The Metasys system is a network-based building automation system that operates multiple pieces of mechanical and electrical equipment found in commercial buildings. The system consists of a wide variety of hardware and software components. You can apply these components in several configurations to meet the scale and scope of the customer's building automation needs. This guide describes the capabilities of each Metasys component, as well as the capabilities of the entire system. This guide also lists examples of how you can integrate and apply the various Metasys components to create specific building automation system configurations.
A Metasys site comprises one or more Metasys devices on a continuously connected IP network. A site’s primary network consists of one or more engines. The engines also provide the Site Management Portal (SMP) UI. You can configure the primary network and monitor the users of all devices on the network with the SMP UI. The engine types are SNE Series of Network Engines, which succeed the Network Automation Engines (NAEs); Network Integration Engines (NIEs); SNC Series of Network Control Engines, which succeed the Network Control Engines (NCEs); or LonWorks® Control Servers (LCSs). These engines are described in further detail in this document.
A site can optionally have one or more Metasys servers—computer-based devices that add long-term data storage and support for larger Metasys networks. Metasys server products include Application and Data Servers (ADS), ADS-Lite (available only in specific markets), Extended Application and Data Servers (ADX), and Open Application Servers (OAS), which are described in further detail in this document. Metasys servers provide the same SMP UI as the engines. Additionally, the Metasys UI is installed with the Metasys server software.
Each Metasys site has one device (engine or server) that is designated as the Site Director. Typically, the Site Director is the single point of access for all UI users because the Site Director includes a view of all Metasys devices on the site. If a server is connected to a site, you must designate the server as the Site Director. For more information, see Site Director.
Figure 1 shows an example Metasys system configuration. The Metasys system configuration examples section shows a variety of configuration examples.
