Pacom Unison General
- How is Pacom Unison different from the GMS Solution offered by Pacom Systems?
Pacom Unison targets enterprise and corporate organizations whilst GMS is more suitable for complex Multi-Site organizations.
- What is Pacom Unison?
Pacom unison (“Unison”) is a next generation open, integrated security management platform and the solution of choice for some of the worlds most recognizable and prestigious organizations. Designed and engineered for ease of use, unison is simple, smart and enables organizations to integrate different systems and streamline operations into a single intuitive user interface. Unison integrates a wide range of subsystems allowing the user to choose which hardware and applications to use irrespective of manufacturer. The operator can manage intrusion detection, access control, fire, intercom management and video surveillance from a single platform.
- Which are the key differentiators of Pacom Unison?
Can connect with virtually any existing system (development may be required), but proprietary hardware is not needed. Completely Open. Benefit: Greater Return On Investment
Uses the latest technology to ensure future compatibility and ease of open integration. Benefit: Investment in the Future
Can connect with virtually any existing system (development may be required), but proprietary hardware is not needed. Completely Open. Benefit: Greater Return On Investment
Rapid driver development. Using the latest technology the Unison system has been designed for quickly integrating external systems. Benefit: Time Saving
Simple to order. Unison’s Modular allows for a transparent and straight forward ordering process with now hidden costs now or in the future when expanding. Benefit: Time Saving and Cost Effective
Full layered AutoCAD import with the ability to import and automatically link graphical points to alarms and actions. Benefit: Time and Cost Saving
Complete Automatic data upload when adding external 3rd Party panels and systems without the need to program additional data. Benefit: Time and Cost Saving
Ability to create role based GUI layouts for easier operation and administration of the system. Benefit: Ease of Use and Simplicity
Standard Windows Ribbon bar look and feel, designed with the user in mind and minimal click actions. Benefit: Reduced Training and Less Mistakes
Tools to speed up system use including full text search, tagging (hyper linking), Grouping, Bulk update etc. across the entire system. Benefit: Time Saving
Unison has an advanced cause and effect engine called expressions that can deliver virtually any combination of effects automatically and with ease. Benefit: Efficient
Unison reporting is not hamstrung by a system like Crystal reports, but delivers completely customizable and filtered reports. Benefit: Improved Information
- Which verticals does Unison target?
Unison is a market offering that targets the needs of campus-like customers and applications such as healthcare, commercial environments, large retail, government and public facilities, airports and ports, correctional facilities, prisons, universities and schools.
- Who is the typical Unison Client?
Unison is suitable for both enterprise and campus solutions. The customer requirements/motivation differ between these two types of customers as per below.
System integration
- How should system integration be made the best possible way?
Using an open platform, a user-friendly interface and integrating thirdparty systems through a variety of open protocols. Unison contains a generic OPC driver and can thus integrate virtually all types of hardware that has OPC support. If you want to make a deeper integration, the recommendation is to customize a driver for this integration. However, the driver might be using OPC behind the scenes. The advantage of using a customized driver is primarily due to the integration being most clearly evident in the client graphical user interface. A video gear for example is supposed to be both presented, configured and operated differently than, say, an intrusion alarm. From a generic OPC perspective, one cannot separate the above two options. Customized drivers on the other hand enable significantly easier configuration and a more intuitive management.
Licensing
- Does licensing apply to readers or doors?
The licensing applies to doors as we have door objects. Therefore it makes no difference if a door is an in/out reader or not.
- How does Pacom Unison licensing work?
Each installation of Unison requires a license. The licenses contain information about the facility and the restrictions of the license. There are two types of licenses for Pacom Unison – Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition. The two licenses contain the same functionality, the difference lies in the number of connected sub-systems where the Enterprise Edition has no limited amount. To the underlying licenses add-on modules are connected. The amount and type of modules is based on the individual needs for the integration allowing for a transparent and straight forward ordering process with no hidden costs now or in the future when expanding.
Unison Standard Edition is a simple and reliable system which includes support for one Unison client workstation. Each module includes a pack with related units, for example when purchasing an alarm module, a pack of 50 detector units is included. When you need more units than the standard number that is included in the module, you purchase additional packs and not several modules of the same kind. For example if you need 150 detectors, you purchase one alarm module and two packs containing 50 detectors each, not three alarm modules.
Unison Enterprise Edition supports Windows Failover Cluster, virtual environments, API integration, replication and an unlimited amount of connected devices. Unison Enterprise also includes support for one Unison client workstation.
- What does the license information include?
Which license type is currently being used – License version – The name of the site to which the license belongs – The name of the customer to whom the license belong – Pacom Unison version number that is valid for the license – Number of clients that is permitted to be connected simultaneously for the particular license – Number of nodes that the license allows you to create of the different types – The device types that the license permits
- What happens if the limtations of the license are exeeded or if there is no valid license file registered?
Pacom Unison will then work for 30 days. During this period a new or extended license must be purchased in order to be able to continue using Unison.
- Which add-on modules can I chosse from?
Intrusion/alarm module – Access Control module – Fire module – Intercom module – Video module
System General
- Are there options for supporting the system via a remote connection
Unison is designed to work via remote desktop connections.
- Can the alarm and access control funtionality be split to allow for a more flexible solution?
Yes. Operator group privileges can be used so that differing functionality can be routed to separate operators.
- How are emails generated? Are there authenication requirements?
Unison requires an SMTP server for routing emails sent by the system. SMTP server user name and password authentication is supported.
- How is the Unison database backed up?
Unison incorporates automated scheduling for database archive log files. SQL Server clustering is supported for automated SQL database redundancy
- How many security control panel can be monitored?
Limited only by server performance and available resources
- How often should log files be backed up?
Database archive log files should be backed up weekly.
Operators
- Can operators change their own password when required?
Yes, if the associated operator group privileges allow it.
- Can password incude a mixture of characters and numerals?
Yes.
- Can passwords be made to expire?
No.
- Can the same password be re-used?
Yes.
- Can Unison automatically log off unattended clients?
Yes. This is after a configurable length of time
- Does Unison support single sign-on?
Yes
- Is a minimun oassword length enforced?
No.
- Where is operator account and password information stored?
The system databases. Passwords are stored in encrypted form
Card Access
- How many access cards can be supported?
Limited only by server performance and available resources. Note: Individual Pacom Controller hardware is limited in terms of internally stored access card data. Depending on Controller model and installed memory card, a maximum of 200000 cards is possible.
- In terms of access control management, are there any limitations?
Limited only by server performance and available resources for conceptual time management objects, such as “access schedules” and “door schedules”
Note: Individual Pacom Controller hardware is limited in terms of access card management stored internally. Depending on Controller model and installed memory card, a maximum of 200000 cards is possible.
Software
- Does Unison support AMD processors?
No.
- How are Unison software updates performed?
Release updates occur approximately twice a year. Service packs and hot fixes are available to authorized dealers via the Pacom FTP site
- How do Windows service packs and patches affect the system?
At the time of a Unison release, Pacom announces the Windows and Service Pack versions that are officially supported. If there are subsequent Windows or Service Pack release(s), Pacom will not guarantee Unison to work with these versions until officially supported.
- Is any additional software required?
Microsoft SQL Server or SQL Server Express [free edition – for use with very small systems only].
– Microsoft .NET 4.0
– Microsoft Windows PowerShell 1.0 or later [for machines hosting SQL]
– Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 or later [for client machines]
– Microsoft Installer 4.5 or later [for machines hosting SQL]
– Moxa NPort as a serial-to-IP interface for devices that support serial communications only.
Note: Refer to the latest Unison datasheet for current compatibility status. Later version of Windows include most of the additional applications required.
- What development software(framework is Unison written in?
Microsoft .NET 4.0 (C#).
- What operating systems are supported?
Unison supports a range of Microsoft Windows and Windows Server operating systems from Windows XP onward
Note: Refer to the latest Unison datasheet for current compatibility status.
- Which database does Unison use?
SQL Server or SQL Express, which may be used for very small systems.
Note: Refer to the latest Unison datasheet for current compatibility status.
Client Workstations
- Does the Unison client modify the standard desktop or administer the client PC?
No.
- How does Unison control access to client applications?
Operators must authenticate themselves by operator name and password. These are used when starting Unison and when logging on and logging off. Unison does not restrict access to any other desktop applications.
- How many clients can be used?
Limited only by server performance and available resources
- Is any data stored on Unison client applications?
No, All data is stored in the database.
Network and Communications
- Can the system monitor third-party equipment?
Yes. Device drivers are available for a range of security control panels devices, including Pacom Controllers
- Can the system send commands to devices?
Yes. All supported devices have a range of available command and control capability
- Can Unison use printers?
Yes. Unison can print to any local or networked printer that is locally configured
- Does the system require static addresses?
Machines running Unison servers or Unison clients support either static or dynamic (DHCP) addressing.
Recommendation is to have static IP on servers.
Controllers should have static IP addresses. They can use dynamic IP addressing (DHCP), however, each time the address is changed, the Controller must contact the system to update it with the new address. - Does the system support redundant components?
Yes. The system supports database replication and automatic failover/failback to configured redundant database servers. Device drivers also can utilize redundant servers for failover/failback operation. Note: If SQL database “clustering” is available, it is recommended to use that for redundancy/failover operation.
- What port numbers are used by the system?
Default ports are specified for various devices that can connect to the system. All ports may be configured as required. For more info see “PACOM Unison v5.11.5 IP Port Usage.pdf”