Ultra-high-availability 'mesh' network system

April 2004 Fieldbus & Industrial Networking News & Events Infrastructure

Foxboro Automation Systems has introduced new, 'mesh' network technology for the I/A Series system. The new technology incorporates commercial off the shelf (COTS) Ethernet switches, ports, and fibre-optic media in advanced meshed configurations that provide multiple communications paths between network stations. The new technology can be utilised to configure ultra-high-availability, high-performance (100 Mbps/1 Gbps), Switched Ethernet process control networks and field networks for new I/A Series systems. The technology can also be used to efficiently extend existing I/A Series systems.

"With its advanced redundant/fault-tolerant configuration and no single point of functional failure, the Ethernet-based I/A Series 'Nodebus' established a clear standard for process control network availability when Foxboro first introduced the system more than 15 years ago," said Steve Young, vice president of Foxboro Automation Systems. "Today, the widespread use of intelligent, fieldbus-based devices, plus the increasing information requirements of today's plants, place even greater demands on process control networks. With our new mesh network technology for the I/A Series system, we once again raise the bar for process control network availability and performance. Unlike conventional redundant networks, our new mesh networks can be configured to maintain non-stop communications even when faced with multiple points of failure, such as the simultaneous loss of a communications port and a wire break. To the best of our knowledge, this capability is unprecedented in the process control industry."

Upon rapid detection of one or more network faults, the advanced diagnostics automatically reconfigure the communications path to maintain system communications. "In effect, the network is smart enough to heal itself," said Young. The new mesh technology can be utilised to configure plant wide process control networks as well as to provide a secure, high-performance link between I/A Series control processors and their associated fieldbus (I/O) modules. Where appropriate, I/A Series workstations, control processors, device integrators, and fieldbus modules can all be placed on a common mesh network.

For more information contact Keith Guest, Protea Automation Solutions, 011 719 5700, [email protected], www.protea.co.za

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