Configuration Guide

Visual T&D
Cluster
For use with Visual T&D software version 4.0 or later.
Cooper Power Systems and Yukon are valuable trademarks of Cooper Industries.
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of their respective holders.

© 2013 Cooper Power Systems, LLC – All rights reserved.

The information in this document is subject to change without notice.

Cooper Power Systems

Energy Automation Solutions
730 Commerciale Street
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Phone: +1.418.834.0009
Fax: +1.514.227.5256
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Web: http://www.cooperpower.com

Technical Support: [email protected]

S1140-14-1, Version 4
 Contents
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Limitations.............................................................................................................1
1.2 System Requirements ............................................................................................1
1.3 Prerequisites ..........................................................................................................1
1.4 Related Documentation .........................................................................................2
1.5 Getting Technical Assistance ................................................................................2

2 Visual T&D Installation 3

2.1 Visual T&D Cluster-Specific Installation Considerations .....................................3
2.2 Installing the Visual T&D Software ......................................................................3

3 Visual T&D Setup 5

3.1.1 Specifying the Logon Account of the Visual T&D Server Service.........5
3.1.2 Specifying the Logon Account of the Visual_TD_Database
Service .....................................................................................................6
3.2 Configuring the Visual T&D Server as a Cluster Service .....................................7
3.2.1 Changing the Ownership of the Local PostgreSQL Database ............... 10
3.2.2 Configuring the Visual_TD_Database Service as a Cluster Service ..... 11
3.2.3 (Optional) Configuring the OPC Enumerator as a Cluster Service ....... 12
3.3 Verifying that the Visual T&D Server is using the Network Name of the
Cluster ................................................................................................................. 12
3.4 Setting up the Visual T&D Server ....................................................................... 13
3.4.1 User Accounts Setup ............................................................................. 15
3.4.2 Taking a Visual T&D Cluster Service Offline ...................................... 15
3.4.3 Moving the Local PostgreSQL Database to a Shared Disk Drive ......... 16
3.4.4 Setting up the Visual T&D Cluster to Use a Remote Database ............ 18
3.4.5 Specifying the Shared Configuration Path ............................................ 18
3.4.6 Setting up Visual T&D Server Registry Replication............................. 19
3.4.7 Bringing a Visual T&D Cluster Service Back Online ........................... 21
3.5 Specifying the Failover Policies .......................................................................... 21
3.6 Visual T&D Redundancy System Data Points .................................................... 22
3.6.1 Activating Visual T&D Redundancy System Data Points .................... 23

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide ●i

 4 Visual T&D Cluster Upgrade 25

2● Contents
 Tables
Table 3-1 Visual T&D redundancy-specific data points ............................................................. 22

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide ● iii

1 Introduction

This guide describes the various operations that must be performed to install and set up
Visual T&D in a failover cluster configuration under Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2.

1.1 Limitations
Visual T&D can be installed in a cluster for fault tolerance, to ensure high availability of the
Visual T&D Server in case of hardware or software failure.
However, it is not designed to be used in a context of parallel processing or load balancing.

1.2 System Requirements

A failover cluster must meet certain requirements for hardware, software, and network
infrastructure, and it requires the administrator to use an account with the appropriate domain
permissions.
To learn about these requirements, refer to Microsoft’s TechNet website, at the following URL:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771404.aspx

1.3 Prerequisites
The configuration procedures presented in this document assume that some preliminary
configuration steps were performed:
 The cluster was created following the aforementioned prerequisites, with its quorum properly
configured.
 Each cluster node has at least one Network Interface Card (NIC). It is recommended to install
two NICs per node: one for intra-cluster communication, and the second to connect the cluster
to the corporate network.
 Local storage is provided on each cluster node, for the operating system; additional storage,
shared between the cluster nodes, must be provided for the Visual T&D data log and site
configurations.
This document assumes that the reader is familiar with clustering concepts, and focuses on
Visual T&D-specific configuration details that are relevant in a cluster configuration.

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide •1

1.4 Related Documentation
The following Cooper Power Systems documents contain additional information on Visual T&D:
 Visual T&D Installation Guide, S1140-15-1.
This document contains all the information required to install, configure and perform the
maintenance of a Visual T&D server.
 Visual T&D Explorer User Manual, S1140-10-1.
This document presents the Visual T&D Explorer, an application providing immediate access
to all Visual T&D data points in real time, in a variety of formats, with minimum
configuration effort. It also explains how to configure these data points and the various real-
time and historical views, but also how to set up alarms and events based on these data points'
values.
 Visual T&D Diagram Editor User Guide, S1140-11-1.
This document presents the Diagram Editor, a Visual T&D application allowing the creation
of interactive diagrams used to monitor and operate a substation or an electric grid.
 Visual T&D Excel Add-In User Guide, S1140-12-1.
This document presents the Visual T&D Excel Add-In, a Microsoft Excel add-in that allows
Visual T&D users to access the real-time and historical substation data in Microsoft® Excel®
spreadsheets, create custom reports based on this data, and perform advanced calculations on
it.
 Visual T&D Communication Server User Guide, S1140-13-1.
This document explains how to set up the Visual T&D Communication Server, an optional
component of Visual T&D that allows you to connect substation devices to the Visual T&D
server without having to go through an SMP Gateway or an OPC server.

1.5 Getting Technical Assistance

If you have any question regarding the performance, application or testing of any component of
this Cooper Power Systems product, do not hesitate to contact us. Our staff will be pleased to
assist you.
Technical Support
Cooper Power Systems
Energy Automation Solutions

Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1.763.595.7775
Toll Free: +1.800.815.2258

Business hours are from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST, Monday to Friday.

2● Chapter 1: Introduction
2 Visual T&D Installation

This chapter explains how to install Visual T&D in a failover cluster configuration.

2.1 Visual T&D Cluster-Specific Installation

Considerations
The Visual T&D software must be installed separately on each cluster node.
Installation instructions are presented in details in the Visual T&D Installation Guide, S1140-15-1.
In addition to the instructions and considerations described in the aforementioned document, the
following instructions and considerations must be taken under consideration:
 The Visual T&D server components must be installed in the same folder on both cluster
nodes.
 The same password must be provided for the “postgres” account on both cluster nodes.
 A domain account must be created for the Visual T&D Server and Database services; for this
account, it is recommended to set a password that never expires (the cluster will not be able to
restart the Visual T&D services during a failover if the password is no longer valid).
 It is possible to use a database cluster in a Visual T&D cluster configuration; however, such
configuration scenario is not supported by the Visual T&D installer and is out of the scope of
this document, which explains how to configure both nodes of a Visual T&D cluster to share
the same database.
 If you intend to use the PostgreSQL database provided by default with the Visual T&D
installer, you must install it on both cluster nodes; later during the configuration process, you
will copy the database to a shared SCSI disk and designate it as a cluster resource.

Note: The configuration process is greatly simplified when a remote PostgreSQL or

SQL Server database server is used.

2.2 Installing the Visual T&D Software

 To install the Visual T&D software, start the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.

You can also refer to the Visual T&D Installation Guide, S1140-15-1, for additional details.

Note: Remember to install Visual T&D (and, if applicable, the default Visual T&D
PostgreSQL database) on both cluster nodes.

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide •3

3 Visual T&D Setup

The chapter describes the operations that are required to set up Visual T&D Server in a cluster
configuration. Unless otherwise specified, these operations only needs to be performed on one
node of the cluster, as most settings are either stored on shared drives or replicated from one node
to the other.
Except for the configuration of the Visual T&D Server itself, which is performed using the
Visual T&D Control Panel application, you will need Windows Server 2008’s Failover Cluster
Manager to do most of the configuration work, including the configuration of the Visual T&D
Server as a cluster service and the specification of the failover policies.

To start the Visual T&D Server Configuration application:

 Click the start button on the Windows taskbar, and then click Control Panel.
 In the Control Panel window, click System and Security, and then click Visual T&D
Server Configuration.

To start the Failover Cluster Manager tool:

 From Windows’ start menu, choose Administrative Tools, and then Failover Cluster
Manager.

Note: As stated previously, this procedure assumes that the cluster nodes and
resources (ex. local and shared storage) have already been defined and
configured using the Failover Cluster Manager tool. All that is left is the
configuration of Visual T&D as a cluster service, and the corresponding cluster-
specific settings.

3.1.1 Specifying the Logon Account of the Visual T&D Server

Service
For this account, it is recommended to set a password that never expires.

To specify the logon account of the Visual T&D Server service:

 From Windows’ start menu, choose Run.
 In the Open box, type services.msc, and then click OK.
 In the Services (Local) pane, select the Visual T&D Server service.
 From the Action menu, choose Stop.
 From the Action menu, choose Properties.

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide •5

  In the General tab, set the Startup type to Manual.
 Select the Log On tab:

 Select This account, and type the name of the domain account dedicated for this
Visual T&D service.
 Type the corresponding account password in the Password and Confirm Password
boxes.
 Click OK.
 From the Action menu, choose Start to restart the service.

3.1.2 Specifying the Logon Account of the Visual_TD_Database

Service
Note: If a remote PostgreSQL or SQL Server database will be used by the Visual T&D
cluster, you can skip this section.

If you installed the default PostgreSQL database provided by the Visual T&D installer, you must
also specify the logon account of the Visual_TD_Database service, which should be a domain
account.
For this account, it is recommended to set a password that never expires (the cluster will not be
able to restart the Visual_TD_Database service during a failover if the password is no longer
valid). You can use the same account as for the Visual T&D Server service.

To specify the logon account of the Visual_TD_Database service:

 From Windows’ start menu, choose Run.
 In the Open box, type services.msc, and then click OK.

6● Chapter 3: Visual T&D Setup

  In the Services (Local) pane, select the Visual_TD_Database service.
 From the Action menu, choose Stop.
 From the Action menu, choose Properties.
 In the General tab, set the Startup type to Manual.
 Select the Log On tab:

 Select This account, and type the name of the domain account dedicated for the
Visual T&D services.
 Type the corresponding account password in the Password and Confirm Password
boxes.
 Click OK.
 From the Action menu, choose Start to restart the service.

3.2 Configuring the Visual T&D Server as a

Cluster Service
To use the Visual T&D Server on the cluster, you must first configure it for high availability, as a
cluster service, using the Failover Cluster Manager tool.

To configure the Visual T&D server as a cluster service:

 In Failover Cluster Manager, expand the Failover Cluster Manager branch, and then the
branch of the Visual T&D cluster

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide •7

  Select the Services and applications branch.

 From the Action menu, choose Configure a Service or Application.

 Follow the instructions in the High Availability Wizard and pay attention to the following
configuration operations:
 At the Select Service or Application step, select Generic Service, and click Next.

8● Chapter 3: Visual T&D Setup

  At the Select Service step, select Visual T&D Server, and click Next.

 At the Client Access Point step, type VTDServer, and click Next.

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide •9

  At the Select Storage step, select all the disk drives that will be used by the Visual T&D
Server, either for the data log database or to store the site configurations.

 Skip the Replicate Registry Settings step (click Next).

 Confirm the settings and wait while the wizard configures the service.
 Make sure the Visual TD Server service is online.

3.2.1 Changing the Ownership of the Local PostgreSQL

Database
Note: If a remote PostgreSQL or SQL Server database will be used by the Visual T&D
cluster, you can skip this section.

At installation time, the default PostgreSQL database deployed with the Visual T&D software is
configured to be owned by a local account named “postgres”. However, the ownership of this

10 ● Chapter 3: Visual T&D Setup

 database must be passed on to a dedicated domain account in a cluster configuration, which must
be the same account as the logon account of the Visual_TD_Database service.

To change the ownership of the local PostgreSQL database:

 Stop the Visual_TD_Database service.
 In a Windows Explorer window, browse for the data log folder

(ex. C:\Visual TD Datalog)

 Right-click this folder, and then choose Properties.
 Select the Security tab, and then click Advanced.
 Select the Owner tab, and then click Edit.
 Under Change owner to, select the dedicated domain account.
 Select Replace owner on subcontainers and objects, and then click OK.
 Restart the Visual_TD_Database service.

If the service restarts properly, the change of ownership was successful.

3.2.2 Configuring the Visual_TD_Database Service as a Cluster

Service
Note: If a remote PostgreSQL or SQL Server database will be used by the Visual T&D
cluster, you can skip this section.

The Visual_TD_Database service must also be configured as a cluster service, using the Failover
Cluster Manager tool.

To configure the Visual_TD_Database service as a cluster service:

 Stop the Visual_TD_Database service.
 In the left pane of Failover Cluster Manager, select the Visual T&D Server cluster service
branch, which is located under the Services and applications branch.

 From the Action menu, choose Add a resource, and then choose Generic Service.
 At the Select Service step, select Visual_TD_Database, and click Next.
 Click Next, and then click Finish.
 Back in the main window of Failover Cluster Manager, select the Visual_TD_Database
generic cluster service under Other Resources.
 From the Action menu, choose Properties.
 Select the Dependencies tab.

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide • 11

  Add to the list the shared disk drive resource that will host the PostgreSQL database.
 Click OK.

3.2.3 (Optional) Configuring the OPC Enumerator as a Cluster

Service
The OPC Data Access feature allows the Visual T&D Server to publish its own real-time data
through the OPC Data Access interface, hence acting as an OPC server.
If the OPC Data Access option is installed on the cluster, you must configure the OPC Enumerator
service (OpcEnum.exe) as a cluster service. Otherwise, skip this section.

To configure OpcEnum.exe as a cluster service:

 In Failover Cluster Manager, expand the Failover Cluster Manager branch, and then the
Visual T&D cluster branch.
 Select the Services and applications branch.
 From the Action menu, choose Configure a Service or Application.
 Follow the instructions in the High Availability Wizard and pay attention to the following
configuration operations:
 At the Select Service or Application step, select Generic Service.
 At the Select Service step, select OpcEnum.
 At the Client Access Point step, type OpcEnum.
 Skip the Select Storage step (click Next).
 Skip the Replicate Registry Settings step (click Next).
 Confirm the settings and wait while the wizard configures the service.
 Make sure the OpcEnum service is online.

3.3 Verifying that the Visual T&D Server is using

the Network Name of the Cluster
By default, cluster services are configured to internally use the network name of the cluster, rather
than the node computer name. For the Visual T&D cluster to work properly, you must verify that
this setting has not been modified.

To verify that the Visual T&D Server is using the network name of the cluster:
 In the left pane of Failover Cluster Manager, select the Visual T&D cluster service branch,
which is located under the Services and applications branch.

 In the center pane, under Other Resources, select the Visual TD Server service.

12 ● Chapter 3: Visual T&D Setup

  From the Action menu, choose Properties.
 Select the General tab.
 Select Use Network Name for computer name, if it is not already selected, and then click
OK.

3.4 Setting up the Visual T&D Server

The Visual T&D Server configuration (not to be confused with a Visual T&D site configuration)
contains all the information required to run the server, which is essentially:
 user accounts, along with their respective privileges, and password requirements;
 data log-specific settings;
 various policies for local/remote control operations and alarm management;
 redundancy-specific settings.

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide • 13

 The Visual T&D Server configuration is set up using the Visual T&D Server Control Panel
application.

Before proceeding with any Visual T&D Server configuration change:

 Make sure that a HASP hardware key is connected to each cluster node.
 Take the Visual T&D Server service cluster service offline; if applicable, also take the
Visual_TD_Database cluster service offline.
 Verify that the disk drive resources are still online.
 Make sure to make the change on the currently active node.

To verify if you are currently on the active node:

 In the left pane of Failover Cluster Manager, select the Visual T&D cluster service
branch, which is located under the Services and applications branch.

In the center pane, the currently active node is designated by the Current Owner field.

14 ● Chapter 3: Visual T&D Setup

3.4.1 User Accounts Setup
User accounts are defined in the User Management tab of the Visual T&D Server Configuration
application.

Note: User account setup is the only Visual T&D setup operation that can be performed
when the server is online.

To learn how to set up Visual T&D user accounts, refer to the Visual T&D Installation Guide,
S1140-15-1.

3.4.2 Taking a Visual T&D Cluster Service Offline

You must take the Visual T&D Server cluster service (and, if applicable, the Visual_TD_Database
cluster service) offline before proceeding with the Visual T&D Server setup.

Note: Except for user account setup, all Visual T&D Server setup operations require the
Visual T&D Server cluster service to be offline.

To take a Visual T&D cluster service offline:

 In the left pane of Failover Cluster Manager, select the Visual T&D cluster service branch,
which is located under the Services and applications branch.

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide • 15

  In the center pane, under Other Resources, select the Visual TD Server or
Visual_TD_Database service.

 From the Action menu, choose Take this resource offline.

In the center pane, the corresponding resource should be shown as Offline.

Note: Make sure the disk drives that will be used by the Visual T&D, to store data log
files or site configurations, are still online.

3.4.3 Moving the Local PostgreSQL Database to a Shared Disk

Drive

Note: If a remote PostgreSQL or SQL Server database will be used by the Visual T&D
cluster, you can skip this section.

The Visual T&D installer does not allow direct deployment of the default PostgreSQL database on
a shared disk drive; it must be moved to the shared disk drive using the Visual T&D Server
Control Panel application.

To move the local PostgreSQL database to a Shared Disk Drive:

 Make sure the Visual T&D Server cluster service and the Visual_TD_Database cluster service
are offline.
 Make sure the shared disk drive resource is online on the currently active node.

16 ● Chapter 3: Visual T&D Setup

  Start the Visual T&D Server Control Panel application, and then select the Data Logging tab.

 Click Modify.

 Change the location of the data log drive and folder.

 Click Finish.

The application will move the entire content of the folder, including the ownership rights
previously granted to a dedicated account.
 Move the execution of the cluster to the other node, and repeat this complete procedure again.

Note: On the second node, the database will not be copied: the tool will simply update
the data log folder location for the Visual T&D server software.

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide • 17

3.4.4 Setting up the Visual T&D Cluster to Use a Remote
Database

Note: If default local PostgreSQL database provided by the Visual T&D installer will be
used by the Visual T&D cluster, you can skip this section.

If a remote PostgreSQL or SQL Server database is used for the data log of the Visual T&D cluster,
you must provide the address and credentials of this database through the Visual T&D Server
Control Panel application.

To set up the Visual T&D Cluster to Use a Remote Database for the data log:
 Make sure the Visual T&D Server cluster service and the Visual_TD_Database cluster service
are offline.
 Start the Visual T&D Server Control Panel application, and then select the Data Logging tab.

 Click Add and follow the instructions provided in the Visual T&D Installation Guide to add
the database to the list.
 Then, select the newly added database, and then click Set as Active.
 Click OK.
 Move the execution of the cluster to the other node, and repeat this complete procedure again.

3.4.5 Specifying the Shared Configuration Path

All Visual T&D site configurations should also be saved to a shared SCSI disk, preferably not the
one that is used for the data log database.

18 ● Chapter 3: Visual T&D Setup

 To specify the Shared Configuration Path:
 In the Visual T&D Server Configuration application, select the Redundancy tab.
 Specify the path of the shared configuration folder in the Shared Configuration Path box.

 Click OK to close the Visual T&D Server Configuration application and save these settings.

3.4.6 Setting up Visual T&D Server Registry Replication

Most of the Visual T&D Server settings are saved in the Windows Registry. The corresponding
registry keys must be replicated from one cluster node to the other.

Note: To update the Visual T&D Server settings again in the future, you must first
remove the Visual T&D Server registry replication entry, proceed with the settings
update, and then specify this registry replication entry again.

To set up Visual T&D Server registry replication:

 In the left pane of Failover Cluster Manage, select the Visual T&D cluster service branch,
which is located under the Services and applications branch.
 In the center pane, under Other Resources, select the Visual TD Server service.

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide • 19

  From the Action menu, choose Properties.
 In the Visual T&D Server Properties window, select the Registry Replication tab.
 Click Add, and type the following in the Root registry key box:

SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Cybectec\Visual Substation Server

Note: If the cluster is deployed on 32-bit (x86) computers, type the following:

SOFTWARE\Cybectec\Visual Substation Server

 Click OK.

20 ● Chapter 3: Visual T&D Setup

3.4.7 Bringing a Visual T&D Cluster Service Back Online
Once you completed Visual T&D Server setup, you are ready to bring the Visual T&D Server
cluster service back online.

To bring a Visual T&D cluster service back online:

 In the left pane of Failover Cluster Manage, select the Visual T&D cluster service branch,
which is located under the Services and applications branch.
 In the center pane, under Other Resources, select the Visual TD Server or
Visual_TD_Database service.
 From the Action menu, choose Bring this resource online.

In the center pane, the corresponding resource should be shown as Online.

3.5 Specifying the Failover Policies

Failover policies define what happens when a critical resource, such as the Visual T&D Server
service fails on the active cluster node.

To customize failover policies of the Visual T&D Server service:

 In the left pane of Failover Cluster Manager, select the Visual T&D cluster service branch,
which is located under the Services and applications branch.
 In the center pane, under Other Resources, select the Visual TD Server service.

 From the Action menu, choose Properties.

 Select the Policies tab.

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide • 21

  Adjust the settings according to your requirements.

For example, the settings displayed above imply that the cluster will try to restart the
Visual T&D Server up to 3 times in a one-hour period when a Visual T&D Server failure
occurs. When a fourth failure occurs during the same period, the cluster failovers to the other
node.
 Click OK.

3.6 Visual T&D Redundancy System Data Points

One set of redundancy-specific system data points is available for each cluster node specified in
the Visual T&D site configuration, using Visual T&D Explorer:

Data Point Description

_<node>___rsLocal_active Indicates if this cluster node is the active one.

_<node>___rsLocal_ok Indicates if this cluster node is online.

_<node>___rsRemote_standby Indicates if a cluster failover can be performed, by providing

the online status of the other cluster node.

Essentially, the ___rsRemote_standby point of one cluster

node has the same value as the ___rsLocal_ok point of the
other cluster node.

Table 3-1 Visual T&D redundancy-specific data points

Note: <node> is the computer name of the cluster node, as specified in Visual T&D
Explorer in the Redundancy settings of the site configuration.

22 ● Chapter 3: Visual T&D Setup

3.6.1 Activating Visual T&D Redundancy System Data Points
Redundancy-specific system data points do not appear by default in a Visual T&D site
configuration. To activate them, you must provide the computer name of each node (which will be
used as point prefixes) in the Redundancy settings of the site configuration, using Visual T&D
Explorer.

To activate Visual T&D Redundancy system data points:

 In Visual T&D Explorer, from the Site menu, choose Edit Site Configuration.
 Select the Site view, and then the Redundancy tab.

 Type the computer name of the first cluster node in the first row.
 Type the computer name of the second cluster node in the second row.
 From the Site menu, choose Update Site Configuration.

The redundancy-specific system data points will now be available.

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide • 23

4 Visual T&D Cluster
Upgrade

The information contained in this chapter explains how to perform a software upgrade on an
already deployed Visual T&D server cluster.

To upgrade the Visual T&D server software:

 On any cluster node, start Failover Cluster Manager.
 Take Visual T&D Server cluster service (and, if applicable, the Visual_TD_Database cluster
service) offline.
 Perform the software upgrade on the first node:
 Uninstall the current version of Visual T&D on the first node.
 Install the latest version of Visual T&D on the same node.
 Reboot the system, if asked to do so.
 Perform the software upgrade on the second node, by following the same steps.
 Bring the Visual T&D cluster services back online.

Visual T&D Cluster Configuration Guide • 25