Access Control System Server store all of the system configurations and historical data, manage communications throughout the system, and serve the Workstations with real-time data and reports.
Servers also control so-called “Global” system decisions or functions that span across multiple Access Control Panels.
The Access control System Server is the all-seeing, all-knowing entity that completely commands all other activities within the system. Absolutely nothing happens in an Access control System that the Server does not know about and keep notes on.
Server/Workstation Functions
Servers perform the following functions:
- Store all of the system configurations
- Store all of the system’s historical event data
- Manage communications throughout the entire system
- Serve Workstations with Real-Time Data and Reports
Store System Configurations
Every Access Control System device has a number of configurations that are required for the system to work properly. The server manages all of these and distributes the configurations out to field devices such as Access control Panels.
common configurations typically include :
- Access control Panel configurations
- Access control Module configurations.
- Door Alarm input configurations
- Door lock output configurations
- card Reader configurations
- optional boards
- cluster configurations.
- Distributed cluster Management.
Store the System’s Historical Event Data
Servers store all system historical event data. Everything that happens out in the field or at a console Workstation is recorded into a Historical log file.
Typical Historical Data stored will include a record where the first field is the year/ month/day and that will be followed by the type of historical event, followed by the specific change of state or command. Historical Data may include:
- Access control Events.
- Access Granted
- Access Denied
- card/credential not recognized
- Alarm Events.
- output control Events.
- Anti-passback Events.
- Scheduled Events.
- operator logs
Manage Communications throughout the Entire System
Servers also manage all digital communications throughout the entire Access control System. The Server:
- Sends instructions to the Access control Panels
- Sends instructions to output Relay Panels
- Receives event data from Access control Panels
- Receives event data from Alarm input Panels
- Sends and Receives communications to/from other related systems
Serve Workstations with Real-Time Data and Reports
The Access control Host Server also serves the System Workstations with all of the data they request. Workstations interact continuously with their server, constantly receiving data from and sending data to the server.
Data Received by Workstations may include:
- Access control Events information Screens
- Alarm Event information Screens
- Map Displays
- Guard Tour information
- Hardware Status
- non-Hardware Status
- Reports
- list of connected Servers
- Workstation Views content (choice of many screens to view)
- Help Screens
- User images related to access events
- camera Snapshot images related to security events
- live Video Window (some systems interface with a digital video system to display video related to an event)
- Message Dialog Boxes (error messages)
- Third-Party Applications
Decision Processes
- Although basic system decisions (grant/deny access) are made by the Access control Panels.
- it is the Primary Host Server that programs these and distributes the programming appropriately to all the Access control Panels.
- it is the Primary Host Server that decides what access programming to send to each panel and which authorized users to place in the panel’s authorized user database
Access Control System Networking
Access control Systems on TCP/IP Ethernet networks on a single system at a single site may involve four main logical elements:
- The Server network
- The Workstation network
- The Access control Panel network
The Server Network
The Servers are the core of the network. When you have a Primary and Back-up Server, they should be connected together over an Ethernet network. These will network together through a “core Switch.”
The Workstation Network
- Workstations can sometimes be connected to servers using serial communications (RS-232 or Universal Serial Bus, USB).
- TcP/iP Ethernet connections are recommended. These will connect to the Servers through the core Switch.
The Access Control Panel Network
- the Access control Panels can connect to the network through an Edge Switch located near the Master Access control Panel.
- panels can connect to the Master through TCP/IP Ethernet or RS-485 for most brands.
References :
- Electronic Access control by Thomas Norman
see also