To use the NiagaraAX ndio driver, you must have a target JACE host that provides either onboard I/O hardware points using Ndio (e.g. JACE-403), and/or that supports directly attachable I/O modules using Ndio (e.g. JACE-2/6). Ndio is not supported in Win32 JACE controllers, or certain other recent JACE platforms that use the nrio driver (Nrio, Niagara Remote Input Output) instead of Ndio.

From your PC, use the Niagara Workbench 3.n.nn installed with the “installation tool” option (checkbox “This instance of Workbench will be used as an installation tool”). This option installs the needed distribution files (.dist files) for commissioning various models of remote JACE platforms. The dist files are located under your Niagara install folder in a “sw\dist” subfolder.

Included in the dist file for each JACE platform is the necessary Ndio processor software, meaning underlying files and firmware used by a host JACE to communicate with either onboard (or attached) Ndio boards. Ndio support is automatically installed when you use the “Distribution File Installer” in a platform session with the JACE, or the distribution file option in the platform’s “Commissioning Wizard.” Note that the dist file includes many other things besides just Ndio support.

Apart from installing the 3.n.nn version of the Niagara distribution file in the JACE, make sure to install the ndio module (if not already present, or upgrade if an older revision). If using AX-3.4 or later, be sure to install the kitIo module too. For more details, see “About the Commissioning Wizard” in the JACE NiagaraAX Install and Startup Guide.

The kitIo module provides a “Generic Tabular” conversion selection for non-linear sensor support, plus has several types of thermistor “curve files” in its xml folder. AX-3.4 or later is required in the JACE.

Following this, the remote JACE is now ready for Ndio software configuration in its running station, as described in the rest of this document. See About Ndio Architecture.

Basic procedures for using the Ndio driver, including online discovery of I/O points (and their addition to your Niagara station), is in the next section. See Ndio Quick Start.