Tridium Niagara Framework February 6, 2025 | Ryan
Tridium Niagara 5 – FAQ’s and Information
Niagara 5 Frequently Asked Questions
Niagara 5 Software
When will Niagara 5 (N5) be released?
Niagara 5 will be available for Early Access in Q4, 2025 and is expected to be released at the Tridium Niagara Summit in 2026.
When will Niagara 4 (N4) be End of Life (EOL) ?
Niagara 4 will be End of Life in Q3 of 2028.
Will Niagara 4.15 be the last version of Niagara 4, or will it only be the last version for JACE 8000?
Yes, Niagara 4.15 will be the last version of N4 and will serve as our Long-Term Support (LTS) Release. As part of that support, 4.15 will continue to receive updates through Q4 of 2028.
Niagara 5 Compatibility
Will Niagara 4 Graphics PX Pages work in Niagara 5?
Yes, The N4 to N5 migrator will include Px migration to maintain compatibility for graphics upon upgrade for standard Niagara Px capabilities.
Will Niagara 5 Supervisors support Niagara Network connections with N4 stations?
Yes, N5 Supervisors will continue to support a mix of Niagara AX, N4, and N5 devices.
If sites have a mix of Niagara AX, Niagara 4, and Niagara 5, what version must the Supervisor be running?
As with N4, the Supervisor should always be at the highest version in the system architecture. This means if there are any Niagara 5 stations in the system, the Supervisor should be based on Niagara 5.
Niagara 5 Development
Will Niagara 4 modules work in Niagara 5?
All N4 based modules will need to be refactored to run in N5. Since the underlining base for Niagara is moving from JAVA 8 to JAVA 21, it will be up to the module developers to confirm compatibility. N5 will have early access in late 2025 for developers to begin the transition and provide valuable feedback, along with documentation for any changes that will be required.
How can I sign up to access Niagara 5 early access if I am not enrolled in the developer program?
Contact a Tridium account manager for more information to learn how to join the developer program and become a certified Niagara developer. For non-developer program Early Access, we will notify when sign-up is available.
Will Niagara 5 modules require a signature to be loaded into an N5 station?
Yes, with the upgrade to Java 21 we will be removing the N4 security manager. This will require that all modules have a valid signature to load in a Niagara 5 station.
Niagara 5 Features
How will AI be used in Niagara 5?
Yes, AI is quickly emerging as a massive value-added element within building automation systems. We are committed to ensuring the Niagara Framework utilizes AI to provide efficiencies for configuring, diagnosing, and improving Niagara installations.
Will Niagara 5 include both the Zebra and Lucid themes along with the new theme?
No, the N4 themes will not be brought forward to N5. N5 will have a new navigation and layout along with new themes, including light and dark modes.
Niagara 5 Licensing & Maintenance
Will an active SMA on a Niagara 4 Supervisor give access to upgrade the supervisor to Niagara 5?
Yes, N4 Supervisors will require active SMA to be eligible for migration to a N5 supervisor model. An additional migration fee may be required.
Customers buying 3 or 5 year SMA for the JACE 8000, is this a waste of money?
No, an active SMA will be required to upgrade N4 stations to N5 for the J9000 and Supervisors. Niagara 4.15 LTS will continue to be supported and updated through 2028. Keep in mind that the N5 Supervisor will continue to support a mix of Niagara AX, N4, and N5 devices.
HTTP driver and JSON toolkit require an active SMA. Will it be possible to buy an SMA for an N4 JACE or Supervisor after 2028?
Yes, you will be able to purchase an SMA for N4 JACEs and Supervisors after the N4 EOL date.
Niagara 5 Migration
Will it be easy to migrate from Niagara 4 (N4) to Niagara 5 (N5)? Will there be a tool released?
Like N4, we will provide a station migrator to enable an easy migration from N4 to N5. Prior to executing the migration, you will need to identify any 3rd party modules (e.g. software not developed by Tridium) installed in the station and confirm whether an N5 version is available. If not, then the process may fail to execute, as Niagara developers will need to ensure they refactor their N4 modules to run in N5 in advance of this migration. To support this transition, we will be constantly monitoring and working with our beta testers to ensure a seamless transition to Niagara 5. Additionally, N5 Supervisors will continue to support a mix of AX, N4, and N5 devices.
Can you migrate a station from AX to Niagara 5?
No, you will need to run the AX to N4 migrator on the station first, and then run the N4 to N5 Migrator after successfully migrating from AX to N4.
Can I migrate from any version of Niagara 4 (N4) to Niagara 5 (N5) with the migrator?
No, you will need to upgrade the station to 4.15 LTS prior to using the N5 migrator.
Is it possible to run a Niagara 5 and Niagara 4 Supervisor on the same PC?
Both versions can be installed on the same PC, however, both will not be able to be running at the same time. If you are using this PC as an engineering tool, both can be installed and used when needed. If you are trying to run both at the same time on the same server, it will not work, as there can only be one Niagara daemon running.
Niagara 5 Hardware
Which Tridium Niagara Controller can be upgraded to Niagara 5?
The JACE-9000 is designed to be futureproofed so that it can easily support new and existing integration use cases with Niagara 5. The JACE-9000 features a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 8GB of flash memory that delivers exceptional performance and capacity with faster bootup and station load time. With simple configuration, toolless installation, low-cost integration and high-powered performance, the JACE controller is a dramatic evolution in connecting and controlling devices worldwide.
Will the JACE 8000 be upgraded to Niagara 5?
No, The JACE-8000 was able to transition from AX to N4, the JACE-9000 can transition from N4 to N5. We are working on a license change option so that a JACE-8000 license can be transferred to a JACE-9000.
Will Niagara Controllers manufactured outside of Tridium be able to migrate to Niagara 5?
Tridium is dedicated to supporting our portability partners to ensure their continued success with the Niagara Framework. To learn about a specific controller, reach out to the manufacturer for eligibility and timing.
What is the roadmap for additional Niagara 5 hardware from Tridium?
We’re planning to refresh our existing IO modules to enable a hassle-free installation and optimal performance. Additionally, we’re seeking to bring an updated unitary device to the market to address the need for Niagara at the edge.
Can I still order Niagara 4 JACE’s?
Yes, the JACE-8000 is available for purchase in Europe until December 31, 2025, and until December 31, 2026, in the North Americas, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific regions. The JACE-9000 with an N4 license can continue to be ordered through the End of Life of Niagara 4 in 2028.
Published by Ryan – February 6, 2025
