Tutorial
Babel Buster X2
This set of pages will provide a brief overview of configuring the Babel Buster X2. Its web interface will be familiar to anyone using other Control Solutions embedded web servers. This quick tutorial just covers the features unique to configuring LonWorks devices on the X2.
The original Babel Buster X2 had some specific applications in a more industrial market. As such, its LonWorks support focused on sensors and simple data objects. The growing use of Modbus as a building automation protocol led to demand for support of more complex LonWorks data such as the HVAC structured network variables. Support of structures has been greatly enhanced in version 2.81.
Crash Course on Configuring the Babel Buster X2

The LON Device expands out to the detail shown below when a device number is clicked. At first this page is also empty. You will go through a series of 4 steps to get the page populated as shown below. In this example, we are "learning" about an AddMe II.

Step 1: Click the "Get Service Pin" button. Node status will show "Waiting for service pin." Now press the service button (or install button) on the device you want to learn. Click the Update button, and status will return to "ok" if the message was received. In addition, Neuron ID and Program ID will now have non-zero numbers. (If you don't have physical access to the device but do know its Neuron ID, you can type it into the list on the LON Devices page.)

Step 2: Click the "Auto Config" button. This will reconfigure the device to be on the same domain and subnet as X2 and also assign the next sequential node number. You find the X2's domain and subnet at the bottom of the devices page (click Previous below). If you want to set an explicit subnet and node, enter the values and click "Set Config".

WARNING: Using "Set Config" or "Auto Config" will break any network connections previously put there by a system integrator. If you are adding X2 to a managed network, you must install the X2 as a node on that network to force X2 onto the existing domain, then ONLY use "Get Config" to cause X2 to learn where the devices are.

Step 3: Click the "Get XIF from Device" button. This process will take a minute or two. (Note: Devices having more than the standard set of 62 network variables are not currently supported by Babel Buster X2.) During the import, the status will indicate "Importing XIF", and will indicate "XIF Import Done" when finished. Click the Update button to refresh this status.

The purpose of the XIF import is to "learn" what network variables are in the LonWorks device. If you wish to preconfigure an X2 without being connected to the LonWorks device, you can upload its XIF file if you have that.

NOTE: The X2 is not able to import the XIF form a device which has structured network variables. If the status comes back "Cannot import XIF" you will need to obtain the XIF file and upload it to the X2.

You may also use the external (free) utility from Control Solutions that converts the XIF to a CSV file, then upload the CSV file instead. The advantage of using the CSV is that you can insert as many rows as needed to read structured UNVT's.

Step 4: (optional) Enter a name for this device and click Update to register it. Once everything has been entered and/or learned, be sure to go to the System->Setup->Config File page and click the Save button.

Once you have done these steps and successfully imported the XIF, click on the LON Variables tab. (The NV count will be nonzero once the XIF import is done.)