Sercos IPS Conformizer Now Available as Free Testing Tool
Sercos International, provider of the Sercos® automation bus, offers a free testing tool to verify the correct implementation of the Sercos Internet Protocol Services (S-IPS).
S-IPS defines various services to access devices in Sercos networks by using common Internet protocols. Some of these services are also called S/IP and are based on the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), as well as the User Datagram Protocol (UDP). These services include functions for device identification, network configuration, and access to Sercos parameters and diagnostics. In addition, the IPS defines a firmware update via the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP).
The speciality of IPS is that these services do not require a Sercos master or a running Sercos real-time communication. Even in cyclic real-time operation the specified services can be used. In this case the IPS telegrams are transferred via the UC-channel (Unified Communication Channel) of Sercos, without having a negative influence on the real-time behaviour of the network.
“The IPS Conformizer is a very powerful and user-friendly tool which helps vendors and users to easily verify the correct and complete implementation of IPS. The provision of the testing tool reflects the increasing importance of Internet protocols that support innovative solutions in the context of industry 4.0. This involves for example, the commissioning, but also the remote maintenance and diagnosis of Sercos devices that can be easily accomplished through Intranet or Internet”, states Peter Lutz, Managing Director of Sercos International e.V.
The Sercos IPS Conformizer is available for Windows XP/7 and provides various test functions based on the NUnit test framework (http://www.nunit.org/) for Microsoft.NET environments. These test functions allow a targeted test of individual IPS services and are thus suitable for the development-accompanying test of IPS devices. In addition, the test functions of the IPS Conformizer can be expanded specifically to a manufacturer via an open interface. Members of the Sercos User Groups have also access to the source code of the software so that they can adjust the code to their requirements and are able to integrate the test software in their own quality control tools.
About Sercos International
Sercos International is an association of users and manufacturers that is in charge of technical development, standardization, certification and marketing for the Sercos automation bus. Conformance tests guarantee that Sercos implementations are standard-compliant ensuring that devices from different manufacturers can be combined. Based in Germany, the organization presently has more than 90 member companies located around the world and has national liaison offices in North America and Asia.
About Sercos
The SErial Realtime COmmunication System, or Sercos, is one of the world’s leading digital interfaces for communication between controls, drives and decentralized peripheral devices. Sercos has been used in machine engineering for approximately 25 years and is implemented in over 4 million real-time nodes. With its open, manufacturer-independent Ethernet-based architecture, Sercos III is a universal bus for all automation solutions.
