[FUN] Linking Devices

[Stephen Mitschke]

I believe that all HSE devices that meet the specification and obtain the"Check mark" should be interoperable though like you let's here it fromsomeone at the Foundation.Ian Ian Verhappen Hi FF experts,I see from the Fieldbus.org website that there are currently 3 HSE linkingdevices 'registered', e.g. SMAR DF51 HSE, Fisher-Rosemount 'HSE LinkingDevice', and ABB FIO-100.Question: Is it part of the HSE spec or plan that the Linking Devices' H1segments will be configurable from ANY different vendor's FF engineeringsoftware ? Or will I be forced to configure them via the OEM's softwareonly?Jim Sprague, Aramco

[Stephen Mitschke]

Jim,FF HSE is an important issue for our plant so I spoke with several vendorsabout their capabilities. This is what I learned:Emerson has told me that the Fisher-Rosemount Systems HSE Linking Device isnot yet available for purchase. The DeltaV system will not support HSEtill some future date.The ABB FIO-100 Linking Device requires the ABB AC800F controller to be inthe system to communicate with their linking device.Smar has committed to the concept of supporting multivendor HSE devices ontheir system. I did not get the same impression from the other FF hostvendors.Be aware that HSE linking devices have various levels of functionality(e.g., not all support H1 bridging and republishing). The linking devicesare registered against certain "HSE Profile Classes". I see on the FFwebsite that the Smar DF51 and the ABB FIO-100 supports profile classes42a, 46D1, 47I1, 48Tn, 49An. To decode the HSE profile class number youmust have the FF HSE specifications which can be difficult to get as an enduser. I wish the Foundation would provide a summary of the profile classwithout having to read the full specs.Softing has also developed an HSE Linking Device but it has not yet beenregistered by the Fieldbus Foundation.Regards,Mike BakerDuke Oconee Nuclear Station

[Stephen Mitschke]

Comment on Linking devices:1. As long as vendors do not support HSE on their controlnet, but stick toproprietary communication like V-net, LCN, UCN, etc. one can not benefitfrom linking devices with out dedicated controllers (as ABB provides). Thisis not the way forward.2. HSE should be operating at 100 Mbit/sec or more (trend towards 1Gbit/sec). The ABB one works at 10 Mbit/sec which is too low for actualapplications. ABB states that it is developing higher comm. speeds.___________________________________________ ________With kind regards, Met vriendelijke groetenBindert Douma OGESShell Global Solutions International B.V.