Issue
- An SP-RDM2 will be used to add doors to an I/NET-transitioned site.
- The readers connected to the SP-RDM2 will need to read Hex Card Number credentials.
Product Line
Security Expert, TAC INET
Environment
- Security Expert Controller (SP-C)
- Security Expert Reader Module (SP-RDM2).
Cause
After transitioning an INET site to Security Expert, you may find it necessary to add one or more new doors. In Security Expert, you add doors to your system by attaching one or more SP-RDM2 modules to the RS-485 bus of an SP-C (up to two doors per SP-RDM2). That is still true for the transitioned system; however, some configuration tasks must be performed to allow the SP-RDM2 to coexist with the SCUs and DCUs that are already communicating with the SP-C. You will also configure the SP-RDM2 to use the custom Hex Card Number credential you created as part of the INET transition process.
Resolution
For an SP-RDM2 module to work in conjunction with I/NET modules it must be configured in a specific way.
You will need:
- SP-C firmware 2.08 build 911 or later
- SP-RDM2 firmware 1.12 build 546 or later
Configuring the SP-RDM2:
- To the existing transitioned I/NET site, add a new Reader Expander for the additional SP-RDM2 reader module.
(Note that the last reader expander defined in your existing system may be assigned to a dual-address SCU. If this is the case, make sure the address you assign to the SP-RDM2 is at least two addresses higher than the SCU to avoid address conflict.) - Set the Reader 1 Format and the Reader 2 Format to "Custom Credential".
(Note that if the Port 1 Network Type or Port 2 Network Type is set to "Schneider Electric RS485" then this will need to be changed to "Wiegand" to allow you to set the reader format; it is greyed out otherwise. The network type can be set back to "Schneider Electric RS485" afterward.) - Set the Port 1 Network Type and Port 2 Network Type according to the type of readers that are connected.
- In order to correctly convert the card read to the hexadecimal credential format that is programmed for the users, the reader expander must know what card format is being presented. This is done using commands. For the reader on port 1, add the command "R1RawFmt = #" where # is one of the descriptions shown in the table below. Similarly for the reader on port 2, add the command "R2RawFmt = #" where # is one of the descriptions shown in the table below. If the command is absent, then Wiegand 26 is used as a default.
| Command | Card Type | |
| R1RawFmt = Wiegand 26 | 26-bit Wiegand | |
| R1RawFmt = Wiegand 32 | 32-bit Wiegand | |
| R1RawFmt = Wiegand 34 | 34-bit Wiegand | |
| R1RawFmt = Wiegand 66 | 66-bit Wiegand | |
| R1RawFmt = Custom Wiegand | Any Wiegand card - parity check is skipped | |
- Additionally, the SP-C controller must know which reader expanders to expect on the I/NET network and which reader expanders to expect on the Security Expert module comms network. By default, if the controller command "INET = true" is present in the SP-C, then all modules are considered to be on the I/NET network. Adding an SP-RDM2 to the Security Expert module comms network with no additional commands will result in partial operation but there will be problems.
- To use a mixture of I/NET modules and Security Expert modules, a command must be added to the programming of all I/NET modules. This command is:
- "HardwareType = INET"
- If this command has never been added to any module, and the command "INET = true" is present in the SP-C, then all modules are treated as I/NET. This maintains backward compatibility with existing sites.
- As soon as the "HardwareType = INET" command has been added to even one module, then it must be added to the programming of all I/NET modules from then on for the site to function as expected.
- To use a mixture of I/NET modules and Security Expert modules, a command must be added to the programming of all I/NET modules. This command is:
Configuring the SP-RDM Doors to Accept Hex Card Number Credentials
- Create a new Door Type for reading cards as a Hex Card Number credential and configure it as follows.
- In the Entry section on the General tab, set the Entry Reading Mode to "Custom".
- In the Entry Credential Types section, add the "Hex Card Number" credential type.
- Save the Door Type.
- Configure each door on the SP-RDM2 to use the new Door Type as follows:
- In the Setup section on the General tab of the door, set the Door Type to the name of the Door Type you just created in step 1.
- Save the door.
