energyplus fails to open socket.cfg configuration file

[Diogo Gonçalves]

Hello all,

It might not be the best place to post my issue, but here it goes:

I'm using Windows 10 64bit, EnergyPLus 8.5 and python 3.4.

1) I'm trying to connect python to EnergyPLus through BCVTB protocol.

2) Though the TCP/IP network is working flawlessly and the socket.cfg is in the exactly same format as those created by BCVTB, EnergyPlus fails to open socket.

Error log sample:

"   ************* Beginning Simulation
   ** Severe  ** ExternalInterface: Could not open socket. File descriptor = -1.
   **  Fatal  ** Error in ExternalInterface: Check EnergyPlus *.err file.
   ...Summary of Errors that led to program termination:
   ..... Reference severe error count=1
   ..... Last severe error=ExternalInterface: Could not open socket. File descriptor = -1.
   *************

Does anyone have a solution, opinion, suggestion, or a better place to address this issue?

Thank you very much in advance.

Greetings,
Diogo

[Thierry Nouidui]

Could you please send the EnergyPlus error file as well as your system model (.xml)?

Thanks!

Thierry

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--------------------------------------
Thierry Stephane Nouidui, PhD

Simulation Research Group
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
1 Cyclotron Road, MS 90R3147
Berkeley, CA 94720
(510) 495-2337 voice
email: TSNo...@lbl.gov
http://simulationresearch.lbl.gov
----------------------------------------

[Diogo Gonçalves]

Thank you, Thierry!
I'm using your .idf file from example "ePlus85-schedule". However, as I'm not programming on bcvtb directly, because PythonActor does not support numpy libraries (Jpython), I don't have a system.xml file.

Maybe I should get more deep into what's the energyplus routine for establishing a socket connection, so I can program it accordingly. Anyway, I'd be extremely thankful for any suggestion you might have.

Diogo

[Thierry Nouidui]

Have you tried to use the SystemCommand (http://simulationresearch.lbl.gov/bcvtb/releases/latest/doc/manual/tit-CustomExeCon.xhtml) actor for that. 

It allows you to call any script (e.g. python).

If you are not using the BCVTB, then I can hardly help debugging here...

Thanks!

Thierry

[Diogo Gonçalves]

Where would you suggest to look for a help debugging?
 
I've seen it, but I didn't implement it yet because I'd prefer the server to be my python program for reproducibility. I'll keep on trying this way til the end of the week, and if I don't manage to do it, I'll implement it by SystemCommand Actor (I really got to keep on with my PhD work).

Anyway, I was doing a little digging and it seems the problem resides when utilSocket.c tries to connect by  "retVal = connect(sockfd, (const struct sockaddr*)&serAdd, sizeof(serAdd));" function.

As you can see in the utilSocket.log I sent you, the sockfd is printed, but I don't know which sockaddr and serAdd is this function using. Do you have any suggestion for debugging energyplus so I could figure it out where the problem is?

Sorry to bother you, and Thanks a lot!!

Diogo 

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[Diogo Gonçalves]

Dear all,

FYI, I found the solution and I leave it here for future needs.
As it turns out, energyplus preferred to read my IP address from the socket.cfg, rather than my admin user name.

All the best,
Diogo

[Alexandre Zimmer]

Hi everyone,
I have the same problem Diogo and i don't understand how you did to solve this, could you give me more details pls?
Thank you,
Alex

[Diogo Gonçalves]

Hey Alex,

when creating your sockt.cfg file, make sure to put you local IP in the user id, instead of your windows username.

best,

Diogo

[Alexandre Zimmer]

Thank you Diogo, I tried it but as the socket file is updated each time I run BCVTB, the local IP is always turned to windows username

best,
Alex

[prateek munankarmi]

[prateek munankarmi]

Hi Diogo,

I am also trying to create the python server to communicate with EnergyPlus. I am also getting the exact same problem as you described. I also tried to change the hostname in socket.cfg but it still showed the error. My python code is creating the server but is unable to communicate with EnergyPlus. Could you elaborately describe the solution. 

Regards,

Prateek

[diogo.antun...@gmail.com]

Have you changed the host name to your local IP address?

Cheers, 

Diogo

[prateek munankarmi]

Hi Diogo,

 Thanks, finally I got the python server connection to energyPlus working. Have you exchanged the data with energyPlus. I am having trouble to exchange data between energyPlus and Python. 

Your help is highly appreciated. Thanks.

Regards,

Prateek

[diogo.antun...@gmail.com]

I did and I'll share a repository capable of doing it in one week time;) it'll be free, so if you can wait we'll talk better afterwards .

Cheers, D

[prateek munankarmi]

Hi Diogo,

Sure. Thanks for your help.

Actually, I am stuck on error "Error:cannot get the environment variable:BCVTB_HOME". Did that problem occurred to you.

Regards.

[Theo Lagarde]

Hi Diogo,

I reactivate the conversation because I have the same issue. I use EnergyPlusToFMU to couple Matlab/Simulink (version 2021a) and EnergyPlus (version 9.0.1). When I run the FMU on matlab I have the same fail of socket opening in the .err file. Even if I replace the hostname by my IP adress in the socket.cfg file, there is still the same error. Any help ?

Thank you

[nouidui.c...@gmail.com]

I don't have Simulink to test but I am curious whether you manage to run an EnergyPlusToFMU using another Master algorithm such as pyFMI? This will at least give some indications as to whether the problem is in the E+FMU, Simulink, or the co-simulation.

[Theo Lagarde]

I tried with pyFMI and same error of socket so the problem doesn't come from the Master algorithm..

[nouidui.c...@gmail.com]

You should be able to run an EnergyPlusFMU with PyFMI.

Could you share the script that you have used to run the FMU?

Could you try to run that FMU on a different machine just to see if the problem can be reproduced?

[Theo Lagarde]

Hi,

Maybe I can send you the folder that contains the idf, the fmu and the python code to test from your side. I can't test on another machine because my personal computer is a MAC OS. However, I think that the issue is related to security because I found on another forum the same issue that has been resolved by runing on another machine. If you are interested to test it, I joined you my email : theo.la...@gmail.com

Thank you

Regards

[nouidui.c...@gmail.com]

I don't have a Mac to test. I suggest you try to do the testing on another computer (or on a Virtual machine) just to see if you can reproduce the problem.