To access the Bacnet Comm network port(s)

Do this to add one or more additional ports, or to access the default BACnet/IP port.

To access the Bacnet Comm network ports:

1. In the BacnetNetwork property sheet, click to expand Bacnet Comm, then Network. Or, select these items using the Nav side bar (see Figure 2).

2. Depending on your BACnet installation, you can do several things:

   • If you are connecting to a BACnet/IP network, you can use the default IP port. See To configure a BACnet/IP port.

   • If you are connecting to a BACnet/Ethernet or BACnet/MSTP network, you must add the appropriate NetworkPort for that type of network. To add a Bacnet Comm network port(s).

To add a Bacnet Comm network port(s)

If needed, in addition to an IpPort, you can add one EthernetPort (per adapter), and/or up to four MstpPorts.

You can also add additional IpPorts, to enable communications on additional UDP ports, such as 47809 (0xBAC1), or whatever UDP ports may also be used. Note in this case, the station is acting as BACnet/IP router between two logical BACnet/IP networks (that actually exist on the same physical network).

To add a Bacnet Comm network port:

1. Open the Bacnet Comm, Network. See To access the Bacnet Comm network port(s)).

2. Open the bacnet palette in the Workbench palette side bar (Figure 1). See “Using the palette side bar” in the User Guide for general details.

3. In the bacnet palette, expand the NetworkPorts folder.

4. Drag the port type you want from palette into the Network container (or, use copy and paste instead). In the popup Name dialog, you can rename the port—or, simply use the default name.

5. Click OK to add the network port.

   If needed, repeat to add additional Bacnet network ports.

   As needed, see the following related procedures:

   • To configure a BACnet/IP port

   • To configure a BACnet/Ethernet port

   • To configure a BACnet/MSTP port

To configure a BACnet/IP port

You need to perform a few essential configuration items.

To configure a BACnet/IP port:

1. Expand the Ip Port in the property sheet view.

2. Set the Network Number from “-1” to the BACnet network number for the network segment to which you are connecting.

   • If this is an existing BACnet installation, make sure to use the same network number already in use.

   • If this is a new BACnet installation, you can choose this number (for example: 1).

3. Expand the Link component in the property sheet.

4. Under Link, use the drop-down list for Adapter to select the network adapter to use. These adapters are automatically discovered and validated by Niagara.

5. Review the Udp Port setting being used for BACnet communications.

   By default, UDP port 47808 decimal (0xBAC0 in hexadecimal) is used. If your BACnet/IP installation is using another UDP port, enter this port number in the Udp Port property.

6. Review the Ip Device Type setting for the station. By default, the station will operate as a “Standard” BACnet/IP device. Alternatively, you can specify the station to function as either a “Foreign Device” or a “Bbmd” (BBMD), to allow BACnet/IP operation through standard IP routers.

   Only one BACnet/IP device on the same IP subnet should operate as a BBMD. If a BBMD already exists on the host’s subnet, the “Standard” device type is appropriate—leave remaining properties at defaults. The existing BBMD will distribute all BACnet broadcast messages to/from the remote BBMDs.

   • If configuring the station as either a Foreign Device or BBMD, you must know the IP address and UDP port used by one other (remote subnet) BBMD.

     Enter that combination in the Bbmd Address property. For example, a Bbmd Address value of 172.16.8.26:47808    (using a “:” between IP address and UDP port.)

   • Also, if configuring as a Foreign Device, review the Registration Lifetime value, which defaults to 15 minutes. Typically this value is ok; however, some BBMDs may require another value.

   For details about BACnet/IP BBMDs and Foreign Devices, see BACnet/IP and BBMDs.

7. Click the Save button to save Ip Port changes.

8. Right-click the Ip Port (in property sheet or Nav side bar), and select Actions->Enable.

To configure a BACnet/Ethernet port

You need to perform a few essential configuration items.

To configure a BACnet/Ethernet port:

1. Expand the EthernetPort in the property sheet view.

2. Set the Network Number from “-1” to the BACnet network number for the network segment to which you are connecting.

   • If an existing BACnet installation, make sure to use the same network number already in use.

   • If a new BACnet installation, you can choose this number (for example: 2).

3. Expand the Link component in the property sheet.

4. Under Link, use the drop-down list for Adapter Title to select the Ethernet adapter to use. These adapters are automatically discovered and validated by Niagara. The properties “Adapter Description” and “Adapter Name” provide additional information about a selected adapter.

5. Click the Save button to save EthernetPort changes.

6. Right-click the EthernetPort (in property sheet or Nav side bar), and select Actions->Enable.

To configure a BACnet/MSTP port

BACnet MSTP is supported only with a station running on a QNX-based JACE controller.

You need to perform a few essential configuration items.

To configure a BACnet/MSTP port:

1. Expand the MstpPort in the property sheet view.

2. Set the Network Number from “-1” to the BACnet network number for the network segment to which you are connecting.

   • If an existing BACnet installation, make sure to use the same network number already in use.

   • If a new BACnet installation, you can choose this number (for example: 3).

3. Expand the Link component in the property sheet.

4. Under Link, perform the following configuration:

   • Set the Port Name to the RS-485 port to be used on the JACE. For example, if JACE with a dual RS-485 port option card, i.e. three total RS-485 ports), one of the following: COM3, COM4 or COM5.

   • Set the Mstp Address to a unique BACnet MAC address on that MSTP trunk, in decimal, with valid range from 0 (default) to 127. Each BACnet device on the MS/TP network segment must have a unique MAC address.

     Typically, you leave the Mstp Address at 0 (the default), and verify that no other MS/TP device on the trunk is addressed the same. If there is ever a “lost token,” the device with the lowest MAC address regenerates the token (and in this case it will be the station).

   • Set Max Master to the highest known master device on the network, with possible room for expansion if needed. Also, the Max Info Frames property controls how many messages are sent before passing the token, and may be increased up to 50 to increase performance in some cases.

5. Click the Save button to save MstpPort changes.

6. Right-click the MstpPort (in property sheet or Nav side bar), and select Actions->Enable.