The Cree SmartCast Link device includes a BACnet server that exposes the lighting groups as virtual BACnet devices and the lighting data as BACnet objects. This BACnet server follows standard BACnet/IP rules and requires proper configuration of the BACnet/IP communication settings to ensure a successful integration with the Metasys NAE.
From the SmartCast Link device, a person can log into the SmartCast Link Configuration user interface to configure or verify the BACnet settings including: BACnet ID start and end range, BACnet UDP Port Number, Virtual Network Number, and BBMD. These settings are described in the following table.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
|
BACnet ID Start and BACnet ID End |
The starting and ending BACnet instance numbers for all the virtual BACnet devices that represent the lighting groups configured within the SmartCast BACnet server. Set the BACnet IDs to values that will define the range of IDs that will not conflict with other BACnet device IDs on the network or communication issues may occur. Default values may need to be changed to be safe on the site’s network. Check with the site’s BACnet network expert to be sure. |
| UDP Port Number |
The UDP port restricts BACnet communications to devices that are also communicating on the same UDP port. This value must match the BACnet UDP port number set in the NAE you are integrating to or communication between devices will not occur. Default value is 47808 which is a common value on most BACnet networks, but check with the site’s BACnet network expert to be sure. |
| VNET Number |
The BACnet network number that communicates virtually with the lighting network internal to SmartCast. The BACnet server acts as a router to this virtual network. The VNET Number must be unique amongst all the other BACnet network numbers in use across the network, or sporadic communication issues may occur. Note:
If there is more than one SmartCast BACnet Server on the same network, the Virtual Network Numbers must be unique between them. The default value is 8888 and it is likely that you need to change it to ensure that it is unique. Check with the site’s BACnet network expert to be sure. |
| BBMD |
BACnet Broadcast Management Device (BBMD) is a BACnet feature that enables communications across IP subnets. Any BACnet device on the network may have the capability of being a BBMD for any particular IP subnet, and any IP subnet should have at most one BBMD. CAUTION: When BBMDs are configured properly, the BACnet network is extended across IP subnet boundaries so more BACnet devices can be discovered and communicate. When BBMDs are NOT configured properly, high BACnet traffic may result and slow down the entire IP network. Metasys NAEs perform the BBMD function automatically with other NAEs. If the SmartCast BACnet server is on an IP subnet that does not contain any Metasys NAEs and no other BBMD devices are already functioning on the subnet, this BBMD feature will likely need to be configured and used in order to enable the SmartCast BACnet Server and the NAE to communicate. Always check with the site’s BACnet network expert before enabling this feature. |
For complete instructions and a description of all the configuration options in the Cree SmartCast Link Configuration user interface, refer to the SmartCast BACnet guide, available from Cree.