Differences between the types of zone - Security Center 5.10

Security Center Administrator Guide 5.10

Product
Security Center
Content type
Guides > Administrator guides
Version
5.10
Language
English
Last updated
2023-06-12

The following table lists the differences between a hardware zone, a virtual zone, and an I/O zone, and can help you decide which type of zone you need to create.

Characteristics Hardware zone Virtual zone I/O zone
Recommended use Hardware zones are recommended when quick responses and offline operations are crucial for your security system. Virtual zones are recommended when flexibility is required, and when access control units are not available. I/O zones are recommended when quick responses, offline operation, and I/O linking across multiple units are required.
Role Access Manager Zone Manager Access Manager
Required unit type HID or Synergis™ unit Any type of unit with inputs and outputs1 Synergis™ units2
Unit operation mode Online and Offline Online Online and Offline
I/O linking execution Access control unit Zone Manager Master unit3
I/O linking (inputs) All inputs must be from the same unit Can combine inputs from any unit of any type Can combine inputs from any unit
Logical operator (inputs) OR/AND OR/AND OR
I/O linking (outputs) All outputs must be from the same unit as the inputs Can trigger outputs on any unit of any type Can trigger outputs on any unit
I/O linking configuration Zone configuration + event-to-actions Zone configuration + event-to-actions Zone configuration alone
Peer-to-peer No No Yes4
Arm/disarm from Security Desk No Yes Yes5
Arm/disarm using actions No Yes Yes5
Arm/disarm using key switch Yes6 No No
Arm/disarm on schedule Yes7 Yes8 Yes9
Arming delay OFF/ON (mm:ss) OFF/ON (mm:ss) No
Entry delay OFF/ON (mm:ss) OFF/ON (mm:ss) No
Maintenance mode No No Yes

1 Using zones to monitor the inputs of intrusion detection units is not recommended.

2 Requires Synergis™ Softwire 10.2 and later.

3 The master unit is the Synergis™ unit that you select to do I/O linking.

4 Up to 15 Synergis™ units can communicate directly with each other, as long as they are all under the same Access Manager.

5 The master unit must be online.

6 The key switch must be wired to an input on the same access control unit.

7 Only one schedule at a time, and cannot be combined with the key switch approach.

8 Supports multiple schedules.

9 Supports multiple schedules, including exception schedules.