Fox(s) - Adding Niagara N4 point to AX

Fox is a protocol for building automation systems used for communication between different Niagara versions. In order to transfer points between two Niagara Workbench versions, it is required to build a connection between them using the Fox protocol. The configuration of the protocol is described in the Fox(s) - Configuration of the station to connect Niagara AX and N4 article. For purposes of this article, it is assumed that the connection has been properly established. Data are sent to provide highest level of control of processes in the system. Sending values between stations is possible only if the user has:

a) Niagara AX 3.8;
b) Niagara N4 4.4 or higher;
c) proper configuration of the connection between Niagara Workbench versions.

The ‘Discover’ function does not work for finding Niagara N4 points in the Niagara AX. Between AX and N4, the Fox protocol is not directly compatible; however, the protocol works properly in the other direction, more on this: https://docs.niagara-community.com/bundle/AXtoN4Migration/page/rNiagara4_NiagaraAX_WireCompatibility.html . Trying to run the ‘Discover’ action in the Niagara AX results in showing an error pop-up window:

Figure 1. Fox protocol error

In order to add points from the Niagara N4 device to the Niagara AX device, it has to be done manually.

1. The first step is to mark a variable to be sent from Niagara N4 to the Niagara AX device. Clicking on the point’s path shows its detailed location. Mark the whole path and copy it:

Figure 2. Location of the variable in the Niagara N4

2. Next steps are made in the Niagara AX. Open the station’s points available in the “Station/Config/Drivers/NiagaraNetwork/NameOfStation/Points” folder and click ‘ADD’. The action allows to select a type and number of elements to be added.

3. Open the variable added in the AX and insert the N4 path in the ‘Point ID’ field:

Obraz 3. Window for adding points in the Niagara AX

4. From the copied path, leave the fragment beginning with ‘slot:’. If the ‘Subscription Status’ changes to ‘Subscribed’, it means the point has been transferred successfully.