Helvar I ActiveAhead Controller Commissioning Guide 1
ActiveAhead Controller User Guide (Commissioning)
This user guide shows how to set up and install the software required for the ActiveAhead
Controller (AAC) within it’s allocated network.
Ideally this part of the process will be initiated following the installation of the AAC in its
designated location however the unit can be commissioned beforehand and installed afterwards.
Prior to initiating the commissioning the following prerequisites are required:
• A USB stick (with FAT32 filesystem) - Used to contain the correct folder structure for the AAC.
• A laptop / PC - Able to create or modify the text files contained in the USB stick.
• Serial number of the Controller - Located on the label on the base of the AAC, the number has a
‘BS’ prefix.
• Site ID, WiFi network name and password and/or Ethernet specific settings - To install the AAC to the
network.
Below is a simplified process flow however if additional explanation for any of the steps is required
then greater detail is available in the accompanying sections within this guide.
Connect the USB to the Connect the USB to the
laptop / PClaptop / PC
Construct, check and Construct, check and
save the folder structure save the folder structure
within the USB.within the USB.
Create, check and save Create, check and save
the configuration files.the configuration files.
Transfer the USB to Transfer the USB to
the AAC the AAC
(Commissioning will (Commissioning will
automatically start and finishautomatically start and finish
))..
Unplug the USB from Unplug the USB from
the commissioned the commissioned
AAC.AAC.
Unplug the USB, transfer Unplug the USB, transfer
it to the laptop / PC and it to the laptop / PC and
check the parameters.check the parameters.
Were there
any issues?
Process
complete
No
Yes
Preparing the USB.......................Page 2
Read and Write values.................Page 2
Report Values...............................Page 3
Obtaining Serial Number.............Page 3
Configuration...............................Page 4
sn.network.config file..................Page 4
Configuring the AAC ...................Page 5
2Helvar I Data is subject to change without notice
Read / Write Value Description Controller prints to
Controller reads from
Controller read and / or write controller
configuration
helvar / controller/ read /
(serialNumber).controller.config
helvar / controller / write /
(serialNumber).controller.config
Network read and / or write network
configuration
helvar / controller / read /
(serialNumber).network.config
helvar / controller / write /
(serialNumber).network.config
All
read and / or write both controller
and network configurations
As above As above
None Does not read or write Not applicable Not applicable
1) Insert a USB stick into a laptop/PC. Ideally the USB stick will have FAI 32 filesystem.
2) Check the USB stick has the correct folder structure, shown below, as the tool will read and
write to these specific dectinations.
Read and Write Values
Preparing the USB
The tool will search the USB stick for the following folders:
• helvar/controller/read - The AAC will print report and current configurations into this folder.
• helvar/controller/write - Once set, the AAC will read the configurations from this location.
• helvar/controller/setup.config - This file, shown right, is used to
instruct the AAC as to what is needed to be done. When the USB
stick is plugged in the AAC will initially read this file and act accordingly.
The folders and setup.config can be:
1) Obtained as a ZIP file from the Helvar Partner portal and unzipped on the USB stick. Speak to
a Helvar representative for further details.
2) Manually input.
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Helvar I ActiveAhead Controller Commissioning Guide
Report Values
The report contains information about the AAC and its statuses.
In most cases the report will be used to run the WIFI network scan to get the SSID value for the WIFI
connection.
Report Value Description
True The Controller will create the report
False Report will not be created
Obtaining Serial number
The Serial Number of the AAC is printed on a label under the unit and it starts with BS, for example
BS123456789.
Other ways of getting the serial number are :
• From the AAC report via the USB stick.
• The hostname of the AAC is also the serial number.
4Helvar I Data is subject to change without notice
Configuration
sn.network.config file
This file needs to contain the parameters necessary to apply on the network of the AAC. Ensure the
file contains one of the following tags:
[service_controller_ethernet] every parameter related to Ethernet connectivity should be under this tag
[service_controller_wifi] every parameter related to wifi connectivity should be under this tag
The table below will help define which parameters are required:
An example of the completed file is shown right.
Make sure the file is saved onto the USB-drive.
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Helvar I ActiveAhead Controller Commissioning Guide
Configuring the AAC
Ensure the ActiveAhead Controller (AAC) is fully powered up.
Note: For Ethernet connection make sure
the cable is correctly fitted into the
relating port.
Get the SSID value of the WIFI network (if required):
WIFI network name:
- It is possible to use either the SSID or Name to determine the WIFI network.
- In cases where the WIFI network name contains spaces or special characters it is
recommended to use SSID parameter to ensure the best compatibility.
- When using Name, the AAC tries to match the name it tries to connect to.
- When using SSID the AAC will compare it to broadcasted WIFI networks ID which is
represented as hexadecimal value.
- The easiest way to obtain the SSID is from the report created by the AAC on the USB stick
which can be found in the location /helvar/controller/read.
Create a setup.config file on the USB-drive under
helvar/controller/setup.config, as shown left.
Save the file, remove the USB stick from the laptop/PC and plug it into the AAC.
The left LED on the unit will blink orange.
When the left LED stops blinking and is constant
orange unplug the USB stick.
Transfer the USB to the laptop/PC and open the report file located at:
helvar/controller/read/serialNumber.report
The report filename will have a prefix of BS and then nine digits, for example “BS191400839.report”
Search in the [Available Networks] section to obtain the SSID of the preferred network. In the
example below the network is named as *AO Tiberium.
Note: Ignore the ‘wifi_’ section of the information. The bold value in the example below is the presentation of the network.
2.4G 2.4G
WFI GPS
Helvar_sr7
DO NOT unplug the USB
when the LED is blinking!
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Helvar I ActiveAhead Controller Commissioning Guide Doc no. D008923 Iss 01 Date: 2021-01-12
Save all changes and transfer the USB to the AAC and plug it in.
The left LED will start to blink orange until the commissioning process is complete when the LED
will be constantly lit.
The right LED will display as red until connection to the internet is working when it will turn green.
If everything has worked correctly, remove the USB stick.
If, after several minutes, the left LED is still blinking then there is an issue. Transfer the USB stick
back to the PC / laptop, open the report and do some troubleshooting:
• Check the network configuration has the correct right values for SSID and Passphrase.
• Make sure the AAC outputs applied configurations to the /helvar/controller/read.
- Verify the contents of the serialNumber.network.config
With everything checked and saved, transfer the USB drive back to the AAC and repeat the commissioning process.
Under helvar/controller/write create a network configuration file on the USB drive.
Under helvar/controller/write create a controller config file on the to the USB drive. The AAC will
locate the corresponding file which will start with the serialNumber and ends with controller.config.
Example shown below for BS191400839.controller.config
Modify the setup.config file to instruct the AAC to apply
both network and controller configurations.
2.4G 2.4G
WFI GPS
Helvar_sr7
The AAC will locate the corresponding file which starts with the serialNumber and ends with network.config.
DO NOT unplug the USB
when the LED is blinking!
/
