Tools for troubleshooting

The following tools can help you with troubleshooting:

 

Windows Event Viewer

The Windows Event Viewer is a Microsoft tool that is part of the Windows operating system.

Use the Event Viewer to see Windows event logs for Application, Security, Setup, and System. These logs might include messages related to the problem you are trying to solve, for example entries about services shutting down or other unexpected events.

Open Event Viewer in Windows from Control Panel > Administrative Tools, or search for Event Viewer in Windows search.

Web browser developer tools

Web browser developer tools are diagnostic features built into most web browsers.

Use the browser tools to investigate issues that happen in the PME web applications interfaces. When an error happens in the web client, it is not always recorded in the PME or Windows event logs. For example, when a PME user account is deleted from the system, the web application sends a HTML request to the PME application server to delete the user. If, for some reason, this request is not received by the server, it will not be recorded in the PME system log. Web browser developer tools can help troubleshoot these kind of issues. It is also possible to record a web session with the tools. This recorded session (saved as .HAR file) can then be viewed by Technical Support to analyze the web browser activity.

To open the web browser developer tools: Press F12 on your keyboard while the web browser is open.

PME Diagnostics tool

The Diagnostics tool is a built-in feature of PME.

Use the Diagnostics tool to retrieve diagnostics information from the system databases, files, and libraries. The information collected by the tool is packaged in a way that makes it easy to send it to Technical Support.

To open the Diagnostics Tool: Start Diagnostics Tool.exe from ...\Power Monitoring Expert\Diagnostics Tool\

PME system log

The system log is a built-in feature of PME.

Use the system log to find information on system activities, including warnings or errors.

To view the system log: Open the PMELog Viewer.

PME application modules diagnostics

Application modules diagnostics is a built-in feature of PME.

Use application modules diagnostics to find information on issues related to Web Applications.

To view application module diagnostics: Open the Diagnostics.LogEvent table in the Application Modules database in PME.

Modbus test utility

Modbus test utilities are third party tools that are used to diagnose Modbus communications.

Use a Modbus test utility to monitor and troubleshoot communications between devices and the software. For example, a Modbus test utility can help you identify if device communication issues originate outside the software through wiring, incorrect device configuration, or other causes.

To find a Modbus test utility, search the Internet for products that meet your needs.

Diagnostics Viewer

The Diagnostics Viewer is a built-in feature of PME.

NOTE: Diagnostics Viewer and Diagnostics Tool are two different applications in PME.

Use Diagnostics Viewer to find information on the operation of PME services and on device communications. For example, you can view Log Inserter and Siteserver interactions with the devices in the system. See Diagnostics Viewer for more information on this tool.

Open Diagnostics Viewer in PME from Management Console > Tools> System.

Network packet analyzer

Network packet analyzers are third party tools that are used to monitor and log digital network traffic.

Use a packet analyzer for network troubleshooting and analysis. For example, you can monitor the communications between an Ethernet power monitoring device and PME as part of your troubleshooting activities.

To find a packet analyzer, search the Internet for products that meet your needs.

NOTE: Wireshark, an open-source product, and Fiddler, a freeware product, are examples of well known packet analyzers.