McQuay’s MicroTech network architecture permits a “multi-level” approach, where the single “level 1” master controller (the OPM) can have multiple “level 2” controllers on a comm trunk, each of which may have one or more “level 3” controllers on a different comm trunk. Level 2 controllers can thus be both a “slave” (always, to the level 1 OPM) as well as a “master” to level 3 controllers. Each MicroTech controller has an “L2” and “L3” (level 2 and 3) address that reflects its network configuration.

In a NiagaraAX integration, this network topology is essentially “flattened” under a station’s McQuayNetwork, where the same type of McQuayDevice component represents each MicroTech device, regardless of its position in the McQuay network architecture. Additionally, a McQuayDevice component represents the OPM device itself. Distinction is simply the specified L2 and L3 address for each McQuayDevice component.

Additionally, the standard NiagaraAX network architecture applies, similar to other serial-based polling drivers. See “About Network architecture” in the Drivers Guide for more details. For example, real-time data is modeled using McQuay proxy points, which reside under McQuayDevices, which in turn reside under a McQuayNetwork container in the station’s DriverContainer (Drivers).

Hierarchically, the component architecture is: network, device, points extension, points. The points extension is the only “device extension” under a McQuayDevice—meaning there are no schedule or history device extensions. You can use the default “McQuay manager” views of the network (and the points extensions under each device) to manually add new McQuay device components and McQuay proxy points. Alternatively, you can “drag and drop” these components from the mcquay palette.

Due to the simplicity of the McQuay OPM protocol, there is no “Discover, Add, and Match” (Learn process) for either McQuay devices or the proxy point data in those devices. Instead, you use the New button in manager views, after studying job and McQuay documentation for those MicroTech devices.