Rubix Platform: BACNet Network Configuration

Rubix Platform: BACnet Server Configuration

The Rubix compute supports being setup as a BACnet server and has the ability of acting as a BACnet gateway, enabling the controller to sit on any BACnet network and accept commands from BACnet master devices. 

Preparation


The Rubix Compute only supports BACnet over IP, not BACnet over MSTP
The Rubix Compute can only act as a BACnet Server OR a BACnet Master. Ensure only one service is running at the same time 

BACnet Server 

The BACnet Server app must be first downloaded in order for the controller to work as an BACnet server. 

Using the Sidebar, click on the `Apps > Services` option. Once on the `Installed Apps` page, look for a tile called `Rubix BACnet Server`, with the coloured status icon for this service showing the current state.  It should be green and labelled `Running`.  If it is not `Running`, then ensure that the service `Enable` switch is ON/Green, and then click the `Restart` button. Refresh the page and check the status has become `Running`.  If the `Rubix BACnet Server` tile is not visible, then the service will need to be installed (see the Rubix Platform: Installing and Updating Services).



Once we have confirmed that the BACnet server is running, the service can be accessed via the `Driver > BACnet Server` option in the Sidebar.  If this option is not available see Rubix Platform: Customising the Sidebar. 



Configuring BACnet Server settings 

The BACnet server must be configured correctly in order for the controller to be discovered by a BACnet master device. 

Steps to configure the BACnet server:
  1. Set the required IP of the BACnet server. The IP must be a valid IP from either ETH1 or ETH2 or the device
  2. Change the 'Port', 'BACnet Device ID' and 'Device Name' if required
  3. Click 'save' and then restart the BACnet-server app, otherwise the settings will not update
In the BACnet server tab, enter the IP of the controller followed by '/' and the network's subnet mask. To work out the subnet mask, use a calculator such as this.
In the example below, the controller's IP is 192.168.15.10 and the subnet is 255.255.255.0, which works out to be 24 using the calculator. 



BACnet-Server App Config File

The configuration file must also be added by clicking the blue pencil button on the 'Rubix Apps' overview page.

Reasons to adjust the config file:
  1. Using a preset ethenet addr, device-id and device name
  2. Changing the MQTT broker details for where the data is sent 
Download or copy the config file from here.  Similar to above, the IP and subnet mask must be changed to match the controller.
Restart the BACnet server app in order for the settings to take place.



 BACnet-Server Status Page

  1. The MQTT (Mosquito) service is required if you wish to access the data within Rubix-Wires
  2. The status icon will change to green if all the settings are correct

Adding a BACnet point

To add a BACnet server point, click the 'Create +' button at the top of the screen in the 'BACnet Server' sidebar. 
The input settings for the app are as follows:
Object Type - AnalogValue, analogOutput, binaryValue, binaryOutput
Object Name - Give the point a desired name 
Address - BACnet point address. Each point must have a unique address
Units - Units of measurement for the BAnet point, can be left blank if unknown or not required
Description - Point description 
Relinquish Default - fallback value
Event State - Normal, fault, offnormal, highLimit, lowLimit, lifeSafetyAlarm


Point Actions

Individual points can be edited, deleted, or written to using the action buttons on the row of each specific point.

Editing an Existing Point

Editing an existing point is as simple as clicking the blue pencil icon and entering the required data into the `Edit Point` pop-up. After entering the required edits to be made to the point, click `SAVE` to confirm these changes and apply them to the point.

Deleting an Existing Point

Points can be deleted by clicking the red bin icon on the row of the point that is required to be deleted. Upon clicking the red bin icon, a confirmation pop-up appears, click `CANCEL` to cancel the deletion of the point, or click `CONFIRM` to proceed with the deletion of the point.

Writing to an Existing Point

Data can be written to existing points by clicking the orange Modbus icon on the row of each specific point required to write. Once clicked, a pop-up will appear of the selected point, with two sections: point write, and point release priority. Enter in the desired values in to each section and click the blue `SEND` button to write this data on each individual item that has been entered. Click the `CLOSE` button when the data has been sent/written.



Once the BACnet server and points have been set up, the Rubix Compute BACnet points now should be discoverable on a BACnet master device or program, such as a Niagara JACE. The points on the Rubix BACnet server app should match the points on the Master BACnet server.






BACnet points can be added to the application by mapping LoRa droplets or Modbus points to BACnet points. For more information on mapping LoRa or Modbus points to BACnet, refer to: Rubix Platform: Mapping Modbus & LoRa points to BACnet Points


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