Symmetry™ M2100 Controller
Access Control & Security Management Solutions

The Symmetry M2100 is a key feature of an access control system. It provides distributed intelligence, resilience in the event of network failure, and fast response to access requests.

The Symmetry M2100 is a modular range of intelligent controllers that provide very flexible configurations for up to:

• 16 readers
• 96 Monitor Points
• 32 Auxiliary Outputs
• 200,000 Cardholders

The Symmetry M2100 supports communication over a network, hard-wired connections via a PC port and remote dial-up modems. Each Symmetry M2100 Database Unit (DBU) fully supports connection of up to 16 readers and doors. The controllers can be networked using secure, bi-directional, Pseudo-Random supervised communications to form a chain of controllers.

Each chain of Symmetry M2100 controllers communicates with a PC running the feature rich Symmetry Professional or Symmetry Enterprise access control software. The access control software is used to set up the rules of access control, monitor alarms, produce reports and administer one or more facilities.

There can be one or more chains, with up to 32 controllers per chain.

A hand geometry biometric version of the Symmetry M2100 is also available. This allows unparalleled hardware integration with a hand geometry biometric reader. Each Symmetry M2100 controller is capable of storing and authenticating up to 150,000 templates locally. As with the other Symmetry M2100 controllers, the HGU version is fully intelligent and makes authentication and access decisions locally without needing to refer to a host computer. The Symmetry M2100 controller can eliminate the need for template management systems that require additional training, data entry, wiring, installation and service.

Communication Schemes

Schemes may be configured as follows:

• LAN network connection using a network interface module option card.
• A hard-wired single chain via an RS 232–to–20mA converter
• Fault tolerant bi-directional communications by connecting the last controller on a chain to a second port of the monitoring PC
• Dial-up via modems, providing low cost management for remote sites requiring centralized administration
• The network card also incorporates a built in RS-232 module to support fallback dial-up of alarms should the network be unavailable. Encryption is also available.

Reader Technologies & Card Formats

The Symmetry M2100 controller supports a full range of reading technologies including smart card, biometrics, proximity, magnetic stripe and Wiegand (via Wiegand Interface Modules). A number of default card formats are programmed as standard and there is the capability for custom formats to be defined. This is particularly important when integrating existing cards with a new system.