Many sites continue to use Trend 963 as part of their building management strategy while looking to take advantage of Niagara 4 for integrating additional equipment and systems. The Niagara 4 Trend Emulator Driver provides a way to do this by allowing Niagara controllers and supervisors to emulate a Trend LAN and one or more Trend outstations, presenting Niagara data to a Trend 963 system.

In this week’s Tech Bulletin, Tyrrell Products demonstrates how to configure the Niagara 4 Trend Emulator Driver, create emulated outstations, export points, histories and schedules, and connect a Trend 963 system to a Niagara controller.

What Is the Niagara 4 Trend Emulator Driver?

The Niagara 4 Trend Emulator Driver is designed to run within Tridium Niagara controllers, JACE controllers, supervisors and portability controllers.

The driver emulates a Trend LAN and can create one or multiple Trend outstations. This allows Niagara points and data to be presented to Trend 963 as though they were coming from Trend equipment.

The driver can be used to:

• Integrate equipment through Niagara and present the data to Trend 963.
• Create emulated Trend outstations within Niagara.
• Present Niagara data to an existing Trend 963 system.
• Replace failed Trend outstations with a Niagara instance while continuing to provide data to Trend 963.

Important: Use a Standalone Trend LAN

One of the most important points when configuring the driver is that it must operate on its own standalone Trend LAN.

For example, if existing Trend equipment is operating on LAN 11 and LAN 12, the Emulator Driver should be configured on a separate LAN. The driver should not be assigned to an existing Trend LAN.

Trend 963 can connect to the virtual CNC provided by the driver and learn information from the emulated outstations. However, existing Trend equipment cannot communicate with the driver using inter-controller communications when it is placed on an active Trend LAN.

Configuring a dedicated standalone Trend LAN is therefore an essential part of the setup process.

Configuring the Driver

After adding the Trend IP Server Network driver to a Niagara station, users can configure the network settings and assign a standalone Trend LAN number.

The driver supports a demonstration mode that allows users to test functionality before deployment. By generating and entering a demo PIN, the driver can be operated in demo mode for two hours following a station restart.

Once configured, the driver enters a healthy state and is ready for outstation creation and point export.

Creating Emulated Trend Outstations

The Emulator Driver allows users to create a single outstation or multiple outstations depending on project requirements.

When creating an outstation, users can:

• Assign an outstation address.
• Configure a device name.
• Apply a PIN code for writable points.
• Select an emulated device type.

Multiple outstations can be created to represent different devices or equipment groups, providing flexibility when presenting Niagara data to Trend 963.

Exporting Niagara Points to Trend 963

The driver includes discovery functionality to simplify point creation.

Users can browse a selected area of the Niagara station and discover available points for export. These points can then be assigned as:

• Sensors
• Inputs
• Drivers
• Knobs
• Switches

The driver automatically filters module options based on the source point type, helping to streamline configuration.

Once configured, these points become available to Trend 963 through the emulated outstation.

Exporting Histories

The Trend Emulator Driver can also expose Niagara histories to Trend 963.

Using the discovery process, users can identify points with Niagara history extensions and create plot exports associated with the relevant modules.

This allows Trend 963 users to access and review historical data that is being recorded within Niagara.

Exporting Schedules

Boolean schedules can be exported from Niagara and presented to Trend 963 as time zone modules.

Once configured, Trend 963 can discover the schedules and make adjustments. Changes made within Trend 963 are written back to the Niagara station, allowing schedule management through the existing Trend interface.

From the perspective of Trend 963, the schedule appears as part of another Trend device while remaining hosted within Niagara.

Connecting Trend 963 to Niagara

Connecting a Trend 963 system involves creating a new IP site and entering the IP address of the Niagara controller together with the configured virtual CNC port.

Once connected, Trend 963 can learn the site and discover the emulated LAN and outstations.

Users can then access exported:

• Sensors
• Inputs
• Drivers
• Knobs
• Switches
• Plots
• Schedules

Where PIN protection has been configured, Trend 963 can be authorised to adjust writable points.

Changes made within Trend 963 are reflected in Niagara, providing seamless interaction between the two platforms.

Supporting Niagara 4 Integration Within Existing Trend Environments

The Niagara 4 Trend Emulator Driver provides a method of introducing Niagara into existing Trend 963 environments while continuing to present data through the established Trend interface.

By emulating Trend outstations, exporting points, histories and schedules, and presenting Niagara data to Trend 963, the driver enables users to integrate additional equipment through Niagara while retaining access through their existing Trend 963 system.

Learn More

Watch the latest Tyrrell Products Tech Bulletin to see the complete configuration process, including standalone Trend LAN setup, outstation creation, point export, history export, schedule export and Trend 963 connectivity.

Want the best Niagara support? Get in touch with Tyrrell Products today.

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