Paxton Net2 - which IP Version?

[mdrabble]

We are currently having all our external doors and gates fitted with Paxton Net2 kit and additional CCTV as part of a managed bid so I've little to no involvement until the installers turned up to start running cables and I started asking questions such as what kit they are installing and how are they planning to connect everything to the network - so far the answers have been very vague in that they are just looking at cable runs and have started to run fire alarm cables from the doors to the fire panels.

 

From what I have found so far, they are planning on linking all the Net2 controllers together, so only one controller is actually plugged into the network etc, so as a precaution I have created a new VLAN and new IPv4 range so as and when new controllers are added or they decide to add each controller to the network then everything is in place to make life easier (or at least that is my train of thought)

 

I told the installers I had a VLAN and IPv4 range configured ready for when they need to start plugging in the controllers etc.

 

The installer pull a bit of a face and said he need IPv6 as they will be linking the controllers together - I mentioned I didn't use IPv6 but at a push I could see about setting it up.

 

Currently I don't have any IPv6 setup and no idea how I would go about setting it up to work with IPv6 and VLANs.

 

The company who are managing the bid/contract are in tomorrow so I am planning on grabbing everyone and insisting they explain what they are doing, how they plan to connect everything to the network they have no idea which Data Cabinets are at capacity

 

Am I right in thinking they should be able to use IPv4?

 

Cheers

[themightymrp]

We don’t have a whole lot of doors set up on it, but we use Net2 with IPv4 just fine. Not being the guy who initially set it up I don’t know if it can use IPv6 or not, I would assume it can. As for getting it all to work with both protocols on your vlans, remember that the vlan works at layer 2. You would need some kind of router or iP 6 to 4 tunnel set up somewhere. Not sure on the actual process as have only ever used ip4

[robyholmes]

The Net2 software it uses is on version 6. Could well be they mean that not IPv6. Paxton Net2 is a great system and is easily managed, although wiring them on a bus is a bit old hat but sounds to be to late for that.

[icemonkey]

With Net2Plus ACUs you can either have each one wired directly into the network or multiple units connected to each other on an RS-485 loop.

This pdf tells you a little about the two methods of installing: https://legacy.paxton-access.com/docs/Application%20notes/AN1012.pdf

 

Our system is currently wired on an RS-485 loop with only 3 ACU's directly connected to the network.

It was installed before my time but it sounds like what the Network Manager said and what the installers heard/were told were two different things, they'd run most of the RS-485 line before anyone had realised.

 

Over the last 18-24 months, we've had a lot of issues with certain gates becoming unresponsive and a build up of 400-500 messages pending on different control units. We currently have a new company splitting the RS-485 data line up as it doesn't seem to be able to cope. I think we'll end up with another 3 ACUs connected directly to our network by the end of the week. I can't say what exactly has caused the issues but I suspect we have some dodgy/damaged cabling somewhere...

 

In terms of IP addresses, I think the only parts of our system that uses IPv6 are our 3 entry/call units on the 3 main gates but the rest is all IPv4.

 

Definitely get them to explain what they're doing and get it documented. After our initial install, all we received from the company was a list of IP address that they'd set on the ACUs. The new company are having a field day figuring out how/where everything is connected!

[caffrey]

Have they not even asked you for a cable drop to the Paxton units ? Also there is no option in the configuration software to give the controllers an IPV6 address (Just checked)

[steveg]

If it is for gates I'm assuming it is using the net2 entry intercoms etc. I'm 99% sure that these require IPv6. It is about the only part of ours that I didn't setup, but when the company doing it set it up to start with it failed when on an old switch, but was fine when i changed it over to a modern one. All of our door controllers run on IPv4 with no worries.

 

There is a doc here https://legacy.paxton-access.com/docs/Application%20Notes/AN1127.pdf that list the requirements, one of which is IPv6.

[mdrabble]

Yep will be having Net2 on the external gates.

 

I'll have a read of that PDF and look to setup IPv6 on that VLAN (fingers crossed)

[Davit2005]

So you have had no involvement till now and all of a sudden someone is needing IPv6 setup on your network for a purchased product. OMG

[MYK-IT]

Yep will be having Net2 on the external gates.

 

I'll have a read of that PDF and look to setup IPv6 on that VLAN (fingers crossed)

 

We've got 3 external gates (1 vehicular, 2 pedestrian) and they connect via single Net2Air Bridge using IPv4 - perhaps ours is an old system etc(?)

[mdrabble]

I must admit this is unusual for us as normally I am always involved with anything which needs to go on the network.

 

I think in this instance, as it is being managed by an external agency they were rushed to appoint contractors to get the work done in the summer and communications are not being pass on due to the school finishing for the summer.

[mdrabble]

We've got 3 external gates (1 vehicular, 2 pedestrian) and they connect via single Net2Air Bridge using IPv4 - perhaps ours is an old system etc(?)

 

We are having 2 vehicle, 3 pedestrian gates - no idea how they are connecting them back to the school - will find out on a week Thursday.

[Davit2005]

If the IPv6 needs external connectivity then there will be a heap of work. But if it is just internal it should be matter of using IPV6 address on the connected hosts on the same vlan. If the traffic does not need to leave the vlan then you can just configure some internal IPv6 addresses, there are specific ranges you can use that are only for internal use.

[DGardiner]

So you have had no involvement till now and all of a sudden someone is needing IPv6 setup on your network for a purchased product. OMG

 

i was just about to place an order for a net2 entry panel, but this has put me off.... all of the installers ive had in all gold partners seem to want nothing to do with the networking/sip side of anything and say thats my problem!

 

I did just ring paxton and the lady said the ipv6 stuff is only used for the paxton stuff to all talk to each other so presumably i could just enable an ipv6 vlan with no external routing for that and that any of the sip/communication stuff is still done over ipv4

 

is anyone able to confirm this? id prefer not to have a £1500 card reader!

[XiJ]

I would also agree installer has his wires crossed (pun intended) and he means he’ll install version 6 of Net2

 

I will say however the Paxton support team are brilliant and respond very quickly and helpfully on my (limited) experience.

[DGardiner]

I would also agree installer has his wires crossed (pun intended) and he means he’ll install version 6 of Net2

 

I will say however the Paxton support team are brilliant and respond very quickly and helpfully on my (limited) experience.

its the net2 entry panels/monitors that all run on ipv6 - https://legacy.paxton-access.com/docs/Datasheets/DS1055.pdf