32-bit vs. 64-bit installations

For earlier versions of Niagara, a number of factors can determine which type of installation is required. These restrictions do not apply to latest versions of Niagara, which require 64-bit PCs and Niagara 64-bit software.

Newer PCs run a 64-bit Windows operating system. On these computers, the Niagara 4 64-bit install provides certain advantages. Most notably, the 64-bit Java VM (Virtual Machine) does not have a 2 GB memory limit. Coupled with a typical configuration that has 4 GB or more of RAM installed in the host PC, this allows a Supervisor host to run more effectively in a large installation. Depending on the PC host hardware, a 64-bit OS may provide other performance benefits.

However, in the following cases, it may be more effective to install the 32-bit version on a 64-bit Windows PC:

  • When installing earlier version of Niagara on an engineering workstation that is licensed to run stations engineered for a Lonworks network (LonNetwork component) with the eventual intention of installing on a remote controller.

    The term “engineering workstation” refers to an installation on a PC, which is used to commission controller hardware and perform application engineering on both offline and online stations. In some cases the “engineering workstation” may also be licensed to run a station to facilitate application development and testing.

    CAUTION: Although this configuration may work for some installations, be aware that the LON FTT-10 USB adapter is NOT supported. Consequently, results are not guaranteed. Use of the non-supported LON FTT-10 USB adapter is done at your own risk.

  • When your Supervisor contains limited RAM (less than 4 GB). In this configuration, shorter 32-bit memory pointers could be advantageous. A station running in a 64-bit VM requires more memory than the exact same station running in a 32-bit VM.

    Note: If you install a 32-bit Niagara 4 version on a 64-bit Windows OS, you could cause licensing confusion if you later install a 64-bit version on the same host.

If you attempt to install the 64-bit Niagara 4 version by selecting Installer_x64.exe on a 32-bit Windows OS, the Installer window displays an error, which alerts you that it is not a valid Win32 application.