NOTE: Starting in
Niagara 4.2, licensing the
JACE-8000 controller for
NiagaraAX enables the
N4 platform to run
AX-3.8U1. For details, see
N4-to-
AX conversion. This is a powerful solution for customers with existing
AX systems who want to replace older controllers with
JACE-8000 units running
AX and plan for a later upgrade to
Niagara 4. However, note that the following features are not supported when running
AX: IEEE 802.1X wired authentication, USB backup/restore, and WiFi (access point/client) functionality.
After booting the controller, establish a platform connection to the new JACE and commission it to install the necessary
Niagara 4 core software (or
AX-3.8U1 software if converting to
AX), selected modules, licenses, and to perform other platform configuration. Some important related tasks include setting the
controller’s:
- IP network address, and related IP networking parameters
- Platform daemon user(s), for platform login
- Time and date (or simply sync with your PC’s time)
To do this you use the platform
Commissioning Wizard.
NOTE: The Commissioning Wizard is the only way to install the needed core software in the JACE controller. Most steps in the Commissioning Wizard are also available as separate platform views. For example, there is a
Software Manager, License Manager, and many others. Using these views individually may be useful after commissioning the JACE. For more details see the Niagara Platform Guide.However, always use the Commissioning Wizard to commission a new JACE for
Niagara, as well as to upgrade any JACE from one
Niagara point release to another—and make sure a license file is available!
NOTE: When upgrading a JACE-8000 from an installed older release to
Niagara 4.8 the persistent log files under /var/slog will not be preserved. The reason is that
Niagara 4.8 contains an OS upgrade from QNX6.5 to QNX7.0 which uses a different log file format. During the upgrade the old QNX6.5 log
files are deleted and new QNX7.0 files are created.If the existing log files are needed, make a copy prior to upgrading.
NOTE: In
Niagara 4.8 and later, there is added support for the IEEE 802.1X wired authentication standard for JACE-8000 and Edge platforms. For more details, see the Niagara IEEE 802.1X Configuration Guide.
CAUTION: Protect against unauthorized access by restricting physical access to the computers and devices that manage your building
model. Set up user authentication with strong passwords, and secure components by controlling permissions. Failure to observe
these recommended precautions could expose your network systems to unauthorized access and tampering.