this.

Try again to copy the product key from your email, ensure that you copy it exactly with no spaces or line feeds.  If this error message continues then contact support.

Err #5: this Key is not for this user. check the email address and try again.

The software product key is tied to your email address. You must use the same email address that you use to request the product key from to activate the product key.

Err #9: Invalid product key. Please request a new product key

Err #9: Invalid product key. Please request a new product key

This error message could be caused by a few different scenario.

  • If you are try to activate an old product key that you have already used.
  • If  you are try to activate an product key that has expired

Request a new product key from within CAS BACnet Explorer and attempt to activate CAS BACnet Explorer again.

Err #11: This key is not for this computer

Err #11: This key is not for this computer

The Software key is tied to the computers MAC address it was requested from. If you request a key from one computer and try to activate it on anther computer it will give you this error message.

You must request the key from within CAS BACnet explorer on the computer that you intended to use it on.

Hardware USB product key

The hardware USB product key resolves a lot of the problems and frustrations that are caused by the software product key.

Do you have the correct activation key for CAS BACnet explorer?

The product key should be semi transparent green with the words “ROCKEY4ND” written on the side of it. If your product key looks like something else it probably for a different product.

When the USB key is plugged in correctly,  a green LED should illuminate in the end of the USB key.

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How do I reset CAS BACnet Explorers settings to the defaults

Published by Steven March 2nd, 2010 in BACnet and Utilities and tools. 0 Comments

Question: How do I reset CAS BACnet Explorers settings to the defaults

Answer:

Delete the settings.xml file found in your computers documents folder.

C:\Users\<user>\Documents\CAS BACnet Explorer\Settings.xml

The settings and debug files for CAS BACnet Explorer are saved in to your computers documents folder.

  • Settings.xml – This is the main settings file, Delete this file to reset CAS BACnet Explorer back to defaults.
  • Debuglog.txt - This files contains debug and running information that is useful when tracking down bugs in CAS BACnet Explorer. This file is cleared every time the CAS BACnet Explorer is launched.
  • mstp_log.txt – This file contains the most recent session of MSTP traffic. This file will only be available if the last session had BACnet MSTP enabled. This file is cleared every time the CAS BACnet Explorer is launched.
  • packets.pkt - This file contains the most recent session of Ethernet/IP traffic. This file will only be available if the last session had BACnet IP or BACnet MSTP enabled. This file is cleared every time the CAS BACnet Explorer is launched.
  • dump.txt – This file contains a TEXT version of the BACnet tree from your last session. This file is overwritten at the end of every session.
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Useful tools and applications for Modbus

Published by cpascu March 1st, 2010 in Modbus, RS485 and Utilities and tools. 0 Comments

Here’s a useful list of tools to use with Modbus devices:

  • CAS Modbus Scanner (download)
    • Allows us to retrieve coils, inputs, holding registers, and input registers from a Modbus enabled device.
  • Modbus RTU Parser (download)
    • Allows us to analyze an RTU message and see what type of message it is, if there are any errors, what device the message came from, etc…
  • Modbus TCP Parser (download)
    • Allows us to analyze an TCP message and see what type of message it is, if there are any errors, what device the message came from, etc…
  • Wireshark (homepage)
    • Used for capturing Modbus TCP messages coming through the ethernet port.
    • A full list of the captured data can be found here.
  • Modbus Specification (pdf)
    • Official specification of the Modbus Application Protocol
  • Nerds In Control (homepage)
    • Very useful community website for automation professionals.
    • An excellent place to ask for Modbus help or help others with their Modbus problems.
  • Modbus Simulator (download)
    • Used for simulating a Modbus server for testing and learning purposes.
  • Simply Modbus (download)
    • Good Modbus TCP and RTU software, an alternative to our CAS Modbus Explorer and Scanner.
    • Website provides good tutorials on Modbus.
  • Capturing with serial connections (tutorial)
    • How to capture Modbus messages with a serial connection using free tools like PuTTY.
  • Modhopper (info)
    • Allows connecting up to 128 Modbus devices through wifi to any Modbus network.

    • Feel free to suggest other tools that you find useful and I will add them to the list.

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SQLite vs mySQL (short summary)

Published by cpascu February 22nd, 2010 in Database and Utilities and tools. 0 Comments

If you’re trying to decide between SQLite and mySQL (which one to use as your DBMS), you must first figure out what you need. These few simple questions should point you in the right direction:

  • Do you have a storage space limit?
    • The SQLite library is a mere 250kb, which is perfect for most embeded devices that don’t come with very much storage space.
  • Do you need the database to be portable?

    • SQLite stores the database directly into a single file, which can be simply copied or moved.
    • mySQL has an export feature which lets you back the database into a single file. mySQL uses its own format for storing data so the content can’t be moved or viewed by other DMBSs. Only after the database is exported will it be portable. Depending on how large the database is, this could be time consuming.
  • Do you need security or authentication for your database?

    • SQLite does not provide an authentication system. You can add one within your application, however the database file itself can be updated/read by anyone.
    • mySQL requires a username and password to make any kind of changes to the database.
  • How large will your database get in the future?

    • SQLite requires too much memory to run if the database is over 1GB in size (256 bytes of RAM for each MB of database space).
    • mySQL can have a maximum database size of 4GB.
  • Will the database be accessed multiple times simultaneously?
    • SQLite does not handle multiple simultaneous queries well. All read operations have priority over the write operations. There is a small delay caused by this since the operations must wait their turn, which could become a problem if there are large numbers of simultaneous queries.
    • mySQL has a query mechanism which handles mutiple query operations very well.

Hopefully your basic doubts about SQLite and mySQL have now been answered.

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Same Windows (XP) license on both the host machine and virtual machine

Published by cpascu February 16th, 2010 in Operating Systems and Utilities and tools. 1 Comment

Can we use the same Windows license used with our machine’s installation to install Windows on a virtual machine (VM), which is running on top of the original installation? What is the legal method for achieving this?

Unfortunately, you cannot have a VM running Windows using the same license used on your host machine, because the VM is treated as a separate computer. The Microsoft EULA is very ambiguous when referring to virtualization:

“The term ‘COMPUTER’ as used herein shall mean the
HARDWARE, if the HARDWARE is a single
computer system, or shall mean the computer system with
which the HARDWARE operates, if the
HARDWARE is a computer system component.”

1.1 Installation and use. You may install, use, access,
display and run one copy of the SOFTWARE on the
COMPUTER. The SOFTWARE may not be used by more than
two (2) processors at any one time on the COMPUTER,
unless a higher number is indicated on the COA.”

“1.2 SOFTWARE as a Component of the COMPUTER – Transfer.
This license may not be shared, transferred to or used
concurrently on different computers. The SOFTWARE
is licensed with the COMPUTER as a single integrated
product and may only be used with the COMPUTER.”

After various forums responses from several Microsoft representatives its clear that Microsoft expects you to purchase a new license for every Windows installation.

Some legal solutions to this problem:

  • The obvious one: Buy another Windows license to use with your VM. Not very desirable, seeing as Vista and Windows 7 are each over $70. Windows XP is not even sold anymore (according to Microsoft).
  • Use Linux as the host OS, using your Windows license only on the VM (Linux has excellent VM capabilities)
  • Get Vista Ultimate along with Software Assurance from Microsoft. This allows up to 4 VM uses of the same license key.
  • See if running Linux on the VM instead of Windows suits your needs (simulate Windows using Wine, etc…), and keep the Windows installation on the host machine.
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Monitor any port using any protocol with Wireshark

Published by cpascu January 12th, 2010 in Utilities and tools. 1 Comment

Changing the protocol associated with a port while monitoring it with Wireshark can be very useful.

For example if you were trying to monitor some web traffic but your web proxy is on port 9191, how would you get Wireshark to treat port 9191 as HTTP (or as port 80)?

To change the protocol associated with a port:

  • Open wireshark
  • Go to Edit -> Preferences -> Protocols
  • Search for your protocol and click it
  • On the right hand side you should find a list of ports considered to be using the protocol
  • To add your own port, simply add a comma “,” after the last port listed and enter your own

Simply restart Wireshark and restart your capture for the changed to take effect.

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