ParsecNET 3: a little about the pleasant.
So, the new version of the software for integrated security systems ParsecNET 3, released under the Parsec™ trademark, is already on sale. The system was created as a platform for integrating potentially any software and hardware into a single complex, ensuring operation in areas of any scale with the only condition — the presence of an Ethernet or Internet network.
Distributed architecture, highly reliable transport services of the system, automatic data replication with support of unstable communication channels — all this allows the system to be used in «combat» conditions, different from the hothouse environment of a single office.
More than a year of operating experience in the most difficult conditions confirms the above. As an example, we can name an object represented by more than a dozen buildings in different areas of the city with a computer network without a domain, without division into subnets and even without a permanent system administrator, due to which viruses constantly roam the network, there is a conflict of IP addresses, etc. — and in these conditions the system works stably without data loss!
But this is a normal quality of a properly designed system.
And how does the system appear to the user?
Simply about the complex
So, the internal complexity of the system has increased many times over compared to the previous version, without which it is impossible to provide a wealth of new functionality and excellent reliability and quantitative characteristics. At the same time, the system has become even simpler and more user-friendly for the user. Why are we given the most powerful computers, if not to make our work easier?
This was the task that was at the forefront of the development of the software package and, as it seems to us, has been largely solved. Let us dwell in more detail on some of the pleasant moments awaiting installers and users of ParsecNET 3.
Installation
ParsecNET 3 is a multi-user, multi-territory distributed system by its main purpose. But what about users who only need to close access to a couple of doors? This is possible: by default, the system is installed in a single-machine configuration, i.e. the functions of the database server, system server and operator workstation are performed by one PC, and any modern computer with Windows XP or higher (including, naturally, Windows 7) will do.
If you do not change the default values during the installation process, the entire installation takes no more than ten minutes, and after installation the system automatically starts working, i.e. all the necessary services are launched, which from now on will automatically start every time the computer is turned on, ensuring the operation of the system regardless of the operator.
If you need to deploy a multi-machine configuration, the process is even simpler. When you install the server, a distribution for workstations is automatically created in the program's working directory, which already includes up-to-date information about the server itself — thus, the installation of the workstation occurs without any operator intervention: after starting the installation of the workstation, you can calmly drink coffee, without fear that the installation program will start to torment you with questions about what, where and why.
The only thing you need to remember is to allow the workstation to connect to the server, i.e. register the workstation (it is a security system after all!).
Plug-and-Play
Now few people remember how before, when installing any board in a PC or connecting a printer, scanner, or even a mouse, it was necessary to install and configure drivers. The Plug-and-Play technology that appeared instead has radically changed the situation, and now it is not at all difficult to connect something new to a computer.
The question arose: how are security systems worse? Moreover, let's be honest, many users of the systems are not particularly friendly with technology and computers. And so they did: ParsecNET 3 is able to automatically detect connected equipment, automatically enter it into the system and start working. And it doesn't even require launching the user interface.
For example, a PR-A08 desktop reader was connected to the USB port of your PC, as well as a pair of NC-1000M controllers via the NI-A01 interface. If the power supply of the controllers is on, then after installing the system, literally in a couple of tens of seconds you can launch the system administration console and see the connected equipment in the equipment editor. All you have to do is enter your card — and you can walk through the doors on which the controllers are installed!
Additional workstations are also automatically added to the system if you installed them on neighboring machines, and other equipment, including controllers with an Ethernet interface and the central network controller (CN) together with the controllers connected to it.
Of course, the parameters set during automatic connection of the equipment may not completely suit you — then you will have to correct them, as they say, manually.
Plug-and-Play technology does not cancel traditional methods of configuring the system. You can, of course, enter the equipment into the system and pre-configure it manually, especially if the equipment has not yet been hung up, and there is very little time left before the system is delivered.
Drag and drop
Not everyone likes to drag things with a mouse — the hand will sometimes drop the dragged object who knows where. But many people can't work on a computer without a mouse at all; for them, doing something using the keyboard is a real punishment. You've probably already guessed: ParsecNET 3 supports this technology, originally called Drag and Drop.
Let's assume that you had a couple dozen controllers connected to one of your computers, and here's the misfortune — the computer has given up the ghost. It's clear that putting another one in its place is not a problem, and it's even easy to install the Parsec workstation software on it, but deleting 20 controllers from the database of a burned-out computer, and then entering them back into the database with a link to a new computer is not a pleasant job (although we have already automated the reverse process, i.e. connecting the controllers). Moreover, then the newly entered controllers need to be entered into access groups, restoring their configuration is a whole process.
In ParsecNET 3, the issue is resolved very simply — in the equipment editor, you take all the controllers from the burned PC (like a folder in Windows Explorer) and drag them to the new workstation. A couple of seconds — and the system is fully operational again. Moreover, all settings, access groups, etc. are preserved.
Similarly, you can transfer personnel (one by one or entire departments) and topology elements.
The desktop is a matter of habit
Everyone knows how hard it can be to find something even familiar on someone else's desktop: everyone makes it their own, arranging icons in the only way they think is right. And this setting is saved in Windows from session to session, without forcing anyone to think about anything.
The user interface of the third version is probably not inferior to Windows in terms of customization options, therefore, to preserve the familiar look, all the settings of the program desktop are saved in the database in the operator profile, and when logging in with their login and password on any machine in the network, the user always sees the familiar screen.
Moreover, for each operator, you can remember several profiles for each of the program tools, if this is necessary for some reason. In general, always enter ParsecNET 3 as if it were your home!
For beginners
ParsecNET 3 is a complex system with a huge number of windows, panels, settings, all of which are the result of the richest internal functionality. But what should beginners do, how can they understand all the diversity of the system, especially if the task is trivial: just walking through the door?
For this case, the program interface has two modes: «Beginner» and «Expert» (called «Advanced» in the menu). In the «Beginner» mode, many secondary panels, bookmarks and settings are hidden that are not required when working with the simplest system, which makes the interface much simpler, i.e. more user-friendly. Switching between these two modes is done on the fly through the main menu of the program.
Called a mushroom…
So, the ParsecNET 3 system is positioned as a platform for integrating everything and everyone, but so far we have only mentioned support for Parsec's own equipment. Not right away, but ParsecNET 3 will meet all possible user requests, and work in this direction is the main task for developers in the coming years.
By the end of this year, system updates will be released with integration solutions for the Strelets fire alarm system manufactured by Argus Spectr, as well as the ITV digital video surveillance system.
Moreover, as with our own equipment, Plug-and-Play technology support is also provided for integrated solutions. You can take a ready-made Strelets fire alarm system installed and configured by your own means, connect it to the system workstation and in a matter of seconds connect it to ParsecNET 3 with all the settings and topology.
Other subsystems will appear in the integration package constantly, as work on the previous ones is completed. As they say, «watch the ads.»
Software integration deserves special mention: the system has a special on-line integration service that allows it to be linked to external software packages for personnel management, time tracking, etc., and changes made in the external environment (for example, deleting an employee through the HR department) are instantly perceived by the system and update the contents of the databases of the controllers included in the system.
Since the integration service is intended for third-party (relative to the ParsecNET 3 system) developers, almost anyone can add to the system's functionality at their own discretion — applications are accepted.
What's next
It is difficult to describe all the capabilities and advantages of such a complex software package in one article. For additional information, you can always refer to the official documentation for the system (freely downloadable from the parsec.ru product server), as well as by contacting the product's technical support service for advice. In the near future (or perhaps by the time this article is published — already today), a new customer support system with constant monitoring of user requests will be introduced on the product's website, which is aimed at improving the quality of service for our esteemed customers.
You can also download the system distribution from the website, install it and try everything live with one exception — without a security key, the system will not work with equipment and only with the «Newbie» type interface.
And one more innovation: the product licensing scheme now provides for free opening of all the system's capabilities for a limited period of time, after which its functions will again be reduced to those specified in the protection key, so that it is possible to take a full-scale excursion into the country called ParsecNET 3.