Control Network Newsletter
Why the Contemporary Controls' Diagnostic Switch Should be in Your Tool Bag
Wireshark® is a great free tool for diagnosing BACnet/IP issues. It can collect BACnet messages from all parties in the conversation. Even if you cannot understand these messages, they can be shared with your equipment vendors to help diagnose issues in your system. However, standard Ethernet switches cannot provide data to Wireshark for most BACnet/IP messages.
You can capture BACnet/IP messages using Contemporary Controls' Skorpion Diagnostic Switch that is connected to a PC running Wireshark. By placing the Diagnostic Switch between any BACnet/IP device and the rest of the network (as shown in Figure 1), you can capture transmitted or received BACnet/IP messages. These messages can provide a wealth of data for equipment vendors to help diagnose issues with the equipment in your facility. In Figure 2, all traffic to/from the controller is monitored, allowing you to analyze communication issues that may occur with the controller. In Figure 3, all traffic to/from the Jace is monitored, allowing you to analyze communication issues that may occur with the Jace.
Figure 1. A diagnostic switch placed between any BACnet/IP device and the rest of the network allows you to capture transmitted or received BACnet/IP messages.
Figure 2. Monitoring all traffic to/from the controller allows you to analyze communication issues that may occur with the controller.
Figure 3. Monitoring all traffic to/from the Jace allows you to analyze communication issues that may occur with the Jace.
Often, we receive feedback from integrators that each equipment vendor blames the other vendor for issues. The Diagnostic Switch and Wireshark can help diagnose and quickly resolve issues between devices from multiple vendors as well as devices from a singular vendor.
Contemporary Controls offers two 5-port diagnostic switches which differ only by the highest data rate supported. The EISK5-100T/H supports 10/100 Mbps networks while the EISK5-GT/H can additionally support gigabit speed. The EISK8-GT/H supports up to eight ports at 10/100/1000 Mbps speeds.
You may also want to include our 24 VAC transformer, so you can power the diagnostic switch. It can also be used to quickly power other Building Automation System (BAS) devices since 24 VAC is a common power requirement for BAS devices.
To learn more, visit the EISK Diagnostic Switch product page.