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TOP Server BACnet Driver with 254+ Devices - Setting a Static IP

I am using the TOP Server BACnet Driver to communicate with more than 254 devices on my BACnet IP network. I noticed that the TOP Server has a limit of 254 devices per channel, but when I go to add a new channel I get an error that the two channels cannot use the same UDP port. I cannot change the port on all of my devices - what can I do?

It is certainly possible to have TOP Server communicate with more than 254 devices (or more than 128 in releases before v6.11), but it involves multi-homing your NIC to have multiple IP addresses. Multihoming your NIC will expose it as two separate interfaces to TOP Server, in order to configure additional IP addresses, verify that you network card has a static IP address, and follow the steps below:

Windows 7/Server 2008

  1. Click Start and then open Network Connections.
  2. Next, click Control Panel ⇒ Network and Internet. Then, select the connection that will be changed.
  3. Click Properties, and then provide the administrator password or confirmation (if prompted).
  4. Click the Networking tab. Beneath This connection uses the following items, click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
  5. Next, click Properties. Ensure that the connection is set to use an IP address by clicking Use the following IP address.
  6. Next, specify the IP address settings in the IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway fields.
  7. To add a second IP address click Advanced ⇒ IP Settings. Beneath IP Address, click Add. Then enter a new IP address and subnet mask.

Windows 8/Server 2012

  1. Open the Control Panel
  2. Next, click Network and Internet. Then select Network and Sharing Center, then Change Adapter Settings.
  3. Right-click the connection that will be changed.
  4. Click Properties, and then provide the administrator password or confirmation (if prompted).
  5. Click the Networking tab. Beneath This connection uses the following items, click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
  6. Next, click Properties. Ensure that the connection is set to use an IP address by clicking Use the following IP address.
  7. Next, specify the IP address settings in the IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway fields.
  8. To add a second IP address click Advanced ⇒ IP Settings. Beneath IP Address, click Add. Then enter a new IP address and subnet mask.

Windows 10 and 11/Server 2016 and 2019

  1. Open the Control Panel
  2. Next, click Network and Internet. Then select View Network Status and Tasks, then Change Adapter Settings.
  3. Right-click the connection that will be changed.
  4. Click Properties, and then provide the administrator password or confirmation (if prompted).
  5. Click the Networking tab. Beneath This connection uses the following items, click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
  6. Next, click Properties. Ensure that the connection is set to use an IP address by clicking Use the following IP address.
  7. Next, specify the IP address settings in the IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway fields.
  8. To add a second IP address click Advanced ⇒ IP Settings. Beneath IP Address, click Add. Then enter a new IP address and subnet mask.

Each TOP Server channel can then be configured to use a separate Network interface. Since this spreads out the communications load over multiple connections, this is the best way to optimize a TOP Server project; in systems where a large number of devices under a single channel are adversely affecting communication speeds.