Schneider TAC Xenta Driver for Tridium Niagara

The Schneider TAC Xenta Driver for Tridium Niagara provides a sophisticated yet cost-effective solution for integrating legacy TAC Xenta building automation systems into modern Niagara-based platforms, ensuring seamless interoperability while preserving existing infrastructure investments.

A key advantage of the TAC Xenta Driver is its exceptional cost-effectiveness for system modernization. Rather than requiring expensive hardware replacements or complex system overhauls, the driver enables building operators to leverage their existing Xenta controllers while gaining access to Niagara’s advanced visualization, analytics, and integration capabilities. This approach typically reduces retrofit costs by more than 90% compared to full system replacement, with implementation timeframes measured in days rather than months. The driver’s non-disruptive integration means the original TAC Vista front-end can continue operating during the transition period, ensuring zero downtime for critical building operations.

The driver communicates using TAC proprietary protocol over LonTalk, supporting both FTT-10 twisted pair networks operating at 78 kbps and LonIP (Ethernet-based) connections for higher bandwidth applications. Connection requires only a standard LON interface card (PCI, USB, or IP-based) in the Niagara host device. During discovery, the driver automatically identifies all Xenta controllers (281, 282, 283, 301, 302, 401 series) and terminal units (101-122 series) on the network. Points are discovered automatically with all metadata preserved including point names, descriptions, engineering units, and alarm limits. The driver supports comprehensive data operations including real-time reading, command writing, and hardware override for maintenance operations—essential for managing critical HVAC sequences and equipment protection.

Beyond basic point operations, the driver provides sophisticated schedule management capabilities. Xenta time schedules can be imported directly into Niagara, maintaining all weekly patterns, holiday exceptions, and special events. These schedules become native Niagara schedule objects that can be viewed, modified, and exported back to Xenta controllers, enabling centralized schedule management across the entire facility. The bi-directional schedule synchronization ensures that changes made in either system are properly reflected, eliminating conflicts and maintaining operational consistency.

The history import feature enables seamless migration of accumulated trend data from Xenta controllers to the Niagara historian. Years of valuable operational data including temperatures, pressures, flow rates, and energy consumption can be transferred with full timestamp preservation. This historical continuity is crucial for maintaining compliance records, analyzing long-term performance patterns, and ensuring that predictive maintenance algorithms have sufficient baseline data. The import process handles Xenta’s circular buffer structure automatically, reconstructing complete timelines even when data spans multiple buffer cycles.

Alarm integration provides real-time notification of critical events occurring within Xenta controllers. The driver receives native Xenta alarms including point alarms, system alarms, and user-defined notifications, translating them into standard Niagara alarm objects. Each alarm retains its original priority, timestamp, and descriptive text while gaining Niagara’s advanced routing, escalation, and acknowledgment capabilities. Operators can acknowledge alarms from the Niagara interface with confirmation sent back to the Xenta controller, maintaining alarm state consistency across both systems.

TAC (Tour & Andersson Controls) was a pioneering force in building automation, developing the Xenta series as freely programmable controllers using their innovative Menta graphical programming environment. The Xenta line, introduced in the late 1990s, became one of Europe’s most widely deployed BAS platforms with over 500,000 controllers installed globally. Following Schneider Electric’s acquisition of TAC in 2003, the Xenta platform was gradually integrated into the broader EcoStruxure Building portfolio. However, the robust design and extensive installation base of Xenta systems means they continue to operate reliably in thousands of buildings worldwide, making integration solutions essential for modern building management strategies.

If you’re managing a facility with TAC Xenta controllers and seeking to modernize your building automation capabilities without the expense and disruption of full system replacement, Baudrate’s TAC Xenta Driver for Tridium Niagara is the ideal solution. The driver enables various integration scenarios: replacing legacy TAC Vista front-end with Niagara’s modern interface, adding third-party devices and protocols to existing Xenta networks, or streaming Xenta data to cloud platforms for advanced analytics and predictive maintenance. Our driver ensures reliable communication, preserves your existing investment, and unlocks the full potential of the Niagara platform for analytics, integration, and operational excellence. Schedule a consultation today to discuss your specific integration requirements, or contact us for a free trial to experience firsthand how the Xenta Driver can transform your building management operations while maximizing the value of your existing infrastructure.