Preparing to commission a new controller

This procedure documents how to prepare for new controller commissioning.
  1. If not already installed, install the Niagara 4 software on your PC, including its permanent license.
  2. Typically, the license file for the controller already resides on the licensing server, where (if you have Internet connectivity) it is automatically retrieved during the licensing step of the Commissioning Wizard.
     
    NOTE: If you were emailed a license archive (.lar file) or .license file for the controller, and you wish to use it instead of the online license server (for some reason, for example your workstation will not have Internet connectivity when you are commissioning the controller), make the file available to Workbench first, as follows:
     
    1. Copy the file to your !security/licenses/inbox folder.
    2. Restart Workbench.
  3. Attach one end of a standard category-5 Ethernet unshielded twisted pair (UTP) patch cable to the RJ-45 Ethernet connector for LAN1 on the controller.
  4. Attach the other end of the patch cable to a network port or directly to an Ethernet hub.
  5. Power up the controller.
  6. Record you PC’s current IP settings, then re-assign your PC’s IP address for its Ethernet NIC (network interface card). If necessary, refer to Windows online Help for details on configuring TCP/IP settings.
    As an alternative to re-assigning your PC’s IP address, you can do one of the following:
    • Obtain a USB-to-Ethernet network adapter (second network interface card, or NIC), and use it with an Ethernet crossover cable to commission controllers. In this case, configure this second NIC to use the settings in the remainder of this step. This method offers an advantage over the serial shell method below, as you do not need to reboot a controller in a special mode, i.e. change its serial shell jumper.
    • Use a serial shell mode connection to the controller to re-assign its factory IP address settings. After making this change and rebooting the controller, you can continue commissioning using Workbench. This requires proper serial cabling and a special power-up mode for the controller.

      For this initial connection to a factory-shipped controller, configure your PC’s NIC to use an IP address in the same subnet as the controller, as well as a matching subnet mask.

      Set the IP address in the range: 192.168.1.1  to   192.168.1.254, with a subnet mask of:  255.255.255.0

     
    NOTE: Do not assign your PC the identical IP address as the controller’s factory-assigned IP address.
     
  7. From your PC, start Workbench. The Nav tree should be visible in the side bar area (left pane).

If not, from the menu bar, select Window > Side Bars > Nav.