As shown in Figure B.1, tunneling in NiagaraAX uses a client-server architecture.
Lon tunneling uses the following components:
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Client (PC application) side
The NiagaraAX Lon Tunnel client installs on any Win32-based PC (independent of Niagara Workbench). It provides a “Niagara AX Lon Tunneling” applet in the Windows Control Panel, corresponding to a “virtual” LON port. For details, see Client side (PC application).
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Server (station) side
To support Lon tunneling, the host JACE must have the “
lontunnel” module installed. In addition, its station must be configured with a TunnelService and a child LonTunnel component. For details, see Station side (TunnelService).
A SerialTunnel (“tunnel” module) is also available, and uses the same basic architecture—as a child under a station’s TunnelService. It allows application
tunneling to connected devices on most driver networks using RS-232 or RS-485 communications. For details, see “Serial tunneling” in the Drivers Guide. Note client tunnel connections (Lon or serial) to a station’s TunnelService use basic authentication (credentials not encrypted), so security considerations apply. See Best security practices for tunneling.