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Metasys NAE Backup & New Style NAE SCT

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apprentice3

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I am working at a site where we have had to make a lot of changes to a Johnson Controls Metasys system as instructed by a 3rd party commissioning agent/ engineering firm in an effort to save energy. Now that we have completed everything, I am wanting to perform a complete backup of the NAE controller. In the past, I have watched a video online about uploading a NAE controller and exporting the database (.dbexport). The original backup files for the NAE had a file extension of (.backup). What is the proper backup procedure on a NAE, so I can assure I can get all of the required files? What is the difference between a .dbexport and .backup?

The NAE controller that we are currently working on is one of those new black ones. I tried to use launcher to create a SCT connection, but it doesn't even give me the option to do that. What software do you need to have to perform backups on these newer style NAE controllers? Is SCT no longer available through launcher when connecting to these newer style NAE controllers? I see this controller has USB slots on it... Is it possible to force the NAE to backup to a USB stick?

Any feedback on this topic is appreciated. I have included a picture of the NAE in question.
 
#2 ·
I don’t think anything is changed in that regard. If they have a server, then SCT is installed on that most likely. If it is a stand alone engine, then the customer would have had to buy SCT and install it on a computer somewhere.
 
#3 ·
SCT

apprentice3 said:
I am working at a site where we have had to make a lot of changes to a Johnson Controls Metasys system as instructed by a 3rd party commissioning agent/ engineering firm in an effort to save energy. Now that we have completed everything, I am wanting to perform a complete backup of the NAE controller. In the past, I have watched a video online about uploading a NAE controller and exporting the database (.dbexport). The original backup files for the NAE had a file extension of (.backup). What is the proper backup procedure on a NAE, so I can assure I can get all of the required files? What is the difference between a .dbexport and .backup?

The NAE controller that we are currently working on is one of those new black ones. I tried to use launcher to create a SCT connection, but it doesn't even give me the option to do that. What software do you need to have to perform backups on these newer style NAE controllers? Is SCT no longer available through launcher when connecting to these newer style NAE controllers? I see this controller has USB slots on it... Is it possible to force the NAE to backup to a USB stick?

Any feedback on this topic is appreciated. I have included a picture of the NAE in question.

View attachment 825332
Click to expand...

"I tried to use launcher to create a SCT connection, but it doesn't even give me the option to do that" -- This tells me that PC machine doesn't have SCT installed. The backup is done the extra same way using SCT.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
integrator said:
"I tried to use launcher to create a SCT connection, but it doesn't even give me the option to do that" -- This tells me that PC machine doesn't have SCT installed. The backup is done the extra same way using SCT.
Click to expand...
I have other sites built into my launcher that have SCT access/ SCT connections available. When I try to add this specific site, it only allows me to add a SMP connection. What does this mean?

Also, I am curious about the differences between the different file extensions for the backups. Is there a document that shows the process of extracting the file with the .backup file extension?
 
#5 ·
SCT is now licensed like CCT. So you can buy it but I think it’s only licensed for FX SNC/SNE. Maybe you can find someone to get you a license?

This SCT software would be on your computer. A single SNE would not have SCT only a server would. It sounds like this SNE is standalone?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
bigguy158 said:
SCT is now licensed like CCT. So you can buy it but I think it’s only licensed for FX SNC/SNE. Maybe you can find someone to get you a license?

This SCT software would be on your computer. A single SNE would not have SCT only a server would. It sounds like this SNE is standalone?


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Click to expand...
That makes perfect sense. I figured it was something like that. This is the first SNE that I have seen. All of the other sites that I have worked on had NAE controllers that SCT could be launched through Metasys launcher. Thanks for the information. I will have the customer look into getting this tool. I assume the license has a annual fee?
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
bigguy158 said:
A backup is like a zip of the database file.


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Click to expand...
Yes, I understand that. I more wanted to understand the difference between a .dbexport and a .backup file. Through SCT, I have only been able to get the .dbexport. I was wanting to know the process on getting a .backup file out of a system/ single NAE. Is there a document that shows this process through SCT? I watched a video that showed how to upload the NAE and do a .dbexport, but when I have reviewed site backups on flash drives that JCI left, I have noticed they are all using a .backup extension. Any information on this process would be appreciated.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
I found a document that discusses backups through SCT. I have "created backups" before, but I can never find anything on my local PC in the specified directory. I am actively connected to a site remotely right now and I have "created" a backup file, but it doesn't seem to backup to my machine. Is it possible, that whenever I am running the backup, it is just saving in a directory on the ADS/ADX server? If so, is there a way that I can tell SCT to save it to a directory on my PC?
 
#10 ·
apprentice3 said:
I found a document that discusses backups through SCT. I have "created backups" before, but I can never find anything on my local PC in the specified directory. I am actively connected to a site remotely right now and I have "created" a backup file, but it doesn't seem to backup to my machine. Is it possible, that whenever I am running the backup, it is just saving in a directory on the ADS/ADX server? If so, is there a way that I can tell SCT to save it to a directory on my PC?

View attachment 825341
Click to expand...

The backup will be on the computer with the SCT. When you open the launcher, if it says localhost it's on that machine. If you have an IP address or DNS name it's remote.

You need to have a newer version of SCT which supports the SNx controllers. The procedure to upload, save, downloads, backup is the same for a NxE or SNx.
 
#11 ·
Aright, .backup is as your screenshot says. If you have SCT local on your computer, launched through a launcher link with an IP of localhost, the file will be where described. If you do a backup with an instance of sct launched through a launched link with an IP other than localhost, the .backup file will be on that computers HDD, at the location described. If you are taking a backup successfully, but do not see the file on your computer, then you are running some else's SCT from your laptop.
To make it a .dbexport, all you do is take the extra step of exporting the archive. SCT asks you where, and you pick the location. Then the .backup already in SCT gets spit out as a .dbexport.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Metasys NAE Backup & New Style NAE SCT

Thanks everyone! All of the responses make perfect sense. I have a few last questions... Does a .dbexport contain everything that a .backup file does? Is there a benefit to have one file type over the other? If you have to restore a NAE, does one file type contain more than the other?

All of your responses are appreciated. Thank you! Have a good holiday.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#14 ·
apprentice3 said:
Thanks everyone! All of the responses make perfect sense. I have a few last questions... Does a .dbexport contain everything that a .backup file does? Is there a benefit to have one file type over the other? If you have to restore a NAE, does one file type contain more than the other?

All of your responses are appreciated. Thank you! Have a good holiday.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
The main advantage of the export vs backup is the export can be restored to a machine with a different sql version. Jci techs use it often since the customer server SQL is often time a different version than what JCI techs are running.
There was a time when the export file did not contain uploaded .caf files. I think that has been corrected, but not 100% sure.
Btw…the backup/restore feature in SCT is just calling regular SQL functions. You can do the same thing with SQL management studio.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
JCIman said:
The main advantage of the export vs backup is the export can be restored to a machine with a different sql version. Jci techs use it often since the customer server SQL is often time a different version than what JCI techs are running.
There was a time when the export file did not contain uploaded .caf files. I think that has been corrected, but not 100% sure.
Btw…the backup/restore feature in SCT is just calling regular SQL functions. You can do the same thing with SQL management studio.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your response! So if I am doing a backup for a customer, does it make sense to take both file types to be safe?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#17 ·
You need to have a .backup before you can make a .dbexport. I leave the .backup where metasys wants it, so it is easier to find later and open.
I put the .dbexport in the job folder. It is more portable and shareable.
 
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