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The frequently asked questions below provide information regarding SmartServer applications and references for more information:

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How do I use the SmartServer as a self-installed IP-852 router?

The SmartServer can be used as a self-installed IP-852 router, which allows you to create an IP-852 network with two or more SmartServer IoTs (e.g., connecting two buildings together) without using a LNS network integration tool to add the SmartServers to the existing LNS network. This application is similar to the i.LON 600 self-installed router as repeater feature. In addition to the SmartServer, you will need to purchase a U60.  In this case, the SmartServers are used as repeaters and repeat all the traffic on any FT-10/XF-1250/Power Line SmartServer to all the other channels connected to other SmartServers. This method is useful when a network integration tool does not support routers. In these cases, the SmartServers are physically connected to the existing network, but there are now two logical channels:

  • IP-852 channel, which connects the building or floors with the SmartServers being only configured by the IP-852 configuration server. No other integration tools are required.
  • LON channel (U60/U70), which has all the LON devices

See the Using the SmartServer as a Self-Installed IP-852 Router section in (Optional) Set up the IP-852 Configuration Server for more information.

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For LON network recovery, set the SmartServcer SmartServer to IMM and use an existing IzoT CT or IzoT Net Server database, or use the CT Recover database from network feature or IzoT Net Server OpenLNS Database Recovery Wizard.

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For LON networks, do I need to purchase a U60 or U70?

To use the SmartServer on a LON network you will need to purchase at least one U60 or U70  network interface depending on the LON channel type you are using. The SmartServer can be used as a multi-port router which means it can support multiple U60s and U70s. U60s/U70 are not required for BACnet or Modbus devices. USB Network interfaces Types:

  • U60 FT is an a network interface for LON/IP-FT and LON-FT channels.
  • U60 TP-1250 is an is a network interface for  LON/IP TP-1250 and LON TP-1250 channels.
  • U70 PL-20 is an is a network interface for ON for LON PL-20 and LON/IP PL-20 power line carrier networks. The U70 can be used with and without repeating. Power-line repeating is typically used for streetlight networks.
    • If you are using Power power line repeating, only a single U70 can be used (i.e., U60s can't cannot be used). The U10 and U20 network interfaces are not supported.

See Add a U60 or U70 LON Network Interface and Router for information on how many network interfaces are supported. U10s are not supported.

Can the SmartServer automatically discover devices?

Yes, you can use the SmartServer to automatically discover BACnet, Modbus, and LON devices using the Discover button (Image Modified) on the Devices widget. Datapoint discovery is only supported for BACnet Devices. For LON and Modbus devices, you must import an XIF file prior to running device discovery. In most cases the device will show up in the SmartServer as unconfigured. To use the device you will in most case have to provision the discovered devices. Provisioning a LON devices will change the domain/subnet/node ids, change the datapoint values and remove any existing connection in the LON device.

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  1. Create a BACnet XIF file that specifies the BACnet datapoints and how they are represented in the SmartServer. See (Optional) Creating a BACnet Device Interface (XIF) Definition for more information. The SmartServer BACnet discovery feature can be used to automatically discover BACnet datapoints and to automatically create the BACnet XIF file. The BACnet XIF file can also be manually created. See the Importing a Device Type section in Defining Device Types for more information.
  2. Enable BACnet using the BACnet Configuration page. See (Optional) Setting up BACnet for more information.
  3. Import the BACnet XIF file using the CMS Device Types widget. See the Importing a Device Type section in Defining Device Types for more information.
  4. Add BACnet devices in one of the following ways:
    1. Use the CMS Devices widget to manually add the BACnet devices. See Discovering, Defining, or Importing Devices for more information. 

    2. Start device discovery using the CMS Devices widget. For each discovered BACnet device, the SmartServer will use the imported BACnet XIF file. If a BACnet XIF file is not found for a device, then one will be automatically created. See Discovering, Defining, or Importing Devices for more information. 

  5. Provision the BACnet devices using the CMS Devices widget. See Provisioning Devices for more information.

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  1. Create a Modbus XIF file that specifies the Modbus datapoints and how they are represented in the SmartServer. Modbus XIF files are manually created, but can then be used on one or more SmartServers. See (Optional) Creating a Modbus Device Interface (XIF) Definition for more information.

  2. For Modbus RTU, configure the SmartServer RS-485 interface using the RS-485 Configuration page. See (Optional) Add a Modbus RTU Interface for more information. 

    Info

    The SmartServer IoT Pro EX Edition has two built-in RS-485 interfaces, and each IOX has its own RS-485 interface. For Modbus RTU, you can only use one of these RS-485 interfaces with a SmartServer. The other SmartServer, or IOX RS-485 interfaces, can be used for other protocols.


  3. Import the Modbus XIF file using the CMS Device Types widget. See the Importing a Device Type section in Defining Device Types for more information.

    Info

    Modbus datapoints cannot be accessed directly from IzoT CT or IzoT Net Server. To do so, you will need to use a SmartServer internal device to map the Modbus datapoints to LON datapoints so that you can use IzoT CT to monitor and control Modbus devices. Go to the How do I access BACnet or Modbus datapoints in IzoT CT / IzoT Net Server section for information on using an internal device to map Modbus-to-LON datapoints.   


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Because BACnet and Modbus datapoints are not LON datapoints, they cannot be directly accessed by IzoT CT or IzoT Net Server. However, you can use a SmartServer internal device to map the BACnet or Modbus datapoints to LON datapoints so that you can access them with a LON integration tool (e.g., CT Browser). Go to the How do I access BACnet or Modbus datapoints in IzoT CT / IzoT Net Server section for information on using an internal device to map BACnet/Modbus-to-LON datapoints. . An example of an IzoT CT network is shown below.

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How do I use the SmartServer with IzoT CT, IzoT Net Server, and a BACnet tool?

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  1. Enable BACnet using the BACnet Configuration page. See (Optional) Setting up BACnet for more information. 
  2. Create a BACnet XIF file (either using device discovery or manually). See (Optional) Creating a BACnet Device Interface (XIF) Definition for more information.
  3. Import the BACnet XIF file using the CMS Device Types widget. See the Importing a Device Type section in Defining Device Types for more information.
  4. Use the SmartServer CMS to add and provision the BACnet device. See Site Provisioning for more information.
  5. Use an internal device to map the BACnet to LON datapoints.

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In IzoT CT /IzoT Net Server:

  1. Enable BACnet using the BACnet Configuration page. See (Optional) Setting up BACnet for more information. 
  2. Manually create a Modbus XIF file. See (Optional) Creating a Modbus Device Interface (XIF) Definition for more information.
  3. Import the Modbus XIF file using the CMS Device Types widget. See the Importing a Device Type section in Defining Device Types for more information.
  4. Use the SmartServer CMS to add and provision the Modbus device. See Site Provisioning for more information.
  5. Use an internal device to map the Modbus to LON datapoints.

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  1. Use an internal device to map the BACnet/Modbus datapoints to LON datapoints, which can be accessed with your LON integration tool. See (Optional) Setting up BACnet for information on how to do the mapping.
  2. Use the localDev.exe application from the SmartServer GitHub repository to create an internal device with 64 empty LON Functional Blocks (FBs).

  3. Use your integration tool, such as IzoT CT, to dynamically add datapoints to the internal device. If the LON and BACnet/Modbus datapoint types are similar, then you can use a connections (CON) file to do the mapping between the LON and BACnet/Modbus datapoints.

    For example, a float datapoint for the BACnet/Modbus translates directly to SNVT_temp_p. You can use shadowConnect.exe (from the SmartServer GitHub repository) if you have similar datapoint types.

    Info
    titleConsiderations for BAC and MOD files

    There are some limitations for BACnet XIF and Modbus XIF files when using shadowConnect.exe. Additionally, there are limitations for the names of dynamic datapoints added to IzoT CT/IzoT Net Server database. Once you add a dynamic datapoint into IzoT CT/IzoT Net Server, you cannot rename the datapoint. In this case, you must delete the datapoint and add a new datapoint with a new name. See Naming Considerations for BACnet XIF and Modbus XIF Files in the (Optional) Setting Datapoint Names for more information.


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