BACnet to the cloud...

Sierra Monitor's BACnet gateways, routers, and network explorers are now “IIoT-Empowered out-of-the-box” and are shipping with new software that allows customers to securely register, access, and manage their field-installed products from Sierra Monitor’s FieldPoP device cloud. By seamlessly and securely bridging BACnet-based facility networks to the cloud and using FieldPoP as a portal, facility managers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of industrial devices such as sensors and controllers, can remotely service and support devices and gain operational insights to improve the facility’s comfort, safety and energy efficiency.

Sierra Monitor’s line of gateway products including the EZ Gateway and QuickServer products are used by OEMs and integrators to connect devices that speak a variety of protocols such as Modbus, SNMP, LonWorks, N2, M-Bus, KNX, and more than a hundred other proprietary protocols to BACnet-based networks and management systems within a building or facility. Additionally, Sierra Monitor’s BACnet Router connects BACnet devices to BACnet/IP backbones, while the BACnet Explorer assists with installation and troubleshooting by discovering devices and data points on building and facility networks. The newly-released software enables all of Sierra Monitor’s gateways, routers and explorers to be securely connected to the FieldPoP device cloud with just a few clicks. In addition to serving as a service management portal, FieldPoP also serves as a data middleware layer that collects IIoT device data from the field and lets third-party applications incorporate that data in business and analytics applications. As a result, OEMs and facility managers can gain new insights leading to improvements in product quality, innovations in products and services, and identification of new revenue opportunities.

Customers who choose to take advantage of the pre-built integration between FieldServer products and the FieldPoP device cloud have a choice of “Freemium” options. Basic connectivity to the cloud over the Internet and the ability to remotely run the standard web user interface available on the FieldServer products are part of the standard package. Value-added “fog applications” that run on the FieldServer products such as a dashboard view of field devices and data, trend logs, control logic applications, data uploads to the cloud for long-term analysis, and real-time alerts and notifications to authorized personnel are offered as premium features.

“BACnet has emerged as the leading protocol used in building and facility automation,” said David Nardonne, Membership Manager at BACnet International, an industry association that facilitates the successful use of the BACnet protocol in building automation and control systems through interoperability testing, educational programs and promotional activities. “The ability to securely and seamlessly bridge BACnet-based facility networks to the cloud is a significant addition to the BACnet toolkit.”

“This announcement underscores our commitment to be one of the leaders in bridging Operational Technology (OT) with Information Technology (IT),” said Varun Nagaraj, CEO of Sierra Monitor. “The FieldServer protocol translation gateway has long been a leader in the building and industrial automation markets. Now, with the pre-integration of FieldServer gateways, routers and explorers with the FieldPoP device cloud, we have made it extremely easy for our customers to take advantage of the cloud and the IIoT opportunity.”

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