Monitoring Solution
Introduction Header
The OROS Monitoring solution is a tool dedicated to advanced triggering based on analysis results. You can do a trigger on any scalar value of NVGate. It includes a "watch dog" feature to keep NVGate and the analyzer running over a long period of time.
It can manage the automatic recovery of the Monitoring module, restart the analysis, NVGate, as well as the analyzer (using the additional USB/RJ11 autonomy box).
This module routinely identifies and evaluates user selected parameters and provides a panel of conditional actions to complete. The main features are:
- Ensure the analyzer is running.
- Ensure NVGate is running.
- Trigger actions (macro, exe, start a plug in, etc.) depending on conditional measured scalar values.
This module is dedicated for mid to long term monitoring in order to have an autonomous recording and analysis.
Figure 1 - Monitoring Application Interface
Operating the Monitoring Solution
First Steps
From NVGate, setup a project dedicated to monitoring and display the scalar values you may want to track on your current layout. Then, save the project and launch the Monitoring application. It will recognize some parameters and display your scalars in the current layout.
First, verify the following parameters are correct in the parameters panel: NVGate folder location, analyzer IP and COM port. Then, configure the condition you want for each scalar and linked actions. To do that, select an operator to compare the measured value to the target value (which must also be defined). For example, if you select ">" and "2" for an acceleration scalar, when the value is larger than 2 the selected action will be triggered.
Finally, close the Monitoring Application, close NVGate, shutdown your analyzer, and then launch the Monitoring Application. If everything starts by itself, Monitoring was setup properly and monitoring has initiated.
User Interface
The user interface main window is as below. It is built with 3 main sections: Parameters, Monitoring Panel, and the Logbook.
Figure 3 - Main user interface window
Parameters
The interface panel must be checked to ensure the proper functioning of the monitoring application:
Figure 4 - Parameters window
- "Keep NVGate/Analyzer awake": Ensure NVGate is running and the analyzer is on.
- NVGate location: NVGate folder location (containing NVGate.exe).
- Analyzer IP: If the IP is not defined correctly, the application will not be able to check if the unit is on and therefore will not be able to start up or shutdown the Analyzer.
- Analyzer Type: Analyzer type should be detected automatically. This is necessary to ensure the Monitoring Box functions properly.
- Monitoring Box COM Port: Select the Monitoring Box COM Port. This is required to start up/shutdown the analyzer. If the Monitoring Box is not connected, or the correct drivers are not installed, the list will be empty.
- AutoRun Monitoring: Launch monitoring alongside NVGate.
- AutoRun NVGate: Ensure NVGate is running (TDA:TemporalDataAuthority) at all times.
- Start with (Project Name): Defines the project to be loaded in NVGate. If NVGate crashes, this project will automatically be loaded and monitored.
Monitoring Panel
Figure 5 – The Monitoring panel window
The columns have the following content:
- Window: Selected scalar window's name.
- Module: Selected scalar module's name.
- Process: Selected scalar process' name.
- Channel: Selected scalar channel's number.
- Input Name: Selected scalar input's name.
- Values: Selected scalar values (SI).
- Units: Selected scalar units.
- Operator: Condition to be satisfied for actions:
>: If the measured value is greater than the target value, then action.
<: If the measured value is less than the target value, then action.
Cross: If the measured value crosses the target value, then action.
- Target Values: Condition to be satisfied for actions.
- Action: What do you want to do when the condition is satisfied:
* Activate / Deactivate outputs.
* Run / Stop analyzer.
* Trigger a User Event.
* Launch a macro (coming from NVGate).
- Hysteresis: Time hysteresis is the delay between each action coming from this scalar (e.g.: 10s means the action cannot be triggered during the 10s following a triggered action.)
- Led: Green if the condition is not satisfied (no action). Red if the condition is satisfied (action).
Installation
Package Contents
- The Monitoring Application: MonitoringApplication.exe.
- Drivers for the USB/RJ11 reset box.
Install NVGate
Install NVGate using "Setup.exe" provided from the NVGate CD. Then, follow the steps until the installation is finalized.
Install Monitoring solution
The Monitoring solution can be installed using "Setup_Monitoring_X.X.exe". It will create a shortcut on your desktop, but also in the NVGate "Links" folder in order to launch it directly from NVGate.
Install Monitoring Reset Box Drivers (if required)
Monitoring reset box drivers should be installed automatically during Monitoring installation.
But if it's needed, you can install it manually:
From the device manager panel:
- Right click on prolific device into "Ports (Com)" category, then "update driver".
- Choose "Browse my computer to driver software".
- The choose "Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer".
- Click "Have Disk...".
- Select ser2pl.inf in the "Monitoring\drivers" directory.
Recommended Parameter for Full Autonomy on PC
In order to ensure proper monitoring, it is necessary that both the PC and Monitoring Application are able to be automatically restarted. To do that, create a shortcut of the Monitoring application into the windows startup directory (C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup). The monitoring application will take care of restarting NVGate if it is not already running.
Autonomy Box Installation
The reset box must be plugged into the analyzer's RJ11 port and the USB slot on the computer. Provided drivers must also be installed.
Figure 2 - Autonomy box installation
PC and Windows Configuration
In order to guarantee a full autonomy, the computer must be configured to reboot in case of a power failure. We advise that the following PC parameters should be set as shown below:
PC automatic restart due to power failure:
To account for a potential power failure at the analyzers location the following settings should be programmed on the PC to automatically switch on the PC once power is restored.
Access the PC's BIOS:
- Restart PC, press F12 (on most PC's) to access the PC's Bios.
- Check the Bios parameters.
On power management check the option "power on AC".