Re: Opinions on alarms systems configured/monitored over IP network

[Pat Coghlan <info@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Dual-ported drives gives you hot-standby capability, but you still need
one server to take over as the active.  Summit eNT supports both
hot-standby and warm-standby.  In the case of the latter, the backup
server takes over with a view of the system going back to the last
checkpoint - typically some point in the early a.m.

The AMAG website didn't really impress me, but Hirsch and Lenel
definitely seem to be contenders.  I guess I'll request some brochures.

Aegis wrote:
> "Pat Coghlan" <info@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:wfA0e.36554$nK.1264804@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>>Do you know if the systems you mentioned (plus Lenel) have the following
>>capabilities:
>>
>>- 4-state alarms (active, inactive, short, cut)
>>- ability to search database objects (alarm points, cardholders etc.) for
>>matching strings
>>- canned and customizable reports
>>- configurable user permissions (monitor only, configure objects)
>>- warm or hot standby server
>
>
> I know AMAG and Hirsch does... I'm not familiar with Lenel... Can't remember
> if Northern supports 4-state, but it has the rest...
>
> The only thing special is the warm/hot standby server, but just about any
> system can do that... It's an IT thing, not necessarily a system thing. I
> can do that with two Windows boxes running Half-Life 2 (game) if I wanted
> to. It's a matter of syncing the drives between two networked boxes (pretty
> much emulating a RAID configuration, but with two boxes instead of one). I
> would have to rig something for the automatic COM port (panel communications
> route) switching, but that wouldn't be too hard. If using networked panels,
> this would be even easier. Some systems may have this feature built-in,
> especially Enterprise class systems, but since it can be built fairly easily
> I wouldn't classify it as a major selling point.
>
>
>>-Pat
>>
>>Aegis wrote:
>>
>>>"Pat Coghlan" <info@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>>news:DCe0e.24519$nK.941320@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>
>>>
>>>>I'm surprised no one has mentioned (knows about) the Summit eNT product
>>>
>>>>from Edwards Security (http://www.edwards.ca).
>>>
>>>
>>>In your original post, you indicated you already knew about that product
>>>and asked for other product opinions.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Of course, the website doesn't offer any useful information about the
>>>>Summit eNT product, I just discovered.
>>>>
>>>>This is an enterprise product, providing ONLY alarm
>>>>configuration/monitoring/reports and access control.
>>>>
>>>>As you indicated, most other companies really haven't focused on the
>>>>security side of things.
>>>
>>>
>>>Very close to 100% of those companies would disagree with you.
>>>
>>>Just about every access system provides what you have decribed earlier:
>>>- receive active alarms
>>>- configure alarm inputs/relays/zones
>>>- administer cardholders
>>>
>>>AMAG, Hirsch, Casi-Rusco, Kantech, and even Northern have all of these
>>>abilities.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Jackcsg wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>"J. Sloud" <jsloud2001@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>>>>news:ah7141d4r2mnuajl8tun7tqf29hb9l552e@xxxxxxxxxx
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 16:54:04 -0500, "Jackcsg" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>>wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Few Enterprise solutions are
>>>>>>>listed for fire, and I'm not just talking monitoring it, that's a
>>>>>>>whole
>>>>>>>other issue, but the actual devices, installation.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>A EST3 Synergy system would be one I'm familiar with.  Not only will
>>>>>>it do access/ fire/ ba/ cctv but it will also interface via Lontalk to
>>>>>>a host of other systems enabling true integration.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Jack, what else out there will do the same?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Well there's only a few. More and more of the big access boys are
>>>>>getting on
>>>>>board with things like BacNet, Modbus, Lontalk, and some deeper PLC
>>>>>Integration. Probably out of all the complete systems I've seen I'd have
>>>>>to
>>>>>say Andover Controls has some pretty decent stuff. Embedded servers are
>>>>>just
>>>>>starting to gain momentum, and the programmers are flooding the fields
>>>>>now
>>>>>with creativeness. The problem for most is, there are so many protocols
>>>>>out
>>>>>there, where do you focus? And who are/is your client. These
>>>>>technologies
>>>>>mostly get born, as you know, from Government dealings. I've been
>>>>>seriously
>>>>>focusing on these embedded servers because there are a few which cross
>>>>>with
>>>>>multiple protocols, and communications. I know Siemens uses products
>>>>>similar
>>>>>to Andover Controls, and more and more big clients are looking at the
>>>>>single
>>>>>package. But....it's not all in house...yet. Electricians are getting
>>>>>involved and finding a big niche.
>>>>>MDI for a while in the early 90's also focused a little attention at
>>>>>going
>>>>>down that road as well. As far as I know, MDI was the first Enterprise
>>>>>Platform to be UL listed for fire, where others followed only in the
>>>>>monitoring side of things.
>>>>>Johnson Controls and Honeywell are probably the most known, through name
>>>>>recognition, but again, neither are total in house solutions.
>>>>>AMAG now has a BacNet interface, and along with a DMP interface, so they
>>>>>are
>>>>>also a good consideration.
>>>>>I think Lenel and Radionic's also have an Integration Package. I don't
>>>>>know
>>>>>where Lenel is on the PLC side of things, but the two owners (founders)
>>>>>can
>>>>>right some serious code.
>>>>>That's only the security side of things....Turn to the PLC side of the
>>>>>world....there are hundreds of companies with OAS, PLC Integration and
>>>>>Automation. None of them have really focused on the security side of
>>>>>things,
>>>>>there's too much money in Industrial Systems.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>