NiagaraAX platform

Platform is the name for everything that is installed on a NiagaraAX host that is not part of a NiagaraAX station. The platform interface provides a way to address all the support tasks that allow you to setup, support and troubleshoot a NiagaraAX host. The following list includes a summary description of what you can do with the platform, including the functions, views, and typical usage of the platform.

This view is used to configure the platform's dialup modem, including settings for a “captive network.” If a QNX-based JACE, separate “listening” settings apply for receiving dialup connections.

This view applies to remote Win32 platforms (JACE-NX). To access host Windows OS user and group accounts, including ability to add or delete users/groups, change passwords and group members.

This view is used to compare the remote platform's NiagaraAX runtime environment (nre) to locally available distribution (.dist) files, and if desired, to update the remote platform. The nre is divided into two separate .dist files: a “config” and a “core,” where the config is customizable after installation.

This view is used to copy files between your Workbench PC and the remote NiagaraAX platform (in either direction).

This view is used to install NiagaraAX lexicon files from your Workbench PC to the remote NiagaraAX platform, in order to provide non-English language support.

This view is used to review, install, save, or delete licenses and certificates on the remote NiagaraAX platform.

This view is used to review, install, update, or uninstall “installable software” on the remote NiagaraAX platform. This includes NiagaraAX modules (.jars) as well as separate .dist files for NRE core, Java VM, and (QNX) OS. The Software Manager compares software installed on the connected platform against that available (locally) on your Workbench PC.

This view is used to perform configuration, status, and troubleshooting of the NiagaraAX platform daemon. Included are commands to change time/date, backup all remote configuration, and reboot the host platform.

This view is used to install (copy) a station from your Workbench PC and the remote NiagaraAX platform, including different file-level options. Also to backup (copy) a station in a remote platform to your Workbench PC, or to delete a remote station. You can easily rename any copied stations.

This view is used to start, stop, restart, or kill a station on the NiagaraAX platform. Output from the station displays in the view pane, useful for monitoring and troubleshooting. You also configure a station's “Auto-Start” and “Restart on Failure” settings from this view.

This view is used to review and configure the TCP/IP settings for the network adapter(s) of the NiagaraAX platform.

This view is used to navigate among all files and folders under the platform's Niagara root (system home) directory, including the ability to make local copies on your PC.

About the platform connection

A platform connection is different than a station connection. When connected to a NiagaraAX platform, Workbench communicates (as a client) to that host's platform daemon (also known as “niagarad” for Niagara daemon), a server process. Unlike a station connection, which uses the Fox protocol, a client platform connection requires the full Workbench application, therefore it is unavailable when you are running Workbench in a standard web browser.

The platform daemon is a compact executable written in native code, meaning the daemon does not require the NiagaraAX core runtime, or even a Java VM. The platform daemon is pre-installed on every JACE controller (even as factory-shipped), and runs whenever the JACE has booted up.

Also, a NiagaraAX host's platform daemon monitors a different TCP/IP port for client connections than does any running station (if any). By default, this is port 3011. Finally, the platform daemon uses “host-level” authentication for signon access. This means a user account and password separate from any station user account, and should be considered the highest level access to that host.

Types of platform administration functions

The following list provides a summary description of platform administration functions that are available using the platform connection in Workbench:

View Details
Provides platform summary data, available to the Windows clipboard. Includes all summary information shown in main Platform Administration view, plus installed modules, and so on.

Update Authentication
For dialog boxes to change platform login access (user name and password). In “QNX-based” platforms this is simple, as there is only one platform administrator. “Win32-based” platforms offer a choice of a single (digest) platform account, or use of Windows OS user accounts (basic authentication).

Change HTTP Port
For a dialog box to change the HTTP port for the host's platform daemon from (default) port 3011 to some other port.

Change Date/Time
For a dialog box to change the hosts's current date, time, and time zone, as used by that host's OS.

FTP/Telnet (QNX-based only)
For a dialog box to enable/disable both FTP and Telnet access to the JACE, or change the default port number used by each one.

Change Output Settings
Provides a dialog box to change the log level of different processes that can appear in the platform daemon output.

View Daemon Output
Provides a window in which you can observe debug messages from the platform daemon in real time, including the ability to pause the output and stream output to a file.

Set Module Filter
Provides a dialog box to change the module content level of the host. Used very infrequently.

Backup
Make a complete backup of all configuration on the connected host platform, including all station files as well as other NiagaraAX configuration.

Commissioning
One way to launch the Commissioning Wizard, as an alternative to right-clicking on Platform in the Nav tree.

Reboot
Provides a method to reboot a JACE platform, which restarts all software including the OS and JVM, then the platform daemon, then (if so configured in the Station Director) the installed station. If you click this, a confirmation dialog box appears. If you answer yes, the JACE is rebooted and the platform connection drops.

About the platform daemon on a PC

When you install NiagaraAX on your PC, you have the option to install and start Platform Daemon The default selection is to install.

Important: It is important to understand that you need the platform daemon locally installed and running in order to do any of the following:

host a NiagaraAX station on your local PC, such as for a Supervisor. This lets you open a Workbench client platform connection to your local (“My Host”) platform.

use Workbench to open a remote JACE platform (or station) using a dialup connection, that is, using your PC's modem. (The platform daemon is not used to open a LAN-connected platform).

Once installed and started on your PC, you can see the platform daemon listed as a Niagara service from your Windows Control Panel, by selecting Administrative Tools->Services.

Note: Following NiagaraAX installation on your PC, you can alternately install and start the platform daemon at a later time, if needed. Under the Windows Start menu, do this by selecting Start->All Programs->Niagara <3.x.x>->Install Platform Daemon

In summary (except for dial-out support), your PC's local platform daemon is not used in making client connections to other NiagaraAX hosts, only to provide the ability to run a station locally.