Topic: Data to WL.com stops

[m77]

I see it's something with the router or server?
If I plugged a router into the Ethernet socket and then the console cable into the router that wouldn't help the situation would it?

[Beaudog]

You would normally do it within your router setup.   I am not sure you can do it on your network.   The IT dept may have to do it.

[dalecoy]

You are on a network so I don't know if you can do it but if you could set the DHCP release time to say one hour that might cause it to reset.

Does that help if he's using a static IP address?

[dalecoy]

It's 1.0.9.

I guess that is a download from online. Worth a go?

Any other ideas please?

Yes, worth doing.  Not sure it will help, but:

Version 1.1.1

    Fixed problem that would cause the data logger to spontaneously stop uploading to weatherlink.com.

[m77]

Thanks both.

I have just tried to upgrade the WL firmware from home, so remotely.
Put in the IP address but it could not connect to the logger.

Browsed the ip in a browser and it made contact ok?

I will upgrade the firmware when at work on the same network tomorrow and will see how long it lasts.

Will the IT folks be able to change the DCHP setting for my particular ip or will it have to affect the whole network? Just thinking what the chances are of them saying yes.

[Beaudog]

You are on a network so I don't know if you can do it but if you could set the DHCP release time to say one hour that might cause it to reset.

Does that help if he's using a static IP address?

I think it depends.   I have several devices that have reserved IP's   not exactly the same as fixed and they all reset when the DHCP releases.  And, this is a network so as I said it may not be possible. The chances of the network guys helping are pretty slim.

I also wonder if the IP logger were plugged into a MetoBridge if that would solve the problem.  I think the Meto would continue to log data even if the network was down.

[m77]

Ok the firmware was updated.
Tried a pull out the Ethernet cable, wait for red warning message on WL.com, plugged it in but no uploads. Had to pull the elec and do it that way like usual.

[dalecoy]

Sorry that didn't help.

[m77]

No problem. Thanks for the suggestions and your time.

Guess I will have to settle for a manual re boot whenever I can get access to work.

[m77]

Console locked again.

The message on WL.com page says data last received at 05:05 on Friday, which I am sure is the same time as last time???

Can I read anything into this? Does it suggest it is the network dropping for some reason? Maintenance?

I can still access the console from home using WL software but it is not sending to WL.com.

Thank you.

[johnd]

It's not going to help much, but just as a comment:

This is a curious and unusual situation. If you can still contact the console from the outside then it suggests that the IP address hasn't changed (maybe it's on fixed IP anyway - I've lost track). If it were happening to a regular eg weekly schedule then maybe the network is resetting itself automatically for some reason as part of some routine housekeeping process, but is down for long enough to cause the logger to stop trying to upload packets to wl.com. It could, alternatively, be a firewall reset issue but if so I'm surprised that you can still get in from the outside.

Not suggesting that you attempt to try this, but purely as a speculation I do wonder whether if you had a little code utility that was able to send the NEWSETUP command to the console from the outside that this would reboot the console/logger. Never tried to use this command but its description reads like it might effectively trigger a reboot. Of course that's still not the same as a full power cycle, but it might conceivably be enough to do the trick.

[m77]

A network reset sounds a possibility given that it was at the same time as last time.

Yes the ip is fixed.

I'm interested in that command. What do I need to do please?

[m77]

The other option as a temporary solution to display data until I could reset it, is to have a php code that talks to the console directly. There has been a post on this but no progress was made.

Eg at http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=9176.0

[johnd]

I'm interested in that command. What do I need to do please?

It's described (briefly) in the Configuration Commands section of the Serial Tech Ref document. It looks like quite a simple command (once you've established command communications with the console/logger) but really I couldn't recommend trying to use it unless you have some programming skills and understand what's going on. I'd say again that I've never personally tried this one; it's difficult to imagine that using it could do any lasting harm but at the same time I can't guarantee that it might not cause at least some temporary loss of configuration.  And in any event it may well not help your situation because it doesn't fully replicate a power cycle  - it was just a random thought.

[dalecoy]

Console locked again.

The message on WL.com page says data last received at 05:05 on Friday, which I am sure is the same time as last time???

Can I read anything into this? Does it suggest it is the network dropping for some reason? Maintenance?

I would read into this that you must consult your IT/network folks.  Have you done that?  This (weather system) is apparently a school-sponsored and approved application.  Those folks should be interested in helping you.

I'll also suggest that the IT/networking folks might be slightly wary of activities that they could view as "hacking" - however friendly and helpful the intent.

[m77]

I have not spoken to the IT folks about the 5am issue.

I have spotted one of these
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/energenie-four-socket-power-management-system-n05kf

Which looks like a way of remotely switching off the console as then on again across the internet.

I wonder if this would work and would allow the console to get into a position where it would restart properly?

[dalecoy]

I have not spoken to the IT folks about the 5am issue.

Have you asked them for help with your problem?  Recently?

I have spotted one of these
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/energenie-four-socket-power-management-system-n05kf

Which looks like a way of remotely switching off the console as then on again across the internet.

I wonder if this would work and would allow the console to get into a position where it would restart properly?

It would turn off AC power to your console.  You would also have to solve one or two other little things:

1.  Battery power.

2.  If I recall correctly, after a total power outage and restore, doesn't the console come up in "setup" mode?  I'm sure you know the answer, because you've been doing this operation frequently.

[m77]

Hi Dalecoy.
No I haven't spoken to IT yet about the outage. Try tend to keep a distance from the weather stuff as it's not really in their specialist area and besides priorities understandably lie elsewhere.

Yes you are correct it would leave the console in setup mode. I'm not sure if this lets it fire data out again.

The batteries, if I remember from another thread last next to no time when WL ip is firing but I may be wrong.

[dalecoy]

Yes you are correct it would leave the console in setup mode. I'm not sure if this lets it fire data out again.

You could easily test that.

The batteries, if I remember from another thread last next to no time when WL ip is firing but I may be wrong.

Yes, they would only last a few days after you turn off the AC power.

No I haven't spoken to IT yet about the outage.

I believe they are the only folks who may be able to help you solve your problem.  As I recall, I have suggested that several times in the past.  I don't think I can provide any more advice beyond that.

Perhaps other folks will have alternatives, though.

[johnd]

There's little point in having batteries installed with an IP logger (100mA current draw very quickly pulls them down and can cause more issues than simply leaving them out) - this is the one specific case where it's better to leave them out.

IIRC the latest VP2 console firmware version or two have implemented a recovery from setup mode in much the same way as the Vue console - ie after 10mins the console exits setup mode automatically. Don't recall ever checking this specifically so ICBW but I think it's what I recall.

[m77]

Right. Thanks both.

I was pretty sure that I had heard that batteries were next to useless with the ip.

Plan for tomorrow.
EDIT : PULL THE ETHERNET CABLE TO SIMULATE A NETWORK OUTAGE FIRST.

THEN...

Pull the ac and take batteries out.
Wait until it disconnects from WL.com.

Put ac back in and see if it exits set up mode and also if it reconnects to WL.com

If I get positives on all of these then some sort of power control may be an option.

I am pretty sure that the clock rounds down to the nearest whole ten mins after a restart which isn't perfect but may have to be a compromise.

 Any other suggestions welcome.

Has any one else had this issue?
WL ip is meant to be left remotely but it's a shame it can't be fully controlled like this.
It seems as if the WL software could do with a power button (password protected?!) well, in my mind anyhow.

[m77]

Afaik you can change the logger clock time using the WL software.
If so, that's useful if the clock does lose time when I remotely reboot it.

[johnd]

When power is off, the clock stops and then resumes at the last recorded time when power is restored. AFAIK it's as simple as that. Basically, the console has no separate RTC (real-time clock) power source.

[dalecoy]

There's little point in having batteries installed with an IP logger (100mA current draw very quickly pulls them down ...

Not that it matters for this particular discussion, but with alkaline C-cells, 100mA equates to roughly 80 hours of operation without AC power.

[m77]

Thanks both.

Just had a thought: is there software that could restart the console somehow?

I know that browsing to the logger ip doesn't give this option, neither does WL software nor does the WL.com page.

Is there any other software that has a reboot or restart option?

If so I could run it from home and do the job remotely.

Thanks.