Use the Siemens MindSphere Connector to onboard SIA Connect as a MindConnect LIB agent and upload mapped values to Siemens MindSphere, now called Insights Hub.

The Connector retrieves the data sources and data points configured for the agent. It creates a write-only item for each data point, which you can use as the destination of a mapping.

Before you begin

Make sure that:

• The Siemens MindSphere Connector is installed in SIA Connect.
• SIA Connect has internet access and can resolve external hostnames.
• Outbound HTTPS traffic on TCP port 443 is permitted.
• The date and time on SIA Connect are correct.
• You have access to Asset Manager in the relevant MindSphere tenant.
• Your tenant and agent use the EU1 environment supported by this Connector version.
• You can create or manage a MindConnect LIB asset, data sources, and data points.

For Connector installation instructions, see Install and manage Connectors.

Prepare the MindSphere agent

1. In MindSphere Asset Manager, create or select an asset of type core.mclib.
2. Open the MindConnect LIB plugin for the asset.
3. Select the Shared Secret security profile.
4. Generate the boarding configuration.
5. Copy the initial access token or onboarding key. You will enter it as the IAT in SIA Connect.
6. Add a data source to the MindConnect LIB asset.
7. Add the required data points to the data source.
8. Connect the data points to the appropriate aspect variables in MindSphere.
9. Copy the configuration ID for the agent's data source configuration.

The data types assigned to the data points must match the corresponding aspect variables in MindSphere.

For the current MindSphere procedures, see the Siemens documentation for onboarding MindConnect LIB, adding a data source, and adding data points.

Create a Siemens MindSphere instance

1. In the Edge Portal, open Workspace > Instances.
2. Select Add instance.
3. Select the Siemens MindSphere Connector.
4. Enter a descriptive name for the instance.
5. Leave MindSphere Server set to https://southgate.eu1.mindsphere.io.
6. Enter the data source configuration ID in Configuration ID.
7. Paste the shared-secret onboarding key into IAT.
8. Enable and save the instance.

The Connector performs onboarding in the background. Onboarding can take longer than creating a normal local device instance because SIA Connect must contact MindSphere, exchange credentials, and retrieve the data source configuration.

Instance parameters

Do not change regions: Changing only MindSphere Server does not move the underlying MindConnect session to another region in this Connector version. Use the EU1 endpoint shown above.

Use the automatically created items

After successful onboarding, the Connector requests the agent's data source configuration from MindSphere. It creates one enabled, write-only item for every returned data point.

The Connector is a destination Connector. It uploads values to MindSphere but does not read values back from the cloud.

Create an item manually

Normally, you should use the items created from the MindSphere data source configuration. If an item is missing but you know the exact data-point ID, you can create it manually.

1. Open the Siemens MindSphere instance.
2. Select Add item.
3. Enter a descriptive item name.
4. Set the direction to Write only.
5. Enter the exact MindSphere data-point ID in Data Point ID.
6. Enable and save the item.

Map data to MindSphere

1. Open the source item that provides the value.
2. Create a mapping to the matching write-only item in the Siemens MindSphere instance.
3. Use the mapping template to format the value in the type expected by the MindSphere data point.
4. Configure the mapping trigger or interval.
5. Enable and save the mapping.
6. Generate a test value at the source.
7. Confirm that the value appears for the linked variable in MindSphere.

For complete mapping instructions, see Create and edit mappings.

The Connector sends each mapped value as time-series data. It uses the timestamp supplied by the mapping or source item. If no valid timestamp is available, it uses the current UTC time. Uploaded values use the good-quality code 00000000.

Refresh data points

The Connector retrieves data sources and data points when it starts. If you add or change data points in MindSphere after the Connector has already started, restart the SIA Connect software so the Connector can retrieve the updated configuration.

1. Save the data-source changes in MindSphere.
2. Restart the SIA Connect software.
3. Open the Siemens MindSphere instance.
4. Confirm that the new items have been created.

For restart instructions, see Restart SIA Connect.

Verify the connection

1. Confirm that the instance is enabled and does not show an onboarding or network error.
2. Confirm that items were created from the MindSphere data points.
3. Map a known test value to one of the generated items.
4. Check that the item does not report an upload error.
5. Open the linked asset or variable in MindSphere and confirm that the value and timestamp were received.

A successful network connection alone does not confirm that the configuration ID, data-point ID, or data type is correct. Verify the value in MindSphere before using the mapping in production.

Troubleshoot the Connector

No items are created

Confirm that onboarding completed successfully and that the MindConnect LIB agent has a saved data source with data points. Restart the SIA Connect software after changing the cloud configuration. If the problem remains, check the Connector logs for an authorization, API, or response error.

Not onboarded. Please provide new Initial Access Token (IAT)

The instance does not have valid stored registration information and no usable IAT was supplied. Generate a new shared-secret boarding configuration in MindSphere, enter its onboarding key in IAT, and restart the Connector.

Invalid Initial Access Token (IAT). Please re-onboard.

The onboarding key was rejected, expired, belonged to another agent, or no longer matches the current registration. Offboard the agent in MindSphere if required, generate a new shared-secret boarding configuration, replace the IAT, and try again.

No access token exists or No access token provided

The Connector could not obtain the access token required for communication. Check the IAT and onboarding state. Confirm that the MindConnect LIB agent still exists and is enabled in the expected tenant.

Could not resolve host

SIA Connect could not resolve the MindSphere hostname. Check internet access, DNS settings, and the configured server value. Keep the EU1 server at https://southgate.eu1.mindsphere.io.

Could not connect to host, Network send failed, or Network receive failed

Check the internet connection, default gateway, firewall, proxy, and outbound TCP port 443. This Connector version does not expose proxy configuration in the Edge Portal.

SSL handshake failed, Invalid certificate, or MindSphere server certificate not verified

Confirm that the SIA Connect date and time are correct. Check whether a firewall or security appliance is intercepting HTTPS traffic and replacing the server certificate. Then verify that the device can establish a trusted TLS connection to the EU1 endpoint.

The server did not respond within the timeout period

MindSphere did not answer in time. Check the internet connection and service availability, then retry. Review the system and Connector logs if the error continues.

Device already onboarded

The cloud agent and local registration state do not agree. Confirm that the instance represents the correct MindConnect LIB asset. Avoid reusing one onboarding key across several instances. Offboard and generate a new boarding configuration if the registration must be replaced.

Registration information is not saved or loaded

The Connector could not write or read its local onboarding information. Restart the software and retry. If the error returns, review storage availability and Connector logs. Reinstalling the Connector can remove locally stored registration information, so keep access to the MindSphere agent and a new boarding configuration before reinstalling.

Store is empty

The upload did not contain usable time-series data. Confirm that the mapping produces a non-empty value and that the destination item has a valid data-point ID.

The item reports an upload error

Compare the instance configuration ID and item data-point ID with the current MindSphere data source configuration. Confirm that the value can be converted to the data type assigned to the point. Data-point and aspect-variable types must match in MindSphere.

Values are sent to the wrong point

The item contains an incorrect data-point ID or the cloud-side data mapping has changed. Use the automatically generated items where possible. If the data source was edited, restart the software to retrieve the current configuration before updating mappings.

Values have the wrong timestamp

Check the timestamp supplied by the source item and confirm that the SIA Connect system time is correct. When no valid source timestamp is available, the Connector uses the current UTC time.

For general diagnostics, see Troubleshoot Connector, instance, item, and mapping errors.

Related articles

• Install and manage Connectors
• Create and edit instances
• Create and edit items
• Create and edit mappings
• Manage system settings and time
• Restart SIA Connect
• Troubleshoot Connector, instance, item, and mapping errors
• SIA Connect downloads
• Siemens: Onboarding MindConnect LIB