To open a platform using Workbench GUI

To open a platform, do the following:

1. From the menu bar, select File->Open->Open Platform.

   The popup Open Platform dialog appears, or if AX-3.8, the Open Platform with SSL dialog.

   The default in AX-3.8 has changed to Open Platform with SSL.

2. Complete the fields in the Open Platform or Open Platform with SSL dialog box as follows:

   • Type

     Select either Platform SSL Connection or Platform Connection, as appropriate. If you change, the default Port changes between 5011 (SSL) to 3011 (non-SSL).

   • Host

     Select the IP option and type in the IPv4 address of the host platform that you wish to access.

   • Port

     Verify the port shown, with the default as either 3011 (non-SSL) or 5011 (SSL). If you know the remote host is using a different (non-default) platform daemon port, enter it here.

3. Click the OK button. If you chose Open Platform (non-SSL), go to Step 4.

   If you chose Open Platform with SSL, different results are possible:

   • If the Niagara platform is not enabled for SSL, an error results with “Cannot connect. Ensure server is running on specified port”. Retry from Step 1, changing the Type to Platform Connection.

   • If the Niagara platform is enabled for SSL, but you have not yet installed a certificate for that host, a popup Identity Verification dialog with certificate details appears. In most cases, you click Accept to proceed to the next step.

   • An Authentication popup dialog appears. Go to the next step.

4. In the popup Authentication dialog, enter platform credentials

   Be sure to use the platform username and password – not credentials for any station user.

   • Username

     Enter the username for the platform.

   • Password

     Enter the password for the platform.

   If the “Remember these credentials option” is available, you can select it, so that Workbench “remembers” these platform credentials. However, this can pose a future security risk; thus this option may be disabled.

5. Click OK after entering credentials.

   If the platform credentials were correct, the platform is connected, and the platform icon appears in the side bar pane and the default Nav Container View appears in the view pane. Where platform icons are:

   • Platform or

   • Platform SSL

   If the platform credentials were not correct, you are prompted to enter them again.

   For related details, refer to “Platform overview” in the NiagaraAX Platform Guide.

To connect to a platform using Workbench GUI

You cannot connect to a platform unless it is “open”. An open platform may be visible in your Workbench nav side bar, but appear dimmed (be disconnected). If there is no platform icon in the nav side bar, you need to open the platform before connecting (see To open a platform using Workbench GUI).

To connect to a disconnected platform, do the following:

1. In the nav side bar (refer to Using the nav side bar (tree)) right–click on platform icon and select the Connect command from the popup menu. Or, simply double-click the platform icon.

   The Authentication popup dialog appears.

2. Enter the credentials information as follows:

   Be sure to use the platform username and password – not credentials for any station user.

   • Username

     Enter the username for the platform.

   • Password

     Enter the password for the platform.

   If the “Remember these credentials option” is available, you can select it, so that Workbench “remembers” these platform credentials. However, this can pose a future security risk; thus this option may be disabled.

3. Click OK after entering credentials.

   If the platform credentials were correct, the platform is connected, and the platform icon appears in the side bar pane and the default Nav Container View appears in the view pane. Where platform icons are:

   • Platform or

   • Platform SSL

   If the platform credentials were not correct, you are prompted to enter them again.

   For related details, refer to “Platform overview” in the NiagaraAX Platform Guide.

To close a platform using Workbench

To close a platform, do the following:

1. In the nav side bar (refer to Using the nav side bar (tree), if necessary) right–click on the platform icon and select the Close command from the popup menu.

   The Close dialog box appears.

2. In the Close dialog box, click OK to close the platform.

   The platform is closed and the platform icon is removed from the nav side bar.

To disconnect from a platform using Workbench

To disconnect from a platform, do the following:

1. In the nav side bar (refer to Using the nav side bar (tree)) right–click on platform icon and select the Disconnect command from the popup menu.

   The popup Disconnect confirmation dialog box appears.

2. In the Disconnect dialog box, click OK to disconnect.

   The platform is disconnected and the platform icon is dimmed.

To start a station using Workbench

Most station–platform functions can be performed from the Application Director platform view of a host; however, you must connect to the platform where a station is hosted before you can perform these tasks.

To start a station using Workbench, do the following:

1. Connect to the station’s platform (see To connect to a platform using Workbench GUI for details, if necessary).

2. In the nav side bar, expand the platform node in the nav tree by clicking on the plus sign (+) next to the platform icon in the tree.

   The contents of the platform node displays in the tree.

3. In the nav side bar, double click the Application Director.

4. In the Application Director view, select the desired station. It becomes highlighted in the table.

5. In the right-side area of this view, select the following options, as desired:

   • Select the Auto-Start option if you want the station to automatically start any time the station host computer is re–booted. Clear the Auto-Start option to disable auto–start.

   • Select the Restart on Failure option if you want the station to automatically attempt a restart any time it fails. Clear the Restart option to disable automatic restart.

6. In the Application Director view, do one of the following:

   • Select the desired station in the station table and click Start.

   • Right click the desired station in the station table and select Start from the popup menu.

   The station starts.

   For details on this platform view, refer to “Application Director” in the NiagaraAX Platform Guide.

To stop a station using Workbench

Most station–platform functions can be performed from the Application Director platform view of a host; however, you must connect to the platform where a station is hosted before you can perform these tasks.

To stop a station using Workbench, do the following:

1. Connect to the station’s platform (see To connect to a platform using Workbench GUI for details, if necessary).

2. In the nav side bar, expand the platform node in the nav tree by clicking on the plus sign (+) next to the platform icon in the tree.

   The contents of the platform node displays in the tree.

3. In the nav side bar, double click the Application Director.

4. In the Application Director view, select the desired station. It becomes highlighted in the table.

5. Do one of the following:

   • With the desired station selected station table, click Stop.

   • Right click the desired station and select Stop from the popup menu.

   The station stops.

To open a station

To open a station, do the following:

1. From the File menu, select Open-> Open Station (Fox)

   The popup Open Station dialog appears, or if AX-3.8, the Open Station with SSL dialog.

   The default in AX-3.8 has changed to Open Station with SSL.

2. Complete the fields in the Open Station or Open Station with SSL dialog box as follows:

   • Type

     Select either Station SSL Connection or Station Connection, as appropriate. If you change, the default Port changes between 4911 (SSL) to 1911 (non-SSL).

   • Host

     Select the IP option and type in the IPv4 address of the host platform that you wish to access.

   • Port

     Verify the port shown, with the default as either 1911 (non-SSL) or 4911 (SSL). If you know the remote host is using a different (non-default) platform daemon port, enter it here.

3. Click the OK button. If you chose Open Station (non-SSL), go to Step 4.

   If you chose Open Station with SSL, different results are possible:

   • If the Niagara station’s FoxService is not enabled for SSL, an error results with “Cannot connect. Ensure server is running on specified port”. Retry from Step 1, changing the Type to Station Connection.

   • If the Niagara station’s FoxService is enabled for SSL, but you have not yet installed a certificate for it, a popup Identity Verification dialog with certificate details appears. In most cases, you click Accept to proceed to the next step.

   • An Authentication popup dialog appears. Go to the next step.

4. In the popup Authentication dialog, enter your station user credentials

   Be sure to use your station username and password – not credentials for the platform.

   • Username

     Enter your station user name.

   • Password

     Enter the password for this user.

   If the “Remember these credentials option” is available, you can select it, so that Workbench “remembers” these user credentials. However, this can pose a future security risk; thus this option may be disabled.

5. Click OK after entering credentials.

   If the station user credentials were correct, the station is connected, and the Fox connection icon appears in the side bar pane. Where Fox connection icons are:

   • Station or

   • Station SSL

   The view pane shows the Station Summary view, listing primary components and details on the host.

   If the station user credentials were not correct, you are prompted to enter them again.

   For related details, refer to the About Security section users.

To close a station using Workbench

To close a station, do the following:

1. In the nav side bar (refer to Using the nav side bar (tree), if necessary) right–click on the station icon and select the Close command from the popup menu.

   The Close dialog box appears.

2. In the Close dialog box, click OK to close the station.

   The station is closed and the station icon is removed from the nav side bar.

To connect to a station using Workbench

To connect to a station, do the following:

You cannot connect to a station unless it is “open”. An open station may be visible in your Workbench nav side bar, but appear dimmed (be disconnected). If there is no station icon in the nav side bar, you need to open the station before connecting. See To open a station .

To connect to a disconnected station, do the following:

1. In the nav side bar (refer to Using the nav side bar (tree)) right–click the station icon and select the Connect command from the popup menu. Or, simply double-click the station icon.

   The popup Authentication dialog box appears.

2. Enter your station user credentials

   Be sure to use your station username and password – not credentials for the platform.

   • Username

     Enter your station user name.

   • Password

     Enter the password for this user.

   If the “Remember these credentials option” is available, you can select it, so that Workbench “remembers” these user credentials. However, this can pose a future security risk; thus this option may be disabled.

3. Click OK after entering credentials.

   If the station user credentials were correct, the station is connected, and the Fox connection icon appears in the side bar pane. Where Fox connection icons are:

   • Station or

   • Station SSL

   The view pane shows the Station Summary view, listing primary components and details on the host.

   If the station user credentials were not correct, you are prompted to enter them again.

   For related details, refer to the About Security section users.

To disconnect from a station

To disconnect from a station, do the following:

1. In the nav side bar (refer to Using the nav side bar (tree)) right–click the station icon and select the Disconnect command from the popup menu.

   The popup Disconnect confirmation dialog appears.

2. In the Disconnect dialog box, click OK to disconnect.

   The station is disconnected and the station icon is dimmed.