AX-3.8 specific commissioning notes

When using AX-3.8 Workbench, note that default “Open Platform” and “Open Station” operations initially assume Platform SSL Connection and Fox SSL Connection types, respectively. This is intended to help encourage this SSL usage for all NiagaraAX platforms and stations—at least those that support this (all except “J9 JVM” QNX-based JACEs, i.e. any JACE-2/4/5 series). If you change either connection type, Workbench “remembers” this type to use on your next connection.

Note any new JACE controller ships with a minimum load of core software, and requires a “non-SSL” platform connection for initial commissioning. This also applies to any JACE controller in which you installed a “clean dist” file (“Cleaning” from the platform Distribution File Installer view).

If needed, change the connection “Type” from a Workbench “Open” dialog to a non-SSL connection type, at least until you have established regular connections and have configured and enabled SSL access. See the NiagaraAX SSL Connectivity Guide for complete details on the related tasks and concepts.

Platform credentials notes for AX-3.8

Note whenever you are using the AX-3.8 Commissioning Wizard, platform credentials are always handled as expected. If you are commissioning a JACE for AX-3.8 from any earlier release, e.g. AX-3.7u1, AX-3.6, and so on (or from a “clean dist’ed” unit in which you have already changed platform credentials), your non-default platform credentials are retained, or else set to whatever you specify in the AX-3.8 Commissioning Wizard’s “Platform daemon authentication” step.

However, due to AX-3.8 security improvements in JACE platform credentials, there may be confusion later regaining platform access after restoring a backup .dist file made from a JACE running AX-3.8. Why? Because platform credentials are no longer stored in AX-3.8 station backup .dist files.

If the JACE was already running AX-3.8 before the backup .dist file install, its platform credentials will remain unchanged.
However, if the JACE was running any earlier release (including a “clean dist’ed” unit in which you have already changed platform credentials), any current platform credentials are reset to factory defaults. In this case, after the backup .dist file install, you need to reopen a platform connection using factory default credentials, and then “Update Authentication” from the Platform Administration view.