Carrier i-Vu Pro Web-Based System Administration

Overview

Carrier i-Vu Pro is a web-based building automation platform for managing Carrier CCN (Comfort Controller Network) and Open protocol controllers. It provides monitoring, scheduling, trending, alarming, and graphics through a browser-based interface. This guide covers system architecture, navigation, administration, and troubleshooting.

System Architecture

Core Components

Component	Role	Notes
i-Vu Pro Server	Central management, web server, database	Windows or Linux host
i-Vu Pro Client	Web browser interface	Chrome, Edge, Firefox
CCN Controllers	Carrier proprietary controllers	Legacy Comfort Network
Open Controllers	BACnet-based Carrier controllers	i-Vu Open, Infinity
i-Vu Link	Cloud connectivity service	Remote monitoring
SQL Database	Trend data, configuration storage	PostgreSQL or SQL Server

Controller Types

Controller	Protocol	Typical Application	Points
i-Vu Open (OPN)	BACnet/IP	AHU, rooftop, chiller plant	64-256
Infinity System	CCN + BACnet	Commercial rooftop units	32-128
CCN Comfort Controller	CCN proprietary	Legacy VAV, FCU	16-64
i-Vu TMS (Temp Monitoring)	Wireless	Walk-in coolers, pharma	8-32

Accessing the Web Interface

1. Open web browser, navigate to http://[server-IP]:8080/i-vu/ (default port)
2. Enter credentials (default admin account set during installation)
3. Dashboard loads showing system overview

Navigation Structure

System Tree (Left Panel):

i-Vu Pro System
├── Geographic Tree
│   ├── Building 1
│   │   ├── Floor 1
│   │   │   ├── AHU-1
│   │   │   ├── VAV-101 to VAV-110
│   │   │   └── FCU-101 to FCU-105
│   │   └── Floor 2
│   └── Building 2
├── Equipment Tree
│   ├── Air Handling Units
│   ├── Rooftop Units
│   ├── Chillers
│   └── Boilers
└── Network Tree
    ├── CCN Bus 1
    ├── CCN Bus 2
    └── BACnet Network

Key Interface Areas

Area	Purpose	Access
Dashboard	System overview, KPIs	Home page
Equipment Browser	Navigate and control equipment	System tree
Graphics	Visual equipment representations	Equipment context menu
Schedules	Time-based programming	Schedules menu
Trends	Historical data viewing	Trends menu
Alarms	Active and historical alarms	Alarms menu
Reports	Generated documents	Reports menu
Administration	User management, system config	Admin menu (admin only)

Graphics and Floor Plans

Creating Equipment Graphics

1. Navigate to equipment in system tree
2. Right-click > Edit Graphic (or create new)
3. Use built-in drawing tools or import background image (SVG, PNG)
4. Drag point bindings from equipment point list onto graphic elements
5. Configure display properties: numeric format, units, color rules
6. Add interactive elements: setpoint sliders, mode buttons, on/off toggles
7. Save and publish

Floor Plan Integration

1. Import DWG/DXF floor plan or PNG/SVG image as background
2. Place equipment icons at physical locations
3. Bind to controller points for live status
4. Add color-coding rules (comfortable=green, alarm=red)
5. Enable click-through navigation to equipment detail graphics

Alarm Configuration

Alarm Types

Type	Trigger	Priority	Example
Critical	Equipment failure, safety	1	Compressor lockout, freeze stat
Major	Significant deviation	2	Zone temp > 85F, high duct pressure
Minor	Operational anomaly	3	Filter change due, sensor drift
Advisory	Information only	4	Schedule override, mode change

Setting Up Alarm Notifications

1. Navigate to Administration > Alarm Routing
2. Create notification group (e.g., Facilities Team)
3. Add email recipients and/or SMS numbers
4. Define alarm filter: which priorities, which equipment, which time periods
5. Set escalation rules: if not acknowledged in 30 min, escalate to manager
6. Test notification by creating a test alarm

Alarm Acknowledgment

Operators acknowledge alarms via web interface. Acknowledged alarms move from Active to Acknowledged state. When condition clears, alarm moves to Historical.

Trend Data Setup

Configuring Trends

1. Navigate to equipment in system tree
2. Select points to trend (right-click > Add to Trend)
3. Configure sample interval: 1, 5, 15, or 60 minutes
4. Set retention period: 30, 90, 180, or 365 days
5. Enable trend collection

Viewing Trends

• Quick Trend: Select points, choose time range, view chart
• Multi-Point Overlay: Compare up to 8 points on single chart
• Export: Download as CSV for external analysis
• Calculated Trends: Create derived values (e.g., delta-T, efficiency)

User Roles and Permissions

Role	Access Level	Typical User
Administrator	Full system access, user management	BAS manager
Engineer	Configuration, programming, graphics	Controls engineer
Operator	Monitoring, setpoint adjustment, alarm ack	Building operator
Viewer	Read-only monitoring	Tenant, energy manager
Custom	Project-defined subset	Security, maintenance

Creating Users

Administration > User Management > Add User > Set username, password, assign role, define scope (which buildings/equipment visible).

BACnet Integration

Adding Third-Party BACnet Devices

i-Vu Pro supports BACnet/IP integration with third-party devices:

1. Navigate to Network Tree > BACnet Network
2. Click Discover Devices
3. Select discovered device, click Add
4. i-Vu imports BACnet object list
5. Map objects to i-Vu equipment definitions
6. Create graphics bindings and alarm rules

Integration Notes

• i-Vu acts as BACnet client; third-party devices must be BACnet servers
• Default poll interval: 60 seconds (adjustable per point)
• COV subscriptions supported for faster updates
• BACnet priority array supported for write operations

i-Vu Link Cloud Connectivity

i-Vu Link provides cloud-based remote access to on-premise i-Vu Pro systems.

Features: Remote monitoring from any browser, mobile app support, push notifications, fleet management across multiple sites.

Setup: Install i-Vu Link agent on server, register with Carrier cloud portal, configure user access and security.

Security: TLS encrypted connection, no inbound firewall ports required (outbound HTTPS only), multi-factor authentication available.

Troubleshooting

Web Interface Slow or Unresponsive

Causes: Server resource exhaustion, database size, too many simultaneous users.

Solutions:

• Check server CPU and memory usage (should be under 80%)
• Compact or archive old trend data
• Reduce number of active graphic sessions
• Increase server RAM if consistently high usage
• Clear browser cache on client machines

Controller Offline

Causes: Network issue, controller reboot, power failure, address conflict.

Solutions:

• Ping controller IP address from server
• Check physical network connection (link lights on switch)
• Verify controller power supply
• Check for IP address conflicts on network
• Restart i-Vu communication service if all controllers affected

Database Issues

Causes: Disk space full, database corruption, backup failure.

Solutions:

• Check disk space on server (maintain 20% free minimum)
• Run database maintenance tools (compact, reindex)
• Verify automated backup schedule running
• If corrupted: restore from last good backup, re-collect trends

Trend Data Missing

Causes: Collection stopped, controller offline during collection period, storage full.

Solutions:

• Verify trend collection enabled on affected points
• Check controller communication status during gap period
• Review database storage limits and retention settings
• Enable trend gap detection alerts

Firmware Updates for Open Controllers

1. Download firmware from Carrier HVAC Partner portal
2. Navigate to controller in i-Vu system tree
3. Right-click > Firmware Update
4. Select firmware file, review version compatibility
5. Schedule update for unoccupied hours
6. Monitor progress (typically 5-10 minutes)
7. Verify controller comes online with new firmware
8. Test all points reading/writing correctly

Warning: Back up controller configuration before firmware update. Some updates may reset custom programming.

Best Practices

• Naming Convention: Use consistent format: [Building]-[Floor]-[Equipment]-[Point]
• Graphics: Create overview dashboard first, then equipment detail graphics
• Trending: Trend all setpoints, temperatures, and valve/damper positions at minimum
• Alarms: Configure meaningful alarms only - avoid alarm fatigue from excessive notifications
• Backups: Schedule daily database backups, test restore monthly
• Security: Change default admin password, use individual accounts, enable audit logging
• Updates: Apply i-Vu Pro server patches quarterly during maintenance windows