User`s guide

2 Introduction
Overview of Freely Programmable Modules
Freely Programmable Modules (FPMs) are custom C/C++ applications and drivers that you can use to
customize the functionality of the SmartServer. You can use FPM applications to supplement the
built-in applications on the SmartServer and provide solutions for a number of applications, including
energy optimization, data analysis, lighting control, and room control. You can use FPM drivers as
gateways to legacy systems or nonnative networks such as BACnet and CAN (requires an external
interface, sold separately)
. You can then use your FPM drivers to send data from the SmartServer’s
RS-232 or RS-485 ports to a built-in application on the SmartServer (for example, a Scheduler or a
Data Logger) or a custom SmartServer Web page.
An FPM can perform the following tasks:
• Create data points on the SmartServer.
• Execute code upon data point updates.
• Read and write data to data points.
• Control timers and execute code upon their expiration.
• Read and write data to the RS-232 serial port on the SmartServer.
• Read and write data to the RS-485 serial port on the SmartServer.
FPM Types
You can create two types of FPMs: FPM applications and FPM drivers. An FPM application reads and
writes values to the data points declared in it, executes code upon data point updates, reads data point
properties, and controls timers and executes code upon their expiration. A simple example of an FPM
application would be one that reads two data points and adds their values together.
An FPM driver creates data points on the SmartServer (not in the LNS database) and provides values
for them by reading and writing to the RS-232 and RS-485 ports on the SmartServer. You can use an
FPM driver to create gateways for nonnative devices. An FPM driver can then be used to supply data
from the RS-232 or RS-485 ports to a built-in application or custom Web page on the SmartServer.
Creating and Deploying FPMs
You can create FPMs using the i.LON SmartServer 2.0 Programming Tool, which includes a pre-
configured C/C++ Eclipse environment and all the tools needed to write, compile, and upload, your
FPMs. After you create your FPMs, you can deploy them on your SmartServer.
Before you can begin writing your FPMs, you need to use the NodeBuilder Resource Editor to create a
user-defined functional profile template (UFPT), which defines the set of network variables and
configuration properties to which your FPM will read and write.
You can write an unlimited number of FPMs using the demo or full versions of the i.LON SmartServer
2.0 Programming Tool. To compile your FPMs and deploy them on your SmartServer, you must use
the full version of the i.LON SmartServer 2.0 Programming Tool, which is included on the i.LON
SmartServer 2.0 Programming Tools DVD. To order the i.LON SmartServer 2.0 Programming Tools
DVD (Echelon part number 72111-409), contact your Echelon sales representative.
To begin running your FPMs on your SmartServer, an FPM programming license must be installed on
your SmartServer. To order an FPM programming license for your SmartServer, go to the i.LON
SmartServer 2.0 Web site at
www.echelon.com/products/cis/activate. If you plan on using licensed
Echelon first-party FPMs or licensed third-party FPMs on your SmartServer, you must also order a
separate FPM application license from Echelon or the third-party FPM vendor.
To deploy an FPM application on the SmartServer, you upload the FPM executable module to the
SmartServer, and then add an internal device to the SmartServer. The internal device must use a static
interface if you are integrating your FPM applications with another LNS application such as the
LonMaker tool. If you are running your network with the SmartServer operating as a standalone
network manager, the internal device can use a static or dynamic interface.