BACnet Networks for NK823x DMS Applications

Fire and security applications communication via NK823x is based on the BACnet standard protocol.

BACnet is a building automation and control networking protocol designed to meet the communication needs of building automation and control systems, as well as safety applications.

Desigo CC uses BACnet in combination with IP networks (Ethernet). This solution is called BACnet/IP although it is referred to as BACnet in this documentation.

BACnet Network

On IP infrastructures applying UDP services, a BACnet network (BACnet/IP) consists of one or more IP subnets. All networked units are BACnet devices and must have a unique Device Identifier. The Desigo CC Server or FEP (represented by the BACnet driver) are also BACnet devices.

BACnet Addressing

The BACnet addressing is based on the instance number, the BACnet Device identifier (a value between 0 and 4194303). The instance number configured in Desigo CC for BACnet panels must match the BACnet Device ID configured in the engineering tool of the panels.

BACnet Interfaces

When a BACnet interface (for example, the NK823x Ethernet Port) is used to integrate non-BACnet panels, both the interface and the connected panels have assigned a unique instance number at Desigo CC level.

BACnet Stack Protocol Service

The BACnet Stack Protocol Service (BACstack) is the driver that handles the network communication. The BACstack service handles a physical port for every physical driver.

BBMD and Foreign Device

A BACnet network with a single IP subnet network allows all BACnet devices to communicate among them without any additional configuration.

A BACnet network comprising multiple IP subnets requires IP routing services—provided by standard IP equipment—as well as additional BACnet routing services, which can be provided by two different mechanisms:

  • BACnet Broadcast Management Device (BBMD). BBMD devices handle the BACnet broadcast messages across multiple IP subnets. You must configure one BBMD per IP subnet and make BBMDs across subnets aware of each other.
  • Foreign Device. A Foreign Device connects a single device from a separate IP subnet to the BBMD to communicate with the entire BACnet subnet.

BACnet Broadcast Message Routing

The management station and the NK823x can act as a BBMD or as a Foreign Device to manage the communication across multiple BACnet/IP subnets.

BBMD

The Broadcast Distribution Table (BDT) must include the IP addresses of all subnet units acting as BBMD.

NOTICE

There must be one and only one BBMD for each subnet. Two BBMDs in the same subnet can cause communication problems.


Example of Multiple Subnets with BBMD

Management Station as a BBMD: BACnet/IP Port Properties

Tab

Parameter

Value

Port

Port ID

1

Network number

100

UDP Port

47808

BBMD

Broadcast distribution table

192.168.11.1 (UDP Port: 47808)
192.168.21.1 (UDP Port: 47808)

Foreign Device

Foreign Device

You need to register the Foreign Device to the IP address of a subnet unit acting as BBMD. The unit acting as BBMD must be enabled to manage the Foreign Device Table (FDT).

Example of multiple subnets with Foreign Device

NK823x as a Foreign Device: BACnet/IP Port Properties

Tab

Parameter

Value

Port

Port ID

1

Network number

10

UDP Port

47808

BBMD

Foreign Device > Remote BBMD

IP address

10.10.1.1

UDP Port

47808