© Microhard Systems Inc. Confidential 36
3.0 Mesh Configuration
3.2.1 Operating Modes / Unit Types
In a Microhard Mesh Network, there are four unit types or operating modes that are available: the Pri-
mary Coordinator, the Secondary Coordinator, the Standby Coordinator, and the Remote. Any P900
module can be configured to perform any of these roles, the paragraphs and diagrams that follow at-
tempt to describe the purpose of each unit.
The Primary Coordinator’s role is to provide network synchronization for the system, which ensures all
units are active and able to communicate as required. In any Mesh Network, there can only be a single
Primary Coordinator. Additional coordinators can be deployed for redundancy and/or, to extended net-
work coverage to areas not serviced by the Primary Coordinator. For any units to be able to communi-
cation in a Mesh Network, they must be able to hear synchronization data from a coordinator.
What if the Primary Coordinator goes offline or fails? A second unit, called a Standby Coordinator can
be deployed to monitor the network synchronization level, and take over the duties of the Primary Coor-
dinator should it ever fail. For this reason the primary coordinator should not be used to interface with an
end device, but rather left to perform the duties of network synchronization. If used to interface with an
end device, and it fails, the Standby Coordinator will have a unique units address, different from that of
the Primary Coordinator. Any data that was destined for the Primary Coordinator will not automatically
be routed to the Standby Coordinator.
Although routing can be enabled on a Primary Coordinator, data is not automatically routed through the
Primary, or any other coordinator for that matter. This is mentioned to stress that the role of a coordina-
tor of any type is to simply keep the network synchronized in time and frequency.
The diagram below shows a unit configured as a Primary Coordinator. Any other mesh unit that can
hear the Primary Coordinator can participate in a Mesh Network.
P.C.
Mesh
Mesh
Mesh
Primary
Coordinator
Drawing 3-2: Primary Coordinator
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