A Network Profile in OneVue represents a network at your facility and each Primex network device is assigned to a network. Network settings are downloaded to each Primex device, allowing devices to connect to your facility's network to transmit data to and download settings from OneVue. For OneVue devices that receive time from an NTP time source, its assigned network also allows its connection to an NTP Server.
A Primex network device has an internal gateway - a component that manages its network connection and firmware. From a device's profile, you can manage its gateway settings by selecting its Gateway ID link.
The sections below provide an overview of managing the networks assigned to your Primex network devices and the settings managed from a device's gateway profile.
-
Device network requirements
There are specific network requirements to allow Primex network devices to connect to your facility's network and transmit data to and download settings from OneVue.
Be sure to share the OneVue network requirements with your facility's IT staff.
-
Manage who has access to network profiles
A user must be assigned to the Account Admin or Network Admin role to view or manage networks.
-
Create network profiles
A Network Profile is a wireless or wired Ethernet network at your facility. A Primex device connects to its assigned network to transmit data to and download settings from OneVue.
If your organization’s information security policies do not allow network setting data to be managed in third-party applications, device network settings can be configured from the Primex Device Configuration software.
-
Update a network profile
If a Network Profile is assigned to a device, only the network label, location, and notes can be updated. If the network is not assigned to a device any of its settings can be updated.
-
Update or change the network assigned to a device
Due to the importance of Primex network devices connecting to your facility’s network, network settings are stored locally in each device. A change to a device's assigned network is required to be completed using one the device network migration methods.
-
View devices assigned to a network profile
You may need to view what devices are assigned to a Network Profile when planning a network change. Before making a change to a network in use by a Primex device, it's critical to first migrate your devices to another network to avoid a device losing its network connection.
-
Deleting a network profile
You can only delete a Network Profile that is not assigned to a device. It's recommended to delete networks that are not in use by your Primex devices.
The following settings and procedures are managed from the gateway profile of a Bell Controller.
-
Network
During its check-in sequence to OneVue, the device attempts to connect to this network first. If the connection fails, the device automatically attempts to connect to its alternate network.
-
Alternate Network
This network serves as a backup network. When a device cannot establish a connection to its primary network, it automatically attempts to connect to its assigned alternate network.
-
Migration Network
This network is assigned to the device when migrating the device to a new primary network. The migration network is what the device is to be migrated to. When the device establishes a connection to its assigned migration network, OneVue automatically sets the migration network profile to its primary network and clears its migration network.
-
Keep Micro Firmware at
Identifies the current firmware version. When set to Latest, the device automatically downloads new firmware released by Primex. If not set to Latest, displays the device's current installed version. Primex strongly recommends that firmware is set to Latest (default setting). To view firmware release notes, select View Change Log.
-
Check-In Interval
Sets how often a bell controller checks-in to OneVue to download pending schedule updates, report its status and events, and connects to its NTP time source to synchronize its time.
Set to hourly by OneVue and cannot be changed.
-
Unresponsive Timeout
The Unresponsive Timeout is the maximum amount of time a Primex device can go without a check-in to OneVue. When this time limit is exceeded, the device is set to an Alarm state with an Unresponsive status.
Set to 3 hours by OneVue and cannot be changed.
-
Manual Configuration File
File downloaded when manually configuring a device's network settings with the Primex Device Configuration software. The file contains the OneVue account ID and current assigned network settings.
-
NTP Server 1, 2, 3
The device's NTP time sources. When set to Default, the device connects to the NTP Servers set in the account profile. When assigned to a Location and set to Default, the device connects to the NTP Servers set in the Location. Primex strongly recommends to set all three servers for fail over purposes. When a device fails to connect to or receive time from a NTP Server, it's set a Warning state with a Time Sync Error status.
-
Impromptu Bell Pattern
A Bell Controller device has two dry contact closure inputs. These inputs can optionally be wired to an external dry contact closure switch or button for activating a non-scheduled event, referred to as an impromptu bell. The Impromptu Bell Pattern sets the ring pattern for an impromptu bell event.
A Primex network device requires a network connection to operate over your facility's network. During each network connection, a device transmits its data to and downloads data from your OneVue account. Due to the importance of devices connecting to your facility’s network, network settings are downloaded and stored locally at each device. To avoid a device losing its connection to your facility’s network, changes to a device's network is managed by performing a network migration procedure.