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Requirements of an access control system
There are 5 requirements for an access control system (ACS)…
Credentials
Readers
Software
Wiring
And of course power
We will explore each requirement in more detail
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The first requirement is for some form of Credential.
A credential is something that uniquely identifies the holder and it could be…
A physical piece of plastic
Or an electronic identifier available on a Smartphone
Physical credentials come in different form factors such as…
Keyfob
Electronic
Thin card
Clamshell
Adhesive Cap Tags
Physical credentials run at 2 frequencies…
Low Frequency (LF) commonly called PROX
And High Frequency (HF) commonly called Smart cards
LF, or PROX, are more popular today but are considered less secure than their HF counterpart; however, for most users the difference is not substantial
The up-and-coming electronic credentials on a smartphones typically use Bluetooth technology, but this only works with a small portion of available systems.
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The second requirement is some sort of Reader
Readers …
Process the credential
Decide whether or not the holder is authorized to gain access to the secured area, typically a door
Readers come in two basic varieties…
the all-in-one variety is in a single enclosure that gets mounted on the outside of the secure area
and a two piece variety comprised of a controller and separate reader
An example of an all-in-one reader is the Isonas RC-03
The RC-03 comes with a keypad
Or without a keypad as seen here
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An example of the two component variety is the ISONAS IPBridge
With the IPBridge, there are two components:
One component, typically called a controller gets mounted inside of the secure area and communicates with the LAN.
And the other component is mounted on the outside of the secure area and performs the reading of the credential function (typically called a Wiegand-reader).
In the IPBridge, the controller is always directly wired to a Wiegand reader.
Just as with credentials, readers can operate at a LF, HF, or both (often called multi-tech).
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The third requirement is some form of Electronic lock.
The lock physically secures a location and only permits entry if instructed to do so by an attached reader.
Electronic locks come in two main varieties…
Strikes
Magnetic
strikes get built into
Or bolt on to a doorframe
magnetic get mounted on a doorframe
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The fourth requirement is Software.
The software is used to program the readers to enforce the user’s security rules
Software can be installed…
On the customer’s site (on-premise)
Or hosted anywhere on the World Wide Web
Isonas’s DBCrystal is an on-premise solution which has two products…
A set-up program named DBCrystal Admin
And a browser based user interface named EasyWeb 2015
Isonas’s Pure Access is an example of a hosted solution
In the hosted solution, there is no need to install any software on the customer’s site.
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The fifth requirement is Wiring
The wiring connects everything together and powers the equipment.
Will connect the reader
A CAT5 cable
To the customer’s LAN
Will connect a reader
And a wiring bundle, commonly called a Pigtail
To an electronic lock
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The fifth and final requirement is DC Power
Power will run the readers and electrify the locks
All of the necessary DC power is supplied over the CAT5 cable that we talked about in the wiring section.
This form of power is known as PoE, Power Over Ethernet, and is pervasive throughout the world today.
If you don’t have PoE enabled hardware already, you will have 2 choices…
You can buy a piece of network equipment that has multiple LAN connections, commonly called a PoE enabled switch
Or you can buy one single piece of equipment for each reader that you want to power and REUSE your existing networking equipment. These single units are called injectors
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Let’s look at the difference between the PoE enabled switch and single injectors.
The PoE enabled switch diagram looks like this…
Is plugged into an AC outlet
The PoE enabled switch
And then all of the readers are plugged into the switch
Now let’s look at the injector diagram which reuses your existing networking equipment…
Is plugged into an AC outlet
And then you plug a cable from your existing network equipment into one end of the injector
Then you plug your reader into the other end of the injector
The injector
Existing Network
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You might be wondering where the power for the electronic lock comes from, well let’s take a look.
The power comes from the same PoE device that powers the reader.
The power from the PoE device
Goes out a CAT5 cable
Passes through the reader
Goes out the pigtail
To the electronic lock
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Let’s review the hardware/software requirements
A credential
Is read by a reader
Which has been configured by software
To open a lock
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Now let’s review the wiring
A reader is connected to the customer’s LAN
With a CAT5 cable
So it can be configured by the software
And the reader is connected by a Pigtail
To an electronic lock so it can secure a location
All of which is powered via PoE
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Here are some complete wiring and power view of one possible solution
PoE switch connected to multiple doors and locks
PoE single injector connected to a single door and lock
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The End
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