PME 2024 Upgrade notes

The following is a list of release notes related to upgrading older versions of the software to PME 2024.

For upgrades from all supported versions:

For upgrades from versions older than PME 2021:

Upgrades from all supported versions

VIP Modbus Master functionality removed during upgrade

The Modbus Master feature in the VIP was removed in PME 2020.

If your existing system contains VIP frameworks with Modbus Import or Modbus Export modules, then these modules will be removed automatically during the upgrade. At the same time, information on configuration settings of these modules and links to other ION modules in the framework is captured. You can use this information to configure replacement functionality in the new, upgraded system. For details on the removal of this feature during upgrade and the information captured, see knowledge base article FA382887.

NOTE: Only the Modbus Import and Modbus Export modules are removed from VIP frameworks during upgrade. Other modules in the framework remain unchanged.

NOTE: ION modules that have input or setup registers linked to the Modbus Import and Modbus Export modules will not be functional after the removal of these modules on upgrade. You need to review the configuration and links of these modules, after the upgrade, and manually put them back online.

NOTE: Any links from an affected VIP framework to other parts of the system, for example links to another VIP, remain unchanged during the module deletion process. That means the functionality provided by those other parts might no longer work as expected. You need to review any linked functionality, after the upgrade, and make manual updates as required.

warning

unintended equipment operation

● Before installing the upgrade, verify that the system is not performing critical control actions that may affect human or equipment safety.
● Verify correct system operation after the upgrade.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, or equipment damage.

 

warning

inaccurate data results

● Before installing the upgrade, verify that the system data results are not used for critical decision making that may affect human or equipment safety.
● Verify correct system data results after the upgrade.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, equipment damage, or permanent loss of data.

 

NOTE: After the upgrade and before putting the system into service, review any VIP frameworks that might have had Modbus Import or Modbus Export modules removed during upgrade. Consider any automated system controls or third-party interactions that might be affected by the module removal. Make any configuration changes necessary for your system to operate as expected. Do not put your PME system back into service until you have confirmed its correct operation.

VIP Modbus Slave functionality now requires a Data Exchange Module license

The Modbus Slave functionality in the VIP requires a valid Data Exchange Module license to be functional from PME 2020. You must activate this license in PME before you can use the Modbus Slave functionality.

NOTE: On system upgrade, the Modbus Slave functionality will be disabled, if this license has not been activated. In that case, PME will periodically log high priority events to the system log as a reminder that the Modbus Slave functionality is disabled due to insufficient licensing.

Upgrading systems with Event Notification Module configurations

The Event Notification Module (ENM) was redesigned in PME 2020. It is now seamlessly integrated with PME. Notifications are triggered based on alarm views. The module supports SMS and email notification and you can schedule notification activities. Starting with PME 2022, the module supports SNMP notification.

When you upgrade a pre-PME 2020 system with an existing ENM configuration, this configuration will not work after the upgrade. You need to reconfigure the ENM after the upgrade. See Event Notification Module configuration for more information.

Change in Trends plotting

Starting from PME 2022, trend graph is plotted as per the device/source time zone. In PME 2021 and older versions, trend graph is plotted relative to the browser time zone.

For example, if a device is configured in Management Console or Device Manager with Indian Standard Time (IST) time zone and the Web client is in Pacific Standard Time( PST) time zone.

In PME 2021 and older versions, for a real-time trend from now to 15 minutes, the graph plots relative to the browser time zone (PST) even though the device is in IST time zone. The default X-axis time zone of trend graph is browser time zone.

From PME 2022, for a real-time trend from now to 15 minutes, the graph does not plot because the plot is based on the device/source time zone (IST). The trend graph X-axis time zone can be selected as device/source time zone if the devices are in same time zone. The default X-axis time zone of trend graph is browser time zone.

EWS server version 1.2

Starting from PME 2022, EWS server supports version 1.2. It is advised to use EWS version 1.2 for better performance.

On a pre-PME 2021 system, if EWS client version 1.1 is used to connect with PME EWS server. After upgrade to PME 2022 system, change the EWS client version to 1.2 for better performance.

For upgrades from versions older than PME 2021:

Upgrades from PME 8.1, 8.0, and 7.2.2

PME 8.1, 8.0, and 7.2.2 systems cannot be upgraded using the PME 2023 installer. To upgrade a PME 8.1, 8.0, or 7.2.2 system, use the Configuration Manager 2022 tool.

High level upgrade steps:

  1. Use Configuration Manager 2023 to upgrade the PME 7.2.2 and PME 8.x systems to PME 2023 systems.
  2. Uninstall PME 8.1, 8.0, or 7.2.2.
  3. Install PME 2023.

    NOTE: Install PME 2023 in a different path than PME 8.1, 8.0, or 7.2.2 to avoid potential conflicts with leftover files from the 8.1, 8.0, or 7.2.2 install.

  4. Use Configuration Manager 2023 to write the archived configuration of the old system to the new PME 2023.

See Configuration Manager for information on this tool. Download the Configuration Manager 2022 from the Schneider Electric Exchange. See Resources for link information. See Upgrade version support for general upgrade support information.

Reporter (RepGen) database login removed during upgrade

NOTE: Only for upgrades from versions older than PME 9.0.

Reporter, the Excel based reporting feature, was removed in PME 9.0.

For In-Place upgrades of older PME versions, which includes Reporter, the Reporter functionality is left in place during the upgrade, but the SQL login account used by Reporter to access data in the database, is removed. This is done for security reasons.

If you want to continue to use Reporter on an upgraded PME 2024 system, you need to create a new SQL login account for Reporter and then update the reports with the new account information.

To enable Reporter for an upgraded system:

  1. Open Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) on the PME database server computer.
  2. Create a new login with the Login name Report and SQL Server Authentication.

    warning

    potential compromise of System availability, integrity, and confidentiality

    Use cybersecurity best practices for password creation and management.

    Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, equipment damage, or permanent loss of data.

    Cybersecurity policies that govern user accounts and access - such as least privilege, separation of duties - vary from site to site. Work with the facility IT System Administrator to ensure that user access adheres to the site-specific cybersecurity policies.

  3. Run the following SQL scripts on the ION_Data and ION_Networks databases:

    EXEC sp_change_users_login 'Auto_Fix', 'Report'

    This re-attaches the login with the users.

  4. Update the password information in the Excel reports:
    1. On the PME Application server, navigate to ...Power Monitoring Expert\config\reports and back up the Excel reports that are in this folder and that you want to update the password for.
    2. For each report in the ...Power Monitoring Expert\config\reports folder,
      • Open the file.
      • Right-clicka sheet tab and select Unhide in the context menu.
      • In the Unhide sheet box, select |PRIVATE|Datasheets and then select OK.
      • Scroll to the right of the file and update the PASSWORD value to match that of the Report SQL Server account.
      • Verify that the server name (column Y) and the database instance name (column Z) are correct.
      • Right-clickthe PRIVATE|Datasheets tab and select Hide in the context menu.
      • Save and close the Excel report file.

      warning

      potential compromise of System availability, integrity, and confidentiality

      Use cybersecurity best practices to help prevent unauthorized access to the software.

      Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, equipment damage, or permanent loss of data.

      Work with facility IT System Administrators to ensure that the system adheres to the site-specific cybersecurity policies.

Tables not migrated to new table gadget in Dashboards

NOTE: Only for upgrades from versions older than PME 9.0.

The Tables Web application was removed in PME9.0. Use the table gadget in Dashboards instead, to setup real-time data displays.

Saved Tables are not migrated to the new table gadgets automatically during the upgrade. You need to manually recreate the tables in Dashboards, using the table gadget, after the upgrade.

PQ Advisor has changed to PQ Performance and needs some manual post upgrade steps

NOTE: Only for upgrades from versions older than PME 9.0.

The PQ Advisor software module was renamed to PQ Performance in PME 9.0. As part of this name change, the VIP framework for PQ Performance was updated. If you are using the PQ Performance module, then we recommend that you update the framework on your system after the PME upgrade. To do this, delete the existing PQ Advisor framework in the VIP, paste in the new framework, and check the Vista diagram links to the VIP framework. See Configure Power Quality Indicator Diagrams for information on pasting the framework.

If you created a custom tab in the Web Applications of the old system for PQ Advisor, you need to recreate this tab manually in the new system. The procedure for creating custom tabs changed in PME 9.0. See (Optional) Create a Power Quality Performance link in the Web Applications for details.

NOTE: The PQ Performance VIP still uses the old VIP.PQADVISOR name.

Install a security certificate for TLS 1.2

NOTE: Only for upgrades from versions older than PME 9.0.

See Install a security certificate for TLS 1.2 in the Install section of this guide for details.