Installation Instructions

NetBotz Wireless Sensor Pod 180 Installation Guide
7
Components of the Wireless Sensor Network
The Wireless Sensor Pod can be configured to act in three different modes on a
ZigBee wireless sensor network: Coordinator, Router, and End Device. The
mode of a Wireless Sensor Pod is determined by the manner in which power is
supplied to the device. The factory default for the Wireless Sensor Pod is
Router mode.
Host Appliance. A wireless sensor network is monitored by a single NetBotz
appliance, listed in “Supported appliances” on page 2. The appliance collects
data from the wireless sensor network, and generates alerts based on sensor
thresholds.
A NetBotz v4.3 host appliance supports a total of 26 Wireless Sensor Pods,
including the Coordinator, in the wireless sensor network. Depending on the
appliance, a NetBotz v4.4 host appliance supports up to 26 or up to 48 wireless
devices. For more information, see “Supported devices on the NetBotz wireless
network” on page 3.
Coordinator. Each NetBotz host appliance and wireless sensor network must
have one and only one Coordinator. The Coordinator is connected directly to
the host appliance via a USB-B to USB-A cable. It reports sensor data from its
internal sensors and any attached external sensors, and from the other Wireless
Sensor Pods on the network, and provides firmware updates to the wireless
network, when available.
The Coordinator must be configured as a serial device on the host appliance
using the Wireless Sensor Setup task in the Advanced View.
Router. The factory default for the Wireless Sensor Pod is Router mode. A
Wireless Sensor Pod configured as a Router extends the range of the wireless
sensor network and passes information back and forth from the Coordinator to
the End Devices, and from itself to Coordinator. It also reports sensor data from
its internal sensors and any attached external sensors. A wireless sensor
network can contain multiple Routers; one Router for every three racks in the
row is recommended.
A pod powered by an AC-USB adapter, not attached to the NetBotz appliance,
is automatically configured as a Router.
If a sensor pod has previously been configured as a Coordinator, you must first
reset the pod to factory defaults before powering it as a Router. See “Using the
Reset Button” on page 20.
End Device. An End Device monitors attached and internal sensors and sends
data back to the monitoring appliance through the network. Any Wireless
Sensor Pod powered by batteries is automatically configured as an End Device.