The framework is hosted on a wide range of platforms, from small embedded controllers to high-end servers.
JACE controllers
The simplest configuration consists of a single JACE (host) controller.
Figure 1. Single JACE controller configuration

This dedicated host platform provides integrated control, supervision, and network management services for a network of building
monitoring and control devices.
Multiple host controllers may be combined in a distributed network that includes a
Supervisor PC (laptop or desktop) to provide a variety of control and reporting functions.
Figure 2. Supervisor with multiple JACE controllers configuration

Controllers host a station and a daemon process, but not
Workbench. They typically run QNX as their operating system.
Supervisor
A computer, workstation or server-class machine connected to the network is called a
Supervisor. This device is a network PC that acts as a server for multiple controllers. A station runs in the
Supervisor computer. The daemon and
Workbench may also run in the
Supervisor computer.
A
Supervisor running
Workbench has the tools to:
- Provision (install and update) software modules on multi-controller systems
- Integrate support for standard RDBMS (MS SQL, Oracle, Mysql, Hsql, etc.)
- Serve as a platform for enterprise applications
- Provide central database storage for the attached controllers
- Serve as an archive destination / repository for log and alarm data
- Serve as a central server (a single IP address) for delivering graphics and aggregated data