To create a new LonMaker network design, use the LonMaker tool locally (on the same computer as the LNS server). If you are using the LonMaker tool on a remote full client or a remote lightweight client, you can open an existing network design, but you cannot create or copy a LonMaker network design.
Note: Creating a new network design may take some time since the LonMaker tool may register the plug-ins available on the host computer. If you will be creating multiple LonMaker network designs, you can save start-up time by using the following procedure to create a LonMaker drawing called Blank. After the last step of the following procedure, exit the LonMaker tool. Once you have created the Blank LonMaker network, you can create a new network design by opening a copy of Blank as described under Opening a Copy of an Existing LonMaker Network Design.
If you plan on attaching to a network, you must define and configure your network interface before starting the LonMaker tool as described in Setting up a LonWorks or LonWorks/IP Network Interface. To communicate on a LonWorks/IP channel, the PC must be configured as an IP device on the target channel using the i.LON Configuration Server. If an IP interface name has not been defined, create one using the LonWorks/IP Channels control panel application found in the Windows Control Panel. You need an IP address and it must be a static IP address on your PC (not an IP address that was automatically found by a DHCP server, for example). For more information on static addresses, contact your information services representative. For more information on using the LonWorks/IP Channels control panel application, see the i.LON 1000 Internet Server User’s Guide.
To create a new LonMaker network design, follow these steps:
1. If this is the first time you are running the LonMaker tool, shut down any virus detection software before starting. Once you have opened LonMaker for the first time, you can run virus protection software without any problems.
2. Open the Windows Start menu, point to Programs, then point to LonMaker for Windows. The LonMaker Design Manager appears.
3. Click New Network to open a new network design. A warning may appear asking you if you want to enable macros. You must enable macros to use the LonMaker tool. See Working with Digital Signatures, later in this chapter, for more information.
5. Edit the following fields as required:
NetworkName Specifies the name of the LonMaker network design to be created. It must be unique to all the LNS networks on this computer. The network design name can be up to 17 characters (and may include embedded spaces). The network name is not case sensitive (i.e. you must not create two networks with names that differ only in capitalization).
Recover Database From
Network Set this checkbox and enter a unique network design name to recover a database from the network. Network Database Path Specifies the directory containing the LNS network database.
The LonMaker tool automatically updates this field. You can modify this field to place the LonMaker network database in another directory; however, the directory name must match the network name. The network database path can be up to 23 characters.
Network Drawing Path Specifies the directory containing the LonMaker drawing and the filename of the top-level drawing file. The LonMaker tool automatically updates this field. You can modify this field to change the drawing path; however, the final subdirectory of this directory and the file name must match the network name. Network Description Contains a description of the network design being created. This
field is optional and has no effect on network operation. It provides additional documentation for as-built reports. 6. Click Next. The Network Wizard opens the Network Interface window:
7. Set Network Attached if the LonMaker computer is attached to the physical network and you wish to communicate with the physical devices. If this option is selected and you have more than one network interface in your computer, select the name of the LNS or LONWORKS/IP network interface under Network Interface Name.
This window appears every time the network database opens using the LonMaker tool unless Skip This Prompt is set and Show All Network Options Screens is cleared on the
LonMaker Design Manager window. Select Network Properties from the LonMaker menu once the file is open to change this property.
8. Click Next. The following window opens if the network is attached. If the network is not attached, skip to step 9.
9. This window allows you to select one of the two following management modes: OnNet — All changes to the LonMaker drawing will immediately be sent to the physical devices on the network; you can see the effect of every change made to the physical devices as they are made. Select OnNet if you are commissioning an engineered system, or if you are in any phase of an ad-hoc system.
OffNet — Changes to the LonMaker drawing are not sent to the physical devices until the LonMaker tool is placed OnNet, at which point all changes made while OffNet will be implemented. After you have commissioned devices while OnNet, you can work OffNet and still make real-time changes to network variables on an attached network. Changes made to configuration properties, which happen less often, can be made OffNet and are stored in the database until you select OnNet, You can, however, read configuration properties while you are working OffNet. This capability allows you to make many changes rapidly without having to wait for every change to modify the physical devices. You can change the OnNet/OffNet status while the drawing is open. From the LonMaker menu, select Network Properties and the OnNet/OffNet tab. Select the desired setting.
This window appears every time the network database is opened using the LonMaker tool unless Skip This Prompt is set and Show All Network Screens is cleared in the LonMaker Design Manager. Select Network Properties from the LonMaker menu once the network is open to change this property.
11. This window allows you to choose which plug-ins to register for this network. Plug-ins are LNS applications that can be started from within the LonMaker tool to perform a specialized task, often relating to a specific type of physical device or functional block. For example, the LonPoint plug-in provides specific user interfaces for reading and setting the configuration properties on LonPoint functional blocks. Other device manufacturers may provide plug-ins you can use to configure their devices. See Chapter 9, LNS Plug-Ins for more information. Some plug-ins, such as the LonMaker Browser, can be registered at the LNS Server level and, if registered at this level, will appear in the Already Registered list when you create a new network. If no plug-in applications have been registered at the LNS Server level, the Already Registered list in the window above appears empty. The Not Registered list contains all available plug-ins. The To Be Registered list contains the plug-ins that will be registered for use with this network. You may add or remove plug-ins from the To Be Registered list using the Add, Remove, Add All, and Remove All buttons or by double-clicking the plug-in to be added or removed.
This window appears every time the network database is opened using the LonMaker tool unless Skip this Prompt is set and Show All Network Screens is cleared in the LonMaker Design Manager. If Skip this Prompt is set and the Register all Unregistered checkbox is set, new plug-ins will be registered automatically when the network is opened.
12. Click Finish to open a LonMaker drawing containing a LNS Network Interface on Channel 1. 13. If you created this network attached to a LONWORKS/IP channel on a WAN or the Internet,
change the channel’s transceiver type in channel properties. Right-click the channel and then click Properties on the shortcut menu. Set Transceiver Type to IP 10-W. Click OK.
The IP interface defaults to use the IP-10L transceiver type, which is correct if you are using IP across a LAN. If you are using IP across a WAN or the Internet, use the IP-10W type instead. The IP-10L transceiver has a channel delay of 50ms and the IP-10W has a channel delay of 500ms.