Network configuration

This chapter provides a collection of procedures to use the Lonworks driver in online scenarios. Like other drivers, you use the special manager views and property sheets to configure the network.

Managed vs. unmanaged networks

Lonworks networks may be previously managed or unmanaged.

  • In a previously-managed network, all nodes are already installed and commissioned using a Lonworks network management tool. Each device has a unique subnet-node address, and usually coherent Lon bindings with other devices.You usually want to learn all existing network management. The driver’s Quik Learn preserves this configuration.
  • In unmanaged networks, nodes are installed using default subnet-node addresses, where there are often duplicate addresses or other address conflicts. Lon bindings between devices do not exist. There is no existing Lon network management to learn (only to establish for the first time).

Router wiring and configuration

If your network includes one or more routers, you must wire them according to the following rules, and assign Channel Ids and Subnet Ids that match the wired configuration:

  • A channel is a network segment between routers. A particular subnet must be contained in a single channel. There can be multiple subnets on a single channel.
  • The network must be configured such that there is only one path between any two specific nodes. There cannot be any loops.
  • Routers have two Neuron chips (and IDs). Each Neuron is a member of a separate channel, and must be assigned to a unique subnet/node address.
     NOTE: Routers have a far and near interface relative to the network management device. 

Commissioning

The term commissioning to the process that installs software from a central Supervisor PC and station to a remote host controller on a Niagara network.

Lonworks also requires the commissioning of networked devices including routers. The Commission button, which initiates this process can be found on the Lon Device Manager, and Lon Router Manger views.