Overview of C-Gate and C-Bus connections

C-Gate can control one or more C-Bus networks. To add flexibility to C-Gate, particularly when operating many C-Bus networks across a large building or factory, there are a number of ways to connect to C-Bus networks from C-Gate.
Every C-Bus network that is going to be managed needs to have a C-Bus PCI or a C-Bus Network Interface connected to it.
There are several ways that C-Gate can connect to the C-Bus PCI for each network:
Serial network connection
Socket connection via a Terminal Server
Socket connection via a C-Bus Network Interface
The three connection types can be used simultaneously from one C-Gate server, giving the flexibility to control local and remote networks with ease.

Serial Network Connection
Connect to the PCI directly via a serial port, such as COM1 or COM2 on your computer or server.
This type of connection requires one PC serial port for every C-Bus network to be managed. Multi-port serial cards can be added to the computer or server to allow many serial connections to many C-Bus networks.

In most cases the terminal server must be configured so that a connection on a TCP/IP port over the network will open a direct connection to the serial port. In the diagram, for example, a connection to TCP/IP port or socket 2001 on the terminal server will open a direct connection to serial port 1, allowing management of C-Bus network 1.

The network connection to the terminal server can be: Across a local LAN network Across a backbone stretching across a building Across the world via a private network or the Internet

Connection via a C-Bus Network Interface (CNI) device
Another means of connecting C-Gate to a C-Bus network is via a C-Bus Network Interface device or CNI. The CNI provides an internet style IP address for the network it is attached to. The C-Gate server can be connected to a network anywhere in the world provided the CNI on that network is connected to the Internet.

Alternatively, if the building has a dedicated Ethernet system for C-Bus services, the C-Gate server could connect to a network on any floor of a building using exactly the same technique. In the configuration file you associate a network number with the IP address of the CNI. When you use C-Gate you refer to the network number, just as in the other cases.

As an example, if a floor in a commercial building uses a C-Bus network with a CNI, and the CNI has some IP address you could assign a network number, say 42, to that CNI. When you use C-Gate you would issue commands like “on 42/56/XX” to turn on a lighting load on the floor.