The concept of parallel and ring redundancy

Ivan Lopukhov

p.18

The article discusses the new principles of redundancy for the industrial Ethernet networks, their features, advantages over existing technologies and prospects for use in real network devices.

Hirschmann: news from communications front

Ivan Lopukhov

p.12

The article is dedicated to the Hirschmann industrial communications equipment. Also included are a review of the new products based on the state-of-the-art trends and a description of the new capabilities of the equipment to ensure network reliability. In the end, the article provides a forecast for further development of this famous German brand.

Simplify your life with fieldbus in Zone 2

By Andreas Hennecke

p.38

In Zone 2 hazardous areas, energy limiting ignition protection type Ex nL (nonincentive) has been available to fieldbus users for years paving the way for instrumentation in an increasing number of installations. Compared to protection type Ex i (intrinsic safety), Ex nL has contradictory requirements that have led to ambiguity regarding correct dimension and construction of electrical circuits rather than the expected savings in installation and maintenance cost. The new directive "Ex ic intrinsic safety" is replacing Ex nL as of 2011. This article explores the improvements that can be realized by combining this new standard with FOUNDATION fieldbus H1 and PROFIBUS PA.

EtherWAN for Ethernet

By Dmitriy Bakaev

p.30

The article offers an overview of the EtherWAN communication hardware designed for the Ethernet industrial networks. The article looks at the history and innovations of the company. It analyzes the specific features of the products and provides a table containing information on the most popular series. Also included are schemes with examples illustrating a potential application of the company's products, including those for designing the redundant network architecture.

Real-Time Ethernet networks: from theory to practice

By Ivan Lopukhov

p.8

The article discusses the future use of the Real-Time Ethernet standards for real-time data transmission and highlights the benefits of using the Ethernet networks over traditional fieldbus networks. Also included is a review of the basic Real-Time Ethernet standards, specific features of their use and capabilities. The article shows the examples of controllers and gateways for real-time networks and describes their technical features. The last part of the article focuses on the use of the Ethernet switches and their specific operation in real-time mode. A review of the dedicated switches for the Real-Time Ethernet is also provided.

From classic fieldbus to EtherCAT

By Aleksandr Sapozhnikov

p.16

The article provides general aspects of the industrial Ethernet-based EtherCAT technology. Also discussed are specific features of this technology such as openness, high speed, and flexibility which allow the effective use of the EtherCAT as an industrial bus capable of functioning in real-time mode as well as the use of this technology for vertical integration.

Migration from CCTV to IP: cable issue

By Ivan Lopukhov

p.8

The article discusses the upgrade of video surveillance networks and shows the basic preconditions for switching from CCTV to IP platform. Also included are examples of a "smooth" upgrade of the networks while making maximum use of the existing cabling architecture and utilizing the longdistance data transmission devices not involving the use of an optical cable. The article offers an overview of the equipment.

Technology of IP device power supply through a network cable "Power over Ethernet" and its realization in the industrial network equipment

By Ivan Lopukhov

p.14

PoE technology providing power supply of terminal devices in the Ethernet directly throughthe network cable is described. Advantages and details of PoE use in industrial environmentare considered. A review of new hardware realizing the technology is made;examples of practical implementation are given.

FieldConnex® concept for the FOUNDATION Fieldbus H1 and PROFIBUS-PA industrial networks: performance increase and cost reduction. Part 2

By Victor Zhdankin

p.12

The article presents the FieldConnex® concept from Pepperl+Fuchs for the constructionof the industrial networks in the hazardous areas. They combine various intrinsically safe typesand provide communication with the control systems located in a safe area.Also included is a brief description of the main components of the FieldConnex® system:field barrier modules, segment protectors and discrete input/output modules.

Redundancy of the Industrial Ethernet at OSI level 2: standards and technologies

By Ivan Lopukhov

p.16

The article covers the typical Ethernet redundancy methods implemented in the industrial switchesto improve the data transfer efficiency. Also discussed are the advantages and disadvantagesof the individual technologies as well as the issues concerning their common use in the mixednetworks.

Introduction to the Modbus protocol. Part 2. Modbus Serial and Modbus TCP

By George Thomas

p.22

The article continues the description of the Modbus protocol: Modbus over Serial Lineand Modbus TCP/IP are discussed.

FieldConnex® concept for the FOUNDATION Fieldbus H1 and PROFIBIS-PA industrial networks: performance increase and cost reduction

By Victor Zhdankin

p.42

The article presents FieldConnex® concept from Pepperl+Fuchs for the constructionof the industrial networks in the hazardous areas. They combine various intrinsicallysafe types and provide communication with the control systems located in a safearea. Also included is the brief description of the main components of theFieldConnex® system: field barrier modules, segment protectors and discreteinput/output modules.

Introduction to the Modbus protocol. Part 1

By George Thomas

p.52

The article describes the Modbus protocol: ASCII and RTU modes, message format, character framing, register map and function codes.

System-based development of the Ethernet high-speed switching networks

By Vyacheslav Vinogradov

p.6

This review shows the Ethernet-technology development trends in the industrial automation applications. The article presents the specific solutions based on this technology for the industrial networks, measuring instrument systems and real-time systems. The 10-Gigabit Ethernet interfaces and specifications are included, and the promising 100-Gigabit Ethernet technology is described.

Local Ethernet networks in automated process control systems: faster, further, more reliable

Konstantin Kruglyak

p.6

This feature continues a series of articles on network solutionsfor automated process control systems. This installment looks at the use of Ethernet technologies in this space. The author cites products from Hirschmann as examples of networking equipment and standard hardware solutions for increasing the speed and reliability of control systems.

Industrial networks: goals and tools

Konstantin Kruglyak

p.6

This article examines issues relating to building distributed automated process control systems using current hardware, software and networking solutions. The author discusses the main trends in the development of distributed control systems and the tools for setting up such systems. The article includes examples using several new products from the firms Advantech, WAGO, Pepperl+Fuchs, Hilscher and others.

Basic concepts and primary components of the AS interface

Victor Polovinkin

p.18

This article examines a serial data transmission system based on the AS interface used at the lowest level of an automated process control system.The review of the system's basic components provides an understanding not only of their interaction but also of the system's operating algorithms as a whole.

Building industrial networks using the AS interface

Konstantin Kruglyak

p.30

The author describes the structure of a solution for the lower level of an automated process control system using an AS interface (AS-i), a universal, cost-efficient and intelligent network for industrial applications, designed to allow for the direct connection of sensors and actuators to the enterprise's general information and control network. This description is accompanied by a review of the appropriate networking equipment, with examples from among Pepperl+Fuchs products.

HART protocol

Victor Polovinkin

p.6

This review is intended to provide an initial introduction to the HART protocol. The article also looks at tools for describing, setting parameters for and connecting low-level HART devices in an automated process control system.

Application-Level Protocols of CAN Network

Andrey Shcherbakov

p.6

Prevailing networking upper-level protocols based on the CAN Interface.

Foundation Fieldbus vs. Profibus-PA

Ashok Gupta,  Richard Caro

p.16

Alternative industrial networks for process control automation.

MIL-STD-1553B Based Industrial Networks

Sergey Khvoshch,  H.H. Amadu

p.42

Fundamentals of the construction of a system based on multiplex channels of inter-modular information exchange are described in the article.

Features of the CAN-Protocol

Evgeny Karpenko

p.16