Connect IoT#
Automation.NavigationPane
AutomationControllerInstance.Show
AutomationDriverInstance.Show
The Connect IoT page enables the user to visualize the existing Automation instances, belonging to the Automation Controller and the Automation Driver Definition and that are Active in the system.
The user is able to filter the Automation instances according to their states, namely their Controller State, Driver State and Communication State. The system also provides the user with the possibility to search for a particular Automation instance, by using the Search box.
The user can choose to see the automation instances in a matrix form:
In addition, from this page, the user has the possibility to perform several operations on the Automation instances. These operations are explained in detail herein.
Start Automation Controller Instance#
AutomationControllerInstance.Start
To Start an Automation Controller Instance, simply tick the corresponding Automation Controller instance from the list and press the Start button on the toolbar.
When the Start Automation Controller Instance wizard is displayed, confirm the details being presented and press Start to complete the operation.
Stop Automation Controller Instance#
AutomationControllerInstance.Stop
To Stop an Automation Controller Instance, tick the desired Automation Controller instance from the list and press the Stop button on the toolbar.
When the Stop Automation Controller Instance wizard is displayed, confirm the details being presented and press Start to complete the operation.
Restart Automation Controller Instance#
AutomationControllerInstance.Restart
Restart an Automation Controller Instance by ticking the desired Automation Controller instance on the list and press the Restart button on the toolbar.
When the Restart Automation Controller Instance wizard is displayed, confirm the details being presented and press Restart to complete the operation.
Update Automation Controller Instance#
AutomationControllerInstance.UpdateVersions
To update an Automation Controller Instance version, chose the desired Automation Controller instance from the list and press the Update button on the toolbar.
When the Update Automation Controller Instance Version wizard is displayed, confirm the details being presented. Then, select Next to move onto the Automation Driver Instances wizard. Confirm the details and press Update to complete the operation.
For when to update an instance, what the update costs, and how to roll back, see Change a Controller in Production.
Instance States#
When the page loads, it asks each Automation Manager for the current state of its instances. If a manager does not reply within 30 seconds, the page shows its instances as Unknown, except those already NotRunning. An instance is healthy when its controller instance is Running and each of its driver instances is Running and Communicating.
| State | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
Unknown | Gray | No state is known. The instance has not run yet, or its Automation Manager did not reply. |
Starting | Light green | Start was requested, and the process does not run yet. |
Running | Green | The process runs. A controller instance reports it after its workflows start, and a driver instance after the controller receives its connection details. |
Stopping | Orange | Stop or Restart was requested, and the process is being stopped. |
NotRunning | Red | The process is stopped. |
Table: Controller State and Driver State values
The state filters also list Upgrading, ScheduledForUpdate, and Fault. In 12.0, neither MES nor the Automation Manager sets these states on a controller or driver instance.
After Start, Stop, or Restart, the page waits 60 seconds for the instance to leave Starting or Stopping. If it does not, the page warns that the action was not successful and shows the instance and its driver instances as Unknown. Update is available only for an instance in Unknown or NotRunning.
The Communication State of a driver instance is the MES name for the state of the driver's connection to the equipment. The controller records each change in MES and logs DriverInstance Communication State updated in MES to <state>.
| State | Color | Driver connection states | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
Unknown | Gray | - | No state is recorded yet, or the Automation Manager did not reply. |
Ready | Gray | Unknown, Ready | The driver runs, and no connection is requested. |
AttemptingToConnect | Gray | Connecting, ConnectingFailed, Setup | The driver opens the connection, retries after a failed attempt, or waits for the setup to end. |
Communicating | Green | Communicating | The connection is up, and the setup has ended. |
Disconnected | Red | Disconnecting, Disconnected | The connection is closed or closing. Stopping the instance also sets this state. |
Table: Communication State values
Info
For the driver connection states, see Communication States. For a driver instance that stays in AttemptingToConnect, see The Connection Never Comes Up. For the restart of a process that stops answering the Automation Monitor heartbeat, see Process Heartbeat Settings.