Metasys N2 to Data Aire DART QuickServer Gateway

The QuickServer is a high performance, fully configurable, cost effective Building and Industrial Automation gateway for integrators to easily interface devices to networks in commercial buildings and industrial plants.

System integrators world-wide have benefitted from the value of the powerful line of interoperability gateways offered by FieldServer. Now, QuickServer adds to that value by running the same robust FieldServer protocol conversion software on a highly cost effective platform backed by the experience, engineering expertise and proven technical support that integrators have come to expect from FieldServer.

QuickServer (Serial-Ethernet) is available in two series:

The QuickServer FS-QS-2X10 series is available at four different point capacities. Each QuickServer is preloaded with two drivers (serial and/or Ethernet) from a customer’s choice of 140 different drivers, E.G. Modbus, BACnet, SNMP, EtherNet/IP and many more.

The FS-QS-2010 with 2 RS485 and 1 ethernet port can support up to 250 points. The FS-QS-2210 can support up to 500 points. The FS-QS-2310 can support up to 3,000 points. The FS-QS-2410 can support up to 5,000 points.

Equivalently the FS-QS-2020 with 1 RS485, 1 RS232 and 1 ethernet port can support up to 250 points. The FS-QS-2220 can support up to 500 points. The FS-QS-2320 can support up to 3,000 points. The FS-QS-2420 can support up to 5,000 points.

Every QuickServer includes browser-based tools to make it easy to set-up QuickServer and perform diagnostics including determination of status, network settings, node information, map descriptors and more. The USB flash drive also includes the Discovery utility to determine what FieldServers are on a network.

BTL Mark is registered to the MSA BACnet Driver for MSA QuickServer line of products

The Dual port QuickServer takes the QuickServers to the next level with Security and Power. With two Ethernet ports, the Dual port QuickServer allows data to move seamlessly across disparate subnets, using a dedicated port for Cloud connectivity. This port isolation allows for enhanced LAN security from the BMS/WAN/Cloud. An embedded OpenVPN Server enables secure remote access to Ethernet devices in the field.

The QuickServer FS-QS-3X10-F series is available at four different point capacities. Each QuickServer is preloaded with 140 different drivers, such as Modbus, BACnet, SNMP, EtherNet/IP and many more. See page 3 for the complete list. The FS-QS-3010-F can support up to 250 points. The FS-QS-3110-F can support up to 500 points. The FS-QS-3210-F can support up to 1,000 points. The FS-QS-3310-F can support up to 3,000 points. The FS-QS-3410-F can support up to 5,000 points. The FS-QS-3510-Fire can support up to 10,000 points.

The Metasys® N21 by Johnson Controls network supports communications with a diverse range of devices. Many N2 compatible devices use their own version of the protocol and care must be taken to ensure that the device of interest is covered by the FieldServer implementation.

At present the FieldServer Metasys® N2 driver will support communications with the following devices or classes of devices when acting as a Client:

• N2Open-compliant devices. N2Open is a published N2-compatible protocol enabling 3rd party device vendors to integrate with N2.
• VMA 1400 series (with restrictions)
• DX9100 and XT9100

When acting as a Server the FieldServer Metasys® N2 driver can emulate an N2Open device only.

The Data Aire DART Driver is designed for connection to a DataAire Corporation DART. This driver has been modified for use on intelli-DART units which operate differently to previous DART units.

The Dart device is an active element on a network of DataAire devices such as DAP panels. It manages the devices and provides co-ordination and supervision. In performing these duties the Dart device polls all the devices1 on the network for all the data.

The Dart is capable of ‘echoing’ the responses from these devices on one of its RS-232 ports. This driver is designed to listen passively to these echoes and store device data. In addition the driver can send messages (containing set point data, for example,) directly to individual devices on the network.

The intelli-DART driver is not passive, and is required to poll the intelli-DART units for DAP data after login. Logins are required on the initial poll, after 20 minutes, and if polls for data fail.

The FieldServer is connected to the RS-232 serial port of the Dart. The FieldServer can read and write but active polling must be minimized as it reduces the amount of time that the DART spends controlling the networked devices.

The driver operates primarily as a passive client listening to echoes of the data being polled by the DART. The DART must be manually set to ‘Echo’ mode on the front panel of the Dart for the driver to operate correctly.

The driver may be configured very simply (See example 5.3.4). In addition a number of advanced configurations are possible. The manual is divided to separate the basic and advanced topics. The driver supports the common message formats for common DataAire devices. A list of the supported messages is provided in the manual. The driver cannot be used to configure or read the status of a DART device itself.

The information that follows describes how to expand upon the factory defaults provided in the configuration files included with the FieldServer.