Frequently Asked Questions

Industrial Hardware (FAQ)

All Corvalent products are designed to comply with the CE and FCC-A specifications. Several of them are certified and the certification or reports are available upon request.

For you to take advantage of UDMA5, make sure to use an 80-conductor IDE cable. The standard 40-conductor cable is not able to support UDMA5.

 

The BIOS default for the USB ports on the Raptor ATX (RBXAX) and Raptor AT (RBXAT) is DISABLED. Please enable them in the CMOS settings.

Yes, all of the serial ports on Corvalent boards are full hand-shake. Some boards with more than 4 serial ports will have limited hand-shake on COM5 and COM6.

You may be running in Emulating Parallel ATA mode and using Windows Parallel ATA drivers (atapi.sys). Ideally you should select Native Mode.

 

If there is no floppy drive in the system and you are installing Windows XP, use a USB drive. Not all USB floppy drives will work if they are not listed in TXSETUP.SIF. The following drives are supported:

Plug and Play IDUSB floppy disk drive model
USB\VID_03EE&PID_6901Mitsumi
USB\VID_057B&PID_0000Y-E Data; Sony part number 09K9835
USB\VID_0644&PID_0000TEAC; IBM option part number 27L4226, FRU 05K9283

When the BIOS runs through its initialization, it will show the number of the test being performed on the seven segment display, commonly called POST display.

Most recent Corvalent motherboards use custom AMI BIOS. We have a PDF document that may be referenced here, that describes the various codes and booting beep patterns for diagnostic purposes.

Not really. New BIOS revisions are created to correct or improve compatibility for certain devices or configurations. If your system is working without any problem, then updating should not be necessary.

Different BIOS versions will require different reflashing methods and software. Download the appropriate BIOS file and follow the instructions. Note: some BIOS changes can’t be FLASHED if the revision changes are major, and a BIOS chip replacement may be necessary. Contact us for your specific requirements.

During hookup make sure that you are installing your PS/2 mouse with your system powered off, otherwise you could permanently damage the motherboard.

All of our products have a PID label that includes motherboard part number, serial number and date code.

Example: FI-P45MX-01/6 0701-33066
Featured Item = FI Motherboard
Part# = P45MX
Configuration Type = 01
Motherboard Revision = /6
Serial Number = 0701-33066. The 0701 indicate the datecode of the board

It is very important to have this information in hand while asking for technical support.

This condition may imply that the CPU is not able to run any instruction. Please check for a bad CPU, improper inserting of CPU at the socket, wrong jumper settings around the CPU type and voltage or even the DC power cables from the power supply to the motherboard. For all the P4 motherboards, make sure to have the proper ATX12V power supply and to connect the additional 12V power supply connector.

16-bit Operating Systems such as MS-DOS cannot access greater than 64 MB of memory. 32-bit Operating Systems will report the correct memory installed above the MS-DOS 64 MB memory barrier.

 

The BIOS optimal default settings are constantly reviewed for performance and compatibility.

 

Mixing memory may introduce timing and other electrical issues that can affect system performance and reliability. Check with your board’s manual for correct memory types.

You may have swapped your PS/2 keyboard and PS/2 mouse.

 

When this message is displayed it means that your boot sequence is set for First Device HDD, and your HDD is not formatted. You can fix this problem by formatting your HDD or changing your boot sequence to a bootable device.

The serial number can be found on a 2-inch white label that contains the part number and serial number.

 

Yes you can. The x4 PCIE slot is backwards compatible with PCIE x1 cards.

 

The current BIOS used is AMI UEFI. Previous motherboards may support Legacy AMIBIOS core8 or even Core6.31. A small amount of small form-factor boards support PHOENIX/AWARD BIOS.

 

No. These boards support only unbuffered non-ECC DDR memories. Using ECC DIMMs may damage the board due to higher power requirements.

 

These boards support universal AGP cards that comply with the AGP 2.0 spec. You can use a1X, 2X and 4X 1.5V cards. 3.3V VGA cards are NOT supported.

 

Our boards use a standard CR2032 3 volt coin cell battery to supply power to the Real Time Clock (RTC) and CMOS settings when power is not available from the power supply.

 

The AC’97 (Audio Codec 1997) specification defines a high-quality audio architecture that advances the migration to digital audio, while maintaining support for analog interconnects for backward compatibility.

 

CorGrid IoT Software (FAQ)

CorGrid is an enterprise application software accessible using a web browser that implements advanced Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) automated monitoring of any kind of asset.  Industrial machinery, oil and gas production wells, wind energy production systems, fleet management, mobile asset management, and dozens of other types of assets can be monitored.  When sensors report values exceeding thresholds, an alert can be triggered and notifications sent out.  A Service Ticketing System is included in CorGrid for assets that need repairing or servicing, and a predictive and preventive maintenance program can be set up using CorGrid.

 

Over 90% of industrial applications can benefit from setting good metrics (sometimes called “Key Performance Indicators”), monitoring assets remotely, analyzing the data automatically, and then notifying and alerting operators if something exceeds thresholds, or has created a condition where one or more metrics trigger an alert. We end up saving you thousands of dollars every year, if not millions.

“IoTizing” your product, process, and/or service will also save you millions of dollars in the long-run and can improve safety, quality, output, and other key values.  You will be able to see immediate results. It can also open up new revenue streams for your business.  In other words, “we help you save money, make money, and stay out of trouble.”

CorGrid opens up new potential revenue sources for your company, too.

CorGrid is built on one of the leading industrial internet of things platforms which is being used today in dozens of IIoT applications, including train and rail safety management, building automation, and dozens of others.  This is battle-tested software.

Secondly, we marry this world-class software with our proven Edge and Gateway industrial computers.  Corvalent has been in business 27 years making these industrial computers, designed and assembled in the USA, that are built for consistency, longevity, and reliability.  We can work with your existing sensors, or we pair the hardware and software with fit-for-purpose, industrially-certified sensors from quality American sensor manufacturers.

Third, we customize the hardware and the software for your business.  Because our software is built on a proven platform and because of our industry knowledge, we can generally deliver working software much more quickly than anyone else, customized for your company’s workflows.

Fourth, if you already have IIoT software, or sensors, our technologies will work with what you have already.  Just like a physician, we don’t prescribe the same thing to everyone and we tailor the solution for your needs.

Large companies with extremely sophisticated monitoring and control software charge a small fortune for their software!

Our approach is to provide what you need to not only get started, but see meaningful results in a short amount of time without making a huge investment.  As we’ve seen in the IIoT space, even large companies with big reputations fail at getting this software right, often cancelling their product offerings when they don’t make their profit numbers for a few quarters. That is not the Corvalent way.  We even have pricing options that provide “pay as you go” OPEX type expensing if that is what you need.

Yes.  Our software supports a huge number of database management systems, including Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server, SQLLite, and no-SQL products such as MongoDB and Cassandra.  We’re very “database agnostic.”

Just as we are “database agnostic” we are also extremely flexible regarding communication technologies. Wi-Fi, Cellular (5G, 4G, 3G, 2G), LoRA, NB-IoT, Zigbee, RS-485. RS-422, 4-20ma Current Loop, even Satellite is supported.  Our professional site survey team knows how to pick the right technologies for the right situation in the most cost-effective and technically sound manner.  We can interface with any sensor that outputs its data rather than just displaying it on a dial.

 

Yes, Corvalent has its own line of CorSense™ brand sensors, including sensors for 4-2mA input monitoring, voltage, power, Spatial Sensors (gyroscopes, Hall Effect, Magnetometer, Position, Proximity), a complete set of Environmental Sensors (air quality, barometers, color, gas, humidity, light, temperature, thermocouples, water moisture), and a large number of Interactive Sensors (activity, asset tracking and monitoring, impact detection, vibration, gesture, accelerometer, pressure, RFID readers, and so on).  We can also adapt our software to your sensors if you already have them.

Our incredible CorEdge™ Edge Computers are available in either Intel x86/x64 or Arm variants and are completely customizable, in many different sizes with a wide range of capabilities.  We also have simple Gateways if that is all you need or want.

Of course, CorGrid, just as with our hardware, can be customized to your needs, your desired interfaces and gauges, and your workflows.

CorGrid is one of only a very few IIoT enterprise software systems that can run on the Edge, on an on-premises server, and/or in your Cloud of choice (such as Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google, your own Cloud, or on ours).  The entire software stack fits on either our Intel-based CorEdge computers (Atom, Celeron, i3, i5, i7, i9) or our ARM-based small form factor or 1U rack mount computers.

Because of this, we have configurations that are inherently fault-tolerant.  We know that sensors in remote, industrial, or otherwise hazardous locations sometimes drop off the Internet.  If this happens, CorEdge keeps processing, collecting data, analyzing it, and taking action if necessary.  When the Internet or comes back online, CorGrid automatically synchronizes with the back-end server or servers without any user intervention.  Your data is always safe, your assets are always monitored.  We can also provide redundant data paths.

CorGrid is enterprise level monitoring and notification software that can run using an on-premises server, in the Cloud, and/or on the Edge.

Unlike many other systems, security is built into CorGrid from the ground up.  Data is encrypted using the SHA-256 encryption standard, and the CorEdge computers can come equipped with the most advanced endpoint protection in the business, from the security experts at Help/Systems.  In fact, if you desire, we can offer even more advanced security systems and techniques including active threat detection and mitigation.  We believe that just as with Information Technology, Operational Technology must be secure.  We are committed to protecting your data and your computers.

 

All it takes to get started is to send us an email or call us to set up a no-obligation, completely confidential appointment.  Our customers such as Medtronic, NASA, JPL, the US Department of Defense, and hundreds of smaller companies appreciate our approach to discussing and solving problems.

CorMonitor (FAQ)

CorMonitor combines real-time data for CorSys Longevity systems components and external sensors with predictive and preventive maintenance capabilities, providing advanced notice of failure events and therefore preventing costly downtimes.

  • Resource optimization: Provides more data than a typical monitor application, including all voltage levels, fan speeds, temperatures, CPU loading, storage utilization and optional external sensors. 
  • Advanced Failure Notification/Reduced MTTR: Allows a user to set alarms (sent via SMS or email) and monitor trends over time.
  • Historical data availability: Stores up to 90 days of historical data for all system vital signs for analysis. 
  • Reduces maintenance costs: With the included Extended warranty, service call costs are greatly reduced.

CorMonitor lives in a pre-allocated storage space in the monitored system storage media. Data is transmitted to our Cloud backend for storage and analysis.

Unlike many other systems, security is built into CorMonitor from the ground up. Outbound and inbound Data is encrypted using the SHA-256 encryption standard, and the CorSys computers can come equipped with the most advanced endpoint protection in the business, from the security experts at Help/Systems. In fact, if you desire, we can offer even more advanced security systems and techniques including active threat detection and mitigation. We believe that just as with Information Technology, Operational Technology must be secure. We are committed to protecting your data and your computers.

All it takes to get started is to send us an email or call us to set up a no-obligation, completely confidential appointment where you’ll be able to watch a live demonstration of CorMonitor. Our customers such as the Department of Energy, Transportation, and prime contracts, NASA, JPL, the US Department of Defense, and hundreds of other businesses appreciate our problem solving approach.