Unacknowledged PlantWeb alert on FFB device removed from the system

DeltaV version 12.3.1

AMS version 13.0

I have an unacknowledged PlantWeb alert on a FFB Fisher DVC that was deleted from the system that I cannot get rid of.

The equipment had a failed positioner in it.   Operations removed the line it was in so the decision was made to simply delete it from the system.    It is no longer in AMS, nor in DeltaV.    However no one acknowledged the alarm on the alerts page.   When I go to do so now I get the following message.


The equipment no longer exists so putting it back and downloading it is not an option.

I have rebooted both the ProPlus and the ServerPlus.

I have rebuilt hierarchy.

I have search for that tag in the system but cannot locate it.

How do I make this go away?

  • You may have to recreate with a new device to temporarily commission with the same name. Once the alarm is cleared, then decommission. It does not need to be the same device or even device type. As long as the device tag is the same, the Alarm system will see the same alarm and clear the status.

    I think this was discussed in this forum before, but not sure if it was relating to FF.

    Andre Dicaire

  • There's a work-around - might even be in Books Online. In lieu of recommissioning a device, you can create a module in the same area where the not-clearing alarm is occurring, create an alarm with the same name, after which you can acknowledge and clear it. Here it is:

    Clearing COMM_ALM alarms when a fieldbus device is removed from the segment

    When a commissioned fieldbus device is permanently removed from the segment physically, it may generate a COMM_ALM alarm. In applications where the device is no longer needed, the device placeholder may also be deleted. Despite the physical removal of the device and the deletion of the placeholder, the alarm is not automatically removed from DeltaV Operate and attempts to acknowledge the alarm generate an Item Not Found error.

    Follow these steps to clear the COMM_ALM alarm that is generated when a fieldbus device is removed from the segment:

    Reattach the fieldbus device to the segment and then recreate the alarm to acknowledge the COMM alarm, if possible.

    If the process permits, perform a total download of the controller where the device was previously assigned.

    If the fieldbus device can no longer be reattached to the segment and a total download of the controller is not possible, perform the following steps:

    Open the fieldbus device's Properties dialog in DeltaV Explorer and select the Alarms and Display tab.

    Take note of the area indicated in the All device alarms associated with area: field.

    Decommission and delete the fieldbus device placeholder.

    Create a control module under the area seen in the All device alarms associated with area: field.

    Name the new control module with the same tag as the device that was just deleted.

    Create an alarm in the control module and name it COMM_ALM.

    Assign the control module to the controller where the fieldbus device was previously assigned.

    Save and download the control module.

    Acknowledge the alarm and delete the newly configured control module.

  • In reply to John Rezabek:

    I wasn't sure a module would work. Thanks for setting me straight.

    Andre Dicaire