Gateway vs Device

Gateway vs Device


MyMSI allows users to log useful information about all components pertaining to a building system. This information is primarily split into two separate pages, gateways and devices. This document will outline how to assess whether a piece of equipment is a gateway or a device. 


General Definitions:


Gateway: A gateway is a software/digital device/controller that connects two or more downstream devices to the building’s network


Device: A device is a digitally enabled device (ex. VFD) or a unitary controller representing a device that connects to a gateway.


Diagrams:

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In the diagram above, we have split the components into gateways (orange) and devices (blue). 

The gateway devices are any components that either the final control software, tie devices together to a final control software or connect softwares to each other. For example, the Lighting-BMS Bridge device is a gateway because it takes devices downstream to it (all lighting equipment) and connects it to the BMS. 


Conversely, devices are any digital devices/controllers that have little to no components downstream to them but allow equipment to surface data. For example, the lighting controller may have a light fixture and occupancy sensor connected to it, but it conceptualizes one “lighting zone” and therefore is considered the device. Each controller is connected upstream to the lighting control software, which makes this software the gateway. 


Examples:


Gateways:

  1. IoT Gateways

  2. Building Floor-Level Controllers (NAEs, FX80s, FX60s, etc.)

  3. Control Softwares (Niagara Supervisor, Metasys, etc.)

  4. Lighting Softwares (Trellix, Lutron Quantum Hub)

  5. Security Softwares/Servers (Avigilon ACC, LenelS2 Onguard, Genetec Omnicast)

  6. Fire Control Panel


Devices:

  1. Lighting Controllers

  2. Field Controllers (FECs, Chiller BACnet controller)

  3. Building Protocol Enabled Meters (Triacta PowerHawk)

  4. Field Controllers representing 2 or less devices (CiPer connected to one VAV)


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