BACnet Explorer

B5001. The professional's choice for exploring BACnet.

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Collections: BACnet

Category: B5001, BACnet

Type: BACnet

Description
Specifications
Applications
Documentation

Finally a FREE, FULLY FUNCTIONAL BACnet Explorer. The new 4.0.0.2 version comes with:

CALENDAR VIEWER - see the list of dates, such as holidays or special events.

WHO-HAS request - find out which BACnet devices contain a particular Object.

See what you can do with our Explorer:

Explore your BACnet network

With “plug-and-play”, BACnet Explorer for BACnet/IP you can discover BACnet devices on connected networks. Connect Explorer to a BACnet Network and it will automatically discover and display a listing of all BACnet devices on that network. Once a device is discovered, you can enumerate the BACnet Objects in that Device. Devices on different networks can also be discovered if the networks are connected by a BACnet Router or BACnet Broadcast Management Device (BBMD). It will also display BACnet devices as they join networks in real time.

BACnet Explorer version 4.0.0.2 can be downloaded and run for free. This version comes without support, and shows Cimetrics advertisements. A paid version, which includes one years' support and shows no advertisements, is available for $199.00.


View BACnet Devices Display all the devices and their objects in a tree view and in a table view for better analysis, with direct access to all their properties.	Read and Write Users can read the values of all object properties, and some writable property values can be modified with a selectable priority.

Capture and Save Site Data Everything can be saved to an .XML or .CSV file for later loading and analysis, off-line review, printout, or comparison.	Troubleshoot See all the BACnet devices and their objects on your network and their values. Be alerted if you have duplicated devices on a network. Our extensive library of notifications will alert you about successful/unsuccessful read/write operations and about the status of different nodes on your network.

Analyze Analyze your site with our extensive filtering and sorting features - you can sort all devices, objects and properties by names, IDs, Descriptions etc...	Support Detailed manual and help file. Forum for the users Immediate email and phone support for the paid version users.
Calendar View See the list of dates, such as holidays or special events.	Who-Has Request Find out which BACnet devices contain a particular Object.

Supports the following BACnet BIBBS
- Read Property DS-RP-A
- Read Property Multiple DS-RPM-A
- Write Property DS-WP-A
- Dynamic Device Binding DM-DDB-A
- Dynamic Device Binding (Server) DM-DDB-B
- Dynamic Object Binding DM-DOB-B
Additionally:
- Supports Foreign Device feature to connect to BACnet Broadcast Management Devices (BBMDs).
- Runs on both 32- and 64-bit platforms: Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012/R2, Windows 10
- Extensive Filtering
- Free or Licensed electronically (key file)
- Supports the following BACstac standard object types: AccessDoor, AccessPoint, AccessUser, AccessZone, AlertEnrollment, AnalogInput, AnalogOutput, AnalogValue, Averaging, BinaryInput, BinaryOutput, BinaryValue, BitStringValue, Calendar, CharStringValue, CredentialDataInput, DatePatternValue, DateValue, DatetimePatternValue, DatetimeValue, Device, EventLog, EventEnrollment, File, Group, IntegerValue, LargeAnalogValue, LifeSafetyPoint, LifeSafetyZone, MultiStateInput, MultiStateOutput, MultiStateValue, NotificationClass, NotificationForwarder, OctetStringValue, PositiveIntegerValue, Program, PulseConverter, Schedule, StructuredView, TimePatternValue, TimeValue, TrendLog,TrendLogMultiple.
- Supports the following Writable DataTypes: NULL, Boolean, Unsigned Integer, Signed Integer, Real Double, Character String, Enumerated, BACnetObjectIdentifier, Date, Time, DateTime
Discover BACnet devices on connected networks

The Cimetrics BACnet Explorer is a BACnet client that supports the BACnet/IP data link layers. Using the BACnet Explorer, users can discover every BACnet device on the directly-connected network. Devices on different networks can also be discovered if the networks are connected by a BACnet Router or BBMD.

With BACnet Explorer, users can auto-populate BACnet device information with just a few mouse clicks. Objects within discovered devices can be queried for their properties and values. Some property values can also be changed using the Explorer.

Capture, Save and restore your BACnet Network Configuration

The BACnet network configuration can be saved in an XML format file:

This enables users to read/edit the configuration and to provide the configuration to others.

Browse / discover specific BACnet devices and objects

BACnet Explorer also allows the user to discover just one specified device without exploring the whole network. The user does this by specifying the Device ID or the BACnet network address of the target device.

The BACnet Explorer also allows discovery of just one specific object within a discovered device if its object ID is known. This allows an object to be read even if it is not included in the device's object list, Likewise a proprietary property that was not automatically discovered by the Explorer can be read if its property ID is known.

BACnet Explorer Data Sheet
BACnet Explorer Online Manual
End User License Agreement
Online Support Forum
PICS Cimetrics BACnet Explorer


A short intro to the Explorer - features overview. See what you can do with it. All your BACnet devices at your fingertips.	How to configure BACstac - BACnet Protocol Stack. In order to work, the Explorer requires BACstac which needs to be properly configured in order to work.

How to send BACnet Who-Has Request with the Explorer. You can easily find out which BACnet devices contain a particular Object.	Viewing BACnet Calendars with Cimetrics BACnet Explorer. With the BACnet Explorer you can see the list of dates, such as holidays or special events.

Writing to the BACnet properties with Cimetrics Explorer. You can write to any writable property supported by the Explorer.

Product Q&A

Ask a Question

Q: What is the difference between the BAS-o-matic Protocol Analyzer and BACnet Explorer?

A: Our BACnet Explorer is used to "auto-discover" all of the devices, objects, properties and current status of all BACnet parameters on a network. This is done by actively interrogating all of the devices on the network. While Explorer is very tolerant to "strange behavior" by other devices, the devices must significantly comply with the BACnet standard.

BAS-o-matic is used to diagnose and verify the communications on the network. This acts as a "sniffer" and it shows EVERY packet that is on the wire so that you can see EXACTLY what is happening, even if packets are from non-BACnet traffic or products that do not conform to BACnet. Even if you don't have the skills to diagnose communications issues, you can EASILY record the information on the wire and send this file to support personnel for analysis. We recommend that All networks should be checked for error messages "on the wire" during commissioning.

Q: How do I automatically discover all the Devices on the Network/Networks?

A: Clicking on "Refresh All" under File menu will initiate sending out a Global “Who-Is” broadcast on all reachable networks. All the BACnet devices that respond to this “Who-Is” with an “I-Am” will be displayed on the Explorer. Devices will be displayed according to a network hierarchy i.e. the devices will be listed under their respective network numbers.

Q: How do I automatically discover all the properties of a Device’s object?

A: Right click - Re-Read will result in the discovery of the objects properties.

Q: How do I read the current value of a particular property?

A: Choosing that property in the right pane and Right click - Re-Read get the current value of any given property.

Q: How do I write a value to a property?

A: In the right pane of the Explorer, select the required property, right click on it choose "Write Property". In this window, enter the desired new value and choose the priority for writing this request and click on “Write”. This should send a “Write-Property” request to the property and the value will be changed if the access rights allow this or else there will be a message displayed.

Q: How do I manually add a device to a network?

A: To manually add a device, in the left pane of the Explorer select the network number for the device to be added and click on Edit | Add Device. In the new window, enter the device ID along with the MAC address. This will result in the addition of the new device to the desired network.

Q: How do I manually add a network?

A: To add a new Network to the existing network manually, go to Edit | Add Network. In the new window, add the network number and click on “OK”. This will result in the addition of the new network.

Q: What does "Unable to bind to port" mean?

A: This is a message that one sees on the lower left hand corner of the BACnet Explorer in certain situations.

The situations is

- you have the Explorer configured to use BACnet/IP
- you have the BACnet explorer configured to act as a Foreign Device
- You have entered the IP address of a remote BBMD

Once you start the Explorer and try to establish communication with the BBMD and cannot do so, you will see this message.

The reasons why the communications are not established could be due to

- incorrect IP address of the BBMD
- the BBMD may not be set up to accept Foreign Device connections
- you may not have a phyical connection to the BBMD etc

Please verify the above and retry.

Q: How do I configure the BACnet Explorer to act as a BBMD or Foreign Device?

A: For BBMD configuration within a BACnet Explorer go to Tools - Settings – BACnet Protocol configuration. Navigate on the port you want to edit and click on Edit. Click on BBMD tab. Check BACnet Broadcast Management Device and put an IP address of the BBMDs you would like to maintain in your BBMD table. Configure for FD: Within a BACnet Explorer go to Tools - Settings – BACnet Protocol configuration - Edit - Foreign Device tab Check the Foreign Device and put the IP of the remote BBMD to which you want your foreign device to get attached.

Q: What are the differences between Cimetrics' paid and free versions of BACnet Explorer?

A: The paid and free versions are functionally the same. The major differences are that, with the free version, Cimetrics advertisements are shown and technical support is not provided.

Q: Can BACnet Explorer be run on platforms other than Windows, e.g. MAC OS or Linux?

A: No. BACnet Explorer is a Windows application.

Q: Can BACnet Explorer be used as a BACnet Workstation?

A: No. Most, if not all, BACnet Workstations have capabilities such as graphics displays, alarming, trending, and scheduling. Explorer does not implement these features.

Q: With what version of Cimetrics BACstac was this version of BACnet Explorer created?

A: This version was created using Cimetrics BACstac/DN. See:

https://www.cimetrics.com/collections/bacnet/products/bacnet-bacstac-dn-source-code

Q: How does the softkey licensing procedure work?

A: When BACnet Explorer is first executed on a PC, a character string is generated. This string, together with payment, is sent to Cimetrics support group. In return, a license key is sent to the new owner, enabling his/her Explorer installation to run, without advertisements and with support, on that computer.

Note that, since the license key is valid only for that computer, care should be taken to identify one that will be usable for that pupose for as long as necessary.

Q: Can Cimetrics' BACnet Explorer be installed on a computer which has another BACnet protocol stack installed?

A: It is likely that BACnet Explorer and another BACnet protocol stack running on the same computer will interfere. Cimetrics does not recommend such a configuration. For best results BACnet Explorer should run on a Windows computer (or Windows Virtual Machine).

Q: What BACnet protocol(s) does Cimetrics' BACnet Explorer use?

A: The protocol for BACnet Explorer is BACnet over IP (BACnet/IP).

Q: A) I have some Bacnet sensors where the manufacturer says the Object ID is R/W and I should be able to change the Object ID. I don't see how to with the Bacnet Explorer. The object ID and name etc is greyed out.B)Will the Bacnet Explorer work with a serial to MSTP converter on my laptop directly connected to a MSTP device or is this IP only?

A: 1. You should be able to write to the Object ID property. Navigate to the Device - Object ID property in the right pane and right click on "Object-identifier" . Choose Write-Property... The window will open and you can write the value in the "Property Value" window. 2. BACnet Explorer doesn't currently support MSTP. Just BACnet/IP.

Q: How and why do I change the APDU timeout parameter?

A: To change the APDU timeout parameter, go to Tools| Settings | APDU Settings. Often times this needs to be increased depending on the response time of all or a few of the devices on the network. Some devices take a long time to respond and in such situations, it is appropriate to increase this parameter so the Explorer can wait a longer time for the response from the device. If the device response is slow and the APDU Timeout parameter is not increased, there is a chance that the response from the slow device may be ignored if it comes in too late and this can cause unnecessary problems.