JACE COMMISSIONING ISSUES

JACE / Niagara Commissioning & Connectivity Troubleshooting Guide

Connectivity Problems and Solutions

1. Overview

Commissioning a new JACE or recovering one after re-imaging often results in connectivity issues, Workbench timeouts, refused connections, platform login failures, or total inability to start Niagara. This article summarises the most common causes and the validated, manufacturer‑recommended fixes.

2. Typical Questions Covered

• “I can’t commission a new JACE / controller / station.”

• “Workbench cannot connect to the platform.” (timeouts, refused connections, unknown host)

• “I can ping the JACE but cannot reach the platform daemon.”

• “What do I do after replacing or re‑imaging a JACE?”

3. Common Connectivity Symptoms

3.1. Ping works but Workbench cannot connect

This is commonly reported on JACE‑8000 and JACE‑9000 after cleaning, factory restore, or replacing the SD card.

Symptoms may include:

• Platform service not running

• Niagara daemon (niagarad) failing startup

• RTC date/time jumping into the future (e.g., 2036/2037)

• Policy file verification errors

• System shell logs showing java.security failed signing verification

4. Root Causes & Confirmed Solutions

4.1. Incorrect RTC Date After Clean/Restore (JACE‑8000, JACE‑3/6/7)

After a clean‑dist, AX–N4 conversion, or factory reset, the JACE may boot with an invalid date (post‑2021).
This prevents Niagara from starting due to certificate/policy checks.

Manufacturer‑verified fix:

1. Connect via serial debug port.

2. Enter system shell.

3. Reset date to pre‑2026.

4. Reboot → Niagara starts → Continue commissioning.

4.2. Commissioning Not Completed Before Station Copy

Copying a station to a fresh JACE without commissioning first results in missing system files and inability to reconnect to the platform.

Solution:

• Recover the JACE via serial/debug tools (field‑recoverable).

• Re-run full Commissioning Wizard before any station transfer.

4.3. Host ID / SD Card Mismatch (JACE‑9000)

If the JACE boots without a valid SD card, the Host ID reported is incomplete (missing the SD prefix).
Licensing and commissioning will fail.

Solution:

1. Power down the controller.

2. Reseat / reinsert the SD card.

3. Power up and confirm Host ID now matches the label (including SD).

4.4. Dual Default Gateway Misconfiguration

JACE‑9000 has two NICs (en0 & en1).
If both have a default gateway configured, Linux ignores one route, causing:

• Intermittent ping responses

• Station showing offline

• Workbench connecting on only one address

Solution:

• Set default gateway only on en0

• Leave gateway blank on en1

4.5. Long Boot Time After First Commission (JACE‑9000)

On a factory-fresh JACE‑9000, first commissioning can take 15–20 minutes while Ubuntu Core unpacks, keys are generated, and Niagara installs.

Solution:

• Be patient; do not power cycle during first boot/unpack.

5. What To Do After Re‑Imaging or Replacing a JACE

5.1. JACE-8000 / JACE-9000 Recommended Steps

1. Verify SD card is seated and Host ID matches label.

   • If missing SD prefix → reseat SD Card.
     

2. Connect to Platform > Platform Administration.

3. Install the correct Niagara distribution file and modules.

   • JACE‑8000 ships with minimal software; full runtime must be installed.
     

4. Install or update licenses using the correct Host ID.

5. Run the Commissioning Wizard fully:

   • Passphrase

   • Platform users

   • Lexicons

   • Core software

   • TCP/IP settings
     

6. Restore or deploy station.

6. Connectivity Troubleshooting Checklist

6.1 Basic Checks

• Can you ping the controller?

• Are you using the correct platform port (default 3011 for Niagara 4)?

• Is the PC on same subnet as the JACE default IP (typically 192.168.1.140)?
  

6.2 Platform Daemon (niagarad) Issues

• Check via serial shell for:

  • Policy file verification errors

  • Missing runtime or corrupted security store
    

6.3 Network Interface Issues

• Check only one default gateway configured (JACE‑9000).

• Verify en0/en1 order after reboot.
  

6.4 During First Commission

• Allow a full 20–30 min boot time on JACE‑9000.
  Do not interrupt power.

7. Reference Manuals (Official)

8. Summary

Most JACE commissioning failures fall into a few categories:

• Invalid RTC after clean/reset

• SD card / Host ID mismatch

• Incomplete commissioning before station deployment

• Dual gateway misconfiguration

• Software/support pack mismatch

• First-boot delays being mistaken for faults