ClearSCADA

Please read the information below prior to upgrading to ClearSCADA 2009 R2.2 for important information on changes in this version.

Upgrading from ClearSCADA 2009 R2/R2.1

  • Following upgrade to ClearSCADA 2009 R2.2, all existing ODBC DSNs will lose their passwords. This potentially impacts report generation using Crystal Reports and external applications that use the ODBC driver. Hence, after upgrade, use the ODBC Data Source Administrator to reinstate ODBC DSN passwords.

Upgrading from ClearSCADA 2009 R1.x

Please be aware of all the issues covered in the section "Upgrading from ClearSCADA 2009 R2/R2.1" in addition to the following.

  • ClearSCADA 2009 R2.2 utilises the Crystal Reports XI Release 2 Service Pack 5 runtime. To maximise compatibility we recommend upgrading all associated Crystal Reports installations to Crystal Reports XI Release 2 Service Pack 5.
  • The "Deadband" and "Persistence" properties have been removed from the Driver Development Kit "PointSourceEntry" class as they are not relevant. This will cause existing DDK programs to fail to compile if they make use of these removed items. Hence before compiling any DDK programs, ensure that these properties are not used in the programs.

Upgrading from ClearSCADA 2007 R1.x

Please be aware of all the issues covered in the sections "Upgrading from ClearSCADA 2009 R1.x" and "Upgrading from ClearSCADA 2009 R2/R2.1" in addition to the following.

  • There is a known issue when instantiating particular types of objects within templates when running a mixed version redundant pair that could potentially result in an Integrity Check failure. It is recommended that minimal database changes be made during mixed version redundant pair operation and that servers are not run in this mode for extended periods of time.
  • Upgrading from older versions of ClearSCADA to ClearSCADA 2009 R2.2 requires a new version 6 license to be issued. The older version 5 license will give an error if used on a machine running the ClearSCADA 2009 R2.2 version.
  • Older versions of ClearSCADA contained a section in the Server Configuration tool called "User Contact Details" which allowed some of the fields associated with a user object such as E-Mail Address and Pager Id to be renamed. This section has been removed from the Server Configuration tool in ClearSCADA 2009.
    Editing the names of database fields this way creates some entries in the "Metadata" key at the following location "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Serck Controls\SCX6\Metadata" in the Registry. The entries will look like one of the following depending on the field that has been renamed.
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_EmailAddress
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_EmailAddress2
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_EmailAddress3
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_EmailAddress4
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_TextOnly
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_TextOnly2
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_TextOnly3
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_TextOnly4
    • Label_CDBUserContactConfig_EmailAddress
    • Label_CDBUserContactConfig_EmailAddress2
    • Label_CDBUserContactConfig_EmailAddress3
    • Label_CDBUserContactConfig_EmailAddress4
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_PagerId
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_PagerId2
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_PagerId3
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_PagerId4
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_PagerServiceId
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_PagerServiceId2
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_PagerServiceId3
    • Field_CDBUserContactConfig_PagerServiceId4
    • Label_CDBUserContactConfig_PagerId
    • Label_CDBUserContactConfig_PagerId2
    • Label_CDBUserContactConfig_PagerId3
    • Label_CDBUserContactConfig_PagerId4
      Before upgrading databases containing these renamed fields, these entries must be removed from the Metadata registry key. Otherwise, after the upgrade when the server is started, the Server Icon will go purple with "Invalid Metadata" error. By removing these registry values, the rename functionality will be disabled while maintaining the data associated with these points.
  • In ClearSCADA 2009 R2.2, the Snapshot filename has been changed from "DB_Snapshot_" to "DBSnapshot_". To ensure that the appropriate number of Snapshot files are generated, please update the settings in the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Serck Controls\SCX6\DBSnapshot.
  • The older versions of ClearSCADA allowed Ethernet 1 or 2 to be selected as the DNP3 Master Port in the settings for DNP3 outstations even though the TCP/IP option was not enabled on the outstation. This is invalid configuration and has been fixed in ClearSCADA 2009. When upgrading to ClearSCADA 2009 from older versions, the outstations having this invalid configuration will have errors on them with an error message displayed saying "Invalid DNP Master Port 5".To correct this, enable TCP/IP and enter valid IP addresses for the Ethernet settings.
  • In older versions of ClearSCADA, for a Channel with Connection Type set to "Network", an outstation could be configured with the "Network" field in the Network tab set to "None". This is invalid configuration and if a database containing this configuration is upgraded to ClearSCADA 2009, then configuration error is displayed on the outstation with the error message saying "Network Channel ... on set ... is not compatible with outstation.". To correct this error, a Network Type needs to be selected and the host address and port details need to be entered for the oustation.
  • Dial-In Line Settings for PSTN outstations:
    • In older versions of ClearSCADA, a PSTN Channel could be configured as "Dial In Only" or "Dial In and Dial Out" and there was no provision on the PSTN outstation form to specify the dial in channel settings. In ClearSCADA 2009, the PSTN tab for outstations has been modified so that the dial in line settings can be specifed. Hence, when upgrading from older versions of ClearSCADA to ClearSCADA 2009, if the PSTN Channel is specifed as "Dial In Only" or "Dial In and Dial Out", the status of the PSTN outstation will be "Available, Outgoing Only" unless the dial in channel details are specifed in the "Dial In Line Settings" of the PSTN outstation. Then the status of the outstation becomes "Available".
  • Changes in Port Configuration on E-Series Outstations:
    • In ClearSCADA 2009, port configurations for E-Series outstations have been moved into a multi-choice aggregate.
    • If you used automation interface code to configure port settings, then this code will no longer work in ClearSCADA 2009. Please use the example code below to modify your applications to use the new port structure.
      ClearSCADA 2007 and earlier
      Sub main()
      Dim objserver As ScxV6Server
      Dim obj As ScxV6Object
      Dim sPort0DLRetries as String
      
      Set objserver = New ScxV6Server
      objserver.Connect "MAIN", "", ""
      
      Set obj = objserver.FindObject("E-Series OS")
      
      'read the properties directly
      sPort0DLRetries = obj.Property("Port0DLRetries")
      
      End Sub
      

      ClearSCADA 2009

      Sub main()
      Dim objserver As ScxV6Server
      Dim obj As ScxV6Object
      Dim aggOSType As ScxV6Aggregate
      Dim sPort0DLRetries as String
      
      Set objserver = New ScxV6Server
      objserver.Connect "MAIN", "", ""
      
      Set obj = objserver.FindObject("E-Series OS")
      
      'Note that you need to find the board type aggregate before reading properties
      Set aggOSType = obj.Aggregate("BoardType")
      sPort0DLRetries = aggOSType.Property("Port0DLRetries")
      
      End Sub
      

Upgrading from an Older Version

Please be aware of all issues covered in the sections above.
Please also be aware of the Known Issues and Release Notes for each releases since the version of ClearSCADA that is being upgraded.

Older ClearSCADA Known Issues and Release Notes pages can be found in the Control Microsystems Resource Center.