Metasys N2 to SNMP Gateway | |Metasys N2 to SNMP Protocol Converter
  • This gateway can read SNMP data from your Metasys N2 devices and publish it as SNMP data.
  • It can also write to the Metasys N2 devices.
  • This gateway can also do the reverse, read SNMP data and publish it as Metasys N2 data.
  • It can also write to the SNMP devices.

In summary, this gateway can act as:

  • Master on the Metasys N2 network: Hence it is capable of reading data from the various SNMP slave devices and writing data to them if required.
  • Slave on the Metasys N2 network: You can use the gateway in this mode if you have a Metasys N2 master on the network which would be reading data from the gateway.
  • Master on the SNMP network: Hence it is capable of reading data from the various SNMP devices and writing data to them if required.
  • Slave on the SNMP network: The gateway can be configured to be a server of data values, hence another SNMP client can read data from the gateway and write data into the gateway.

Block Diagram:


Application Scenario 1
  • On a site you have several Metasys N2 controllers that can provide data output on Metasys N2.
  • The site has a SCADA on SNMP that needs the data from the Ion meters on Metasys N2.
  • Since the Metasys N2 controllers provide data output on Metasys N2 and the SCADA understands only SNMP a direct data exchange is not possible.

Block Diagram:


Solution:

The devices can not directly communicate with each other as they are not on the same protocol. Metasys N2 is a Serial protocol, while SNMP is an Ethernet based Protocol. You need something that will convert data from SNMP device to Metasys N2 and vice versa.

ProtoConvert’s Metasys N2 to SNMP converter will be an excellent solution for this requirement. The gateway reads data from the Energy meters on Metasys N2. It caches this data internally and then provides it on SNMP when requested from the SCADA system.

Application Scenario 2
  • On a site you have several UPS units that can provide data output on SNMP.
  • The site has a N2 based controller on Metasys N2 that needs data from UPS units on SNMP.
  • Since the UPS units provide data output on SNMP and the NAE controller understands only Metasys N2 a direct data exchange is not possible.

Block Diagram:


Solution:

The devices can not directly communicate with each other as they are not on the same protocol. Metasys N2 is a Serial protocol, while SNMP is an Ethernet based Protocol. You need something that will convert data from SNMP device to Metasys N2 and vice versa.

ProtoConvert’s SNMP to Metasys N2 converter will be an excellent solution for this requirement. The gateway reads data from the uPS units on SNMP. It caches this data internally and then provides it on Metasys N2 when requested from the NAE controller.


An Overview of the two protocols

Metasys N2:

Metasys N2 was developed by Johnson Controls as a network to interface their various devices and controllers. It is on the physical layer RS-485 set of data communications standards and supports 9600 baud, 8 data bits, and no parity and in half-duplex mode only. This network supports communications with a huge range of devices manufactured by Johnson Controls and some other companies. Metasys N2 by Johnson Controls is a master/slave protocol with one master only so it is not possible to have two devices performing this function on the same network.

SNMP:

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) was originally made for the management of devices such as switches and routers, its usage has grown so much nowadays that it is used for monitoring of nearly any electronic device one can think of.  It is a protocol which is majorly designed to manage networked devices from a single-central location. SNMP is now used to monitor and manage television broadcast studios, airborne military platforms, automated fare collection systems, emergency radio networks, energy distribution systems, and much more.  Microsoft Windows Server 2003 provides SNMP agent software that works with third-party SNMP management software to monitor the status of managed devices and applications.