WindowsTM Server Software for
BACnetTM Systems
If you're a developer of facility automation systems or controls, chances are that your customers
are looking for BACnetTM capability from the systems you design.
If you've looked at the BACnet standard, you know that even simple communications functions can
present some daunting problems, and you probably don't have the time to become that much of a
BACnet expert. You need fast and reliable tools to help you get right into communicating with
BACnet and focus on solving your development problems. You might even have been thinking of
using a Windows-based PC as a gateway. You need a jumpstart for your gateway design so
you don't have to become a BACnet expert just to get started.
You need BACdoorTM Server.
BACdoorTM Server Toolkit is the industry's first
easy-to-use BACnet Server Software for WindowsTM. BACdoor
Server runs under Windows 98, Me, NT4, 2000 or XP, and provides a robust set of basic server features
tailored to the needs of gateway designers.
BACdoorTM Server is implemented as a 32 bit DLL. The 32
bit DLL works with both Ethernet 8802-3 and ARCNET local area network types using NDIS-compliant
drivers. It also supports BACnet/IP.
The DLL supports the following functions:
- Initialize
- Deinitialize
- GetRequest
- Respond
- EventNotification
- GetEvent
After initialization, the DLL maintains a separate Windows thread which continuously processes
requests from your server application programs, and receives and handles requests and responses
from BACnet peer devices. The DLL process queues incoming requests for later handling by your
server application. Transmit segmentation is handled automatically by the DLL. The DLL uses an
asynchronous method for initiating a request, or receiving incoming requests. The server application
must periodically poll for the completion of the request or the arrival of a new server request.
This approach leaves the control of polling frequency in the hands of the server application designer,
and makes it simple to interface with the DLL from "C", Visual Basic and other popular Windows
development languages.
The basic operations of Reading and Writing properties of BACnet objects support all BACnet
standard objects and properties with primitive data types. Proprietary objects and properties
which return primitive data type values are also supported.
The DLL automatically handles WhoIs and IAm traffic, maintaining an internal peer list. Incoming
Read and WriteProperty requests are saved and presented to the server application one by one as
requested using a simple "union" data structure.
Alarm and Event related incoming messages are treated separately and the server application
may poll for these message types independently. Outgoing event notifications may be transmitted
at any time, with receive acknowledgement and Alarm Ack messages picked up asynchronously by polling.
Specifications
Operating System:  Microsoft Windows 98, Me, NT4, 2000 or XP
Network Interface: any NDIS-compliant Ethernet NIC, SMC COM20020-based ARCNET,
LANs: Ethernet, ARCNET, BACnet/IP
Licensing
Single Site Binary Executable
Note: Specifications are subject to change without notice!
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