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BACnet Server

BACnet Server

Basic Information

Starting with Desigo 4.2 the option for a BACnet Server has been added. What this will allow us to do is to expose points otherwise not available to anything other than Desigo CC as BACnet points. This will allow them to be used by MSIB (Middleware Software for Integrated Buildings). The target would be legacy RS485 networks only connected via AEM, since MSIB can natively communicate with Ethernet and BACnet devices already. 

There are a few requirements for this to function correctly and some technical setup that must be done. 

General Requirements

  • An additional IP Address is required for BACnet Server to Bind for its device(s)
  • An additional IP Address is required for MSIB to use for discovery
  • Additional IP Addresses should be on the existing subnet
  • Defining if there will be one master device or separate virtual devices
  • Ability to stop the project for up to an hour to install and add the extension module

Technical Information - Desigo CC

First the BACnet Server extension module must be installed and added to the current Desigo CC project. If the extension module is not added the project must be stopped for it to be installed and/or added to the project. 

If the extension module needs to be installed, the BACnet Server module is found under “Connectivity” in the feature selection of Desigo CC. If the module is not installed it must be installed using the Desigo CC installer and the “Add EM” function. Once it is confirmed to be installed it must be added to the project. 

If the extension module needs to be added to the project then it’s as simple as clicking the “Add Extension” button in the middle navigation, selecting the “BACnet Server” extension module under “Connectivity” and confirming. 

Once the extension module is added to the project then the project may be started back up and you can login to Desigo CC. The first thing that has to be done after installation is to goto Management View>System Settings>Security then select the user/group that you are logged in as and grant yourself access to BACnet Server. This will allow you to configure the BACnet Server. 

Once access has been granted you can then configure the BACnet server. You will need to create an IPv4 entry and Virtual Entry in the port table. Then will need to add the device(s) as agreed upon previously. 

Once the configuration is complete and the devices are added you must drag each point to the correct device from the navigation tree. This is the most time consuming and tedious portion of the setup process. 

After the points are added some customization can be done, this can only be one initially and they cannot be edited later. 

Once this is complete you can press the start button on the BACnet Server and it will begin exposing the selected points out as BACnet on the IP Address you defined in the IPv4 setup. 

Once complete then the discovery can be done in MSIB.

Technical Information - MSIB

Since MSIB will have its own IP address on the same subnet as the BACnet server, no special steps should need to be taken during the discovery. 

The only special step that needs to be done is after the discovery and before configuration. In the discovery file it is advised to change the address type from DHCP to Static and where the IP Address is specified the IP address of the BACnet Server. The reason for this is the DNS server will generally not respond with the IP of the BACnet server when queried and will instead respond with the IP defined in the BT BACnet Stack driver.

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