Connecting DRC to a Wi-Fi Network, DRC Networking Requirements

Benefits​

Connecting your DRC Room Controllers to a network is a great idea! When you do this it offers you a few benefits like:

• Ability to communicate to any DRC Room Controller with the APP from anywhere on the network
• Ease of configuration
• Streamlined system updates
• Control of any room from anywhere on the network
• Elimination of all the DRC Room Controller access points without disabling Wi-Fi

These are some great benefits that many customer find advantageous. So what's next? Read on to find out more...

Is internet required?​

No not at all. A DRC Room Controller can connect to a local building network without internet connectivity and everything can function just fine assuming the pre-requisites below are met. There are a few advantages of having internet access from the local network but with only one exception, they are optional. The advantages are as follows:

• The phone, also connected to the network, would have internet access
• User authorization through the app doesn't require temporary connection to a network with internet connectivity
• If you intended a future connection to My Building, and, you don't install a server at your facility, internet connection is required. We call this a Leviton hosted solution where you access the My Building software through myBuilding.Leviton.com. My Building won't be launched until late 2025 but you can read more about this options at this link: Hosting Options at https://communities.leviton.com/threads/hosting-options.58/

Pre-requisites​

Before you start, you need to make the decision as to whether you will be using static IP addresses or dynamically assigned addresses using a DHCP server. The
preferred method is dynamic, however, if you use dynamic addresses, you require a DHCP and DNS server active on the network otherwise you will not be able to discover the room controller and connect to it. The DNS server must have the feature whereby it can serve up IP addresses for DHCP client devcies. This is a common feature available in most routers.

How?​

To connect your DRC Room controller to the buildings Wi-Fi network, in brief, execute the following steps:

1. Connect to the room controller using the GreenMAX DRC App, with "Service Tech" permissions
2. Go to the Settings Page
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3. Expand the Network Panel
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4. Select the right arrow adjacent to WI-Fi, the room controller will go browse for available networks. Select the appropriate network and enter the password/key. If your desired network doesn't show up right away, hit the re-scan button. It may take a few attempts to get it to show up. You may enter the SSID manually by selecting the "Other" options. Once complete, hit the continue button.
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5. Hit the continue button.
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6. Connect your phone to the same network you connected the Room Controller to.
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7. Connect to the Room Controller
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8. Do something, eX: hit the identify button. You also get edit a device or zone, change a level - you just to do something so both you and the room controller knows you have a good connection.
9. Celebrate. You now can use the app to connect to the room controller over the building network

Remember that the recommended commissioning flow process is as follows:

1. Create Room in the App
2. Connect to the room controller, the App will rename the RC, re-connect to the RC
3. Connect the RC to the building network
4. Reconnect to the RC over the building network
5. Upgrade firmware
6. Add Devices
7. Create/Update Occupancy and Daylighting Zones
8. Configure Keypads
9. Perform final inspection and walk through to verify correct operation!

 

[smoran]

David, from the article above “The DNS server must have the feature whereby it can serve up IP addresses for DHCP client devcies. This is a common feature available in most routers”

Does that mean that if they use static IP they do not need a DNS server ? or is a DNS always required?

 

[Chris Richards]

If there is a VPN on site, how will this impact our system?

 

[dbuerer]

David, from the article above “The DNS server must have the feature whereby it can serve up IP addresses for DHCP client devcies. This is a common feature available in most routers”

Does that mean that if they use static IP they do not need a DNS server ? or is a DNS always required?

DNS is only required when you're using dynamic address as the Room Controller and the app uses the "host name" to connect. The Host name is the name of the room. When you use static ip address, the assigned ip address is used to connect.

 

[dbuerer]

If there is a VPN on site, how will this impact our system?

Would need more details to answer said question however it's best to work with the site's IT team to ask this question as they would be the owners of the VPN and it's associated rules. All DRC devices, inclusive of the app, use TCP/IP to communicate to the room controller.