Interesting ELON Product Review:
IP Support Widens Reach of LonWorks Networks
Updated LonMaker design tool makes Echelon's building automation, process control networks easier to manage
By Ken Phillips for PC Week Labs
April 26, 1999 10:29 AM ET
Echelon Corp. has made its LonWorks building automation and process control system more flexible by allowing electrical devices to be managed from across IP networks and the Internet.
In tests of LonMaker for Windows 2.0, released last month, PC Week Labs found that the updated design tool for LonWorks networks should make it easy to manage a myriad of electrical devices and controls tucked away in service ports, equipment rooms and production floors throughout a building complex.
Managers of manufacturing floors and those in charge of building facilities that already use LonMaker for Windows may want to upgrade, and those without a LonWorks network should consider installing one to simplify configuration and control of electrical devices. The new IP support makes LonMaker especially attractive for those in charge of distributed facilities.
A de facto standard, LonWorks technology is used to control electrical equipment--from machines on the shop floor to office air conditioners--through intelligent devices connected to that equipment. For more about the technology behind LonWorks networks, see a tech analysis of the Neuron chip. For a broader perspective, see a tech analysis of the upcoming convergence of process control networks with data in IT networks.
We used LonMaker in conjunction with Echelon's LNS 2.0 network operating system to create a simple network, controlling a collection of Echelon-supplied Neuron devices for basic digital and analog input and output and for scheduling device tasks. More elaborate networks can be created using router devices that link multiple communication channels. Many control system manufacturers provide complex device template plug-ins to support their equipment.
The LNS 2.0 server, which runs on Windows NT, Windows 95 and Windows 98, is distributed in a runtime version for networks designed through LonMaker.
LonMaker costs $895 for a single design/control station plus $5 per installed device (the first 64 are free) and includes Visio Corp.'s popular Visio Technical 5.0 Plus drawing package, which provides the user interface.
Developer kits are also available, as well as the $795 LNS DDE Server, which allows Dynamic Data Exchange-based applications such as Microsoft Corp.'s Visual Basic and Excel to interface with the network for monitoring and control purposes.
A picture's worth a thousand nodes
LonMaker for Windows makes network engineering simple because the entire network can be drawn using Visio. An entire network program can be engineered off-site, then brought in and installed in minutes, ready to "talk" to the hardware. The diagram isn't only for documenting network plans --- although the thorough documentation is invaluable. From the diagram, we performed all network maintenance functions, including changing device configurations.
In a network engineered with LonMaker, wiring experts can use auto-detection to simplify commissioning the devices they have installed, which consists of linking the devices to their associated images on the diagram. Once a device is in place, technicians need never revisit the device to alter its programming--this is done centrally. For example, from the diagram we created, we were able to download new firmware to devices, distribute operating parameters based upon their unique capabilities and monitor their status.
The LNS server, which we installed on a Compaq Computer Corp. Deskpro EN400 running NT 4.0 Workstation, could be turned off with no harm to the network because all programming is stored in each device. The LNS server is used mainly to store the master design database, distribute changes and support remote managers. Because of this, LonWorks networks are scalable to 32,000 devices per domain, and the number of domains is unlimited.
A minimum of one interface card is required to connect an LNS server to a LonWorks network. In our case, we used a $260 ISA card with twisted-pair media.
A technician on a notebook PC, with a PCMCIA card interface and a copy of LonMaker for Windows, can go to any node on a LonWorks network and have full access to and control of the entire network. Administrators can use LonMaker's built-in user profile system to organize staff and secure the network from haphazard changes.
Designers have to take turns
In addition to installing LonMaker on a Compaq PC running the LNS server, we installed it on another PC on the IP network. The LNS server supports any number of users installing and testing hardware simultaneously while referring to the drawing, but only one LonMaker designer at a time has write access to modify the drawing, adding devices or connections. Other users must merge any additions in a process that could be perilous without good oversight. Drawings are thus usually pre-engineered.
Familiarity with Visio is an asset, although we did not need to know many of its capabilities to program networks. LonMaker can also import and export AutoCAD files.
Building a network was as simple as dragging and dropping predefined device templates onto a drawing, creating connections between them for data flow and burrowing into the device properties to set their particular characteristics. We could copy entire subsystems and create "supernodes" (another new feature in LonMaker) that reduce engineering time by grouping standard collections of devices by room, etc.
Although the LonMaker/Visio GUI is simple to use, there is a good bit of new terminology and concepts to learn --- the only barrier to immediate productivity. To help interested network integrators, onsite developers and OEM control manufacturers get started, Echelon provides four-day training courses.
Contributing Editor Ken Phillips can be contacted at kenp@wtp.net.
Executive Summary:
LonMaker for Windows 2.0
USABILITY B
CAPABILITY A
PERFORMANCE A
INTEROPERABILITY A
MANAGEABILITY B
Companies interested in implementing automation and process control networks for electrical devices in factories and offices will find that Echelon's updated LonMaker for Windows design tool makes the task easier than with Version 1.0. Network administrators will find the tool for creating LonWorks systems, which includes a runtime version of Echelon's LNS 2.0 network operating system, especially valuable, now that LonWorks systems can be managed over the Internet as well as in an LNS network.
LonWorks networks are managed directly from a diagram; distributed, self-contained devices in electrical equipment function even when server isn't running; system scales to unlimited number of devices.
Takes training to master; merging drawing alterations from more than one designer requires supervision.
Echelon Corp.
Palo Alto, Calif.
(800) 258-4566
zdnet.com
Regards,
JM
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