HSE Analyzer Toolkit helps OEMs debug fieldbus devices.
Press Release Summary:
AT-440 High Speed Ethernet toolkit includes packet analyzer, example field device, and design example. It helps engineers find and diagnose errors in packets from Foundation Fieldbus HSE devices, and verify correct device behavior. Analyzer decodes and displays HSE messages into plain text, including errors. It can filter by address or message type to allow capture of user-defined traffic for analysis, and pre- and post-filtering makes finding specific messages easy.
Original Press Release:
Fieldbus Foundation Releases HSE Analyzer Toolkit
Powerful new tool enables developers to shorten time to market for fieldbus products
AUSTIN, Texas, May 30, 2002 - The Fieldbus Foundation(TM) today announced release of the AT-440 High Speed Ethernet (HSE) Analyzer Toolkit, a powerful new test kit option that helps product developers speed HSE products to market to take advantage of growing worldwide demand for FOUNDATION(TM) technology.
HSE, running at 100 Mbit/s, was voted "Product of the Year" by Control Engineering Magazine and named one of the "10 Best New Products" by the ARC Advisory Group. HSE integrates plant subsystems and enables "sensors to the boardroom" information integration, providing end users with the Freedom to Choose and the Power to Integrate across the enterprise.
Comprised of a packet analyzer, example field device and design example, the AT-440 HSE Analyzer Toolkit reduces product development time by helping engineers quickly find and diagnose errors in packets from HSE devices. In addition, it enables verification of correct device behavior against the example HSE field device implementation. The packet analyzer component of the toolkit was designed in conjunction with Fieldbus Diagnostics LLC (Austin, Texas).
According to the Fieldbus Foundation's director of technology development, David A. Glanzer, the availability of the AT-440 toolkit eliminates the need for product suppliers to develop their own HSE protocol analyzer tool, thus saving time and engineering resources. "The AT-440 is a robust set of tools and information which expedites the development of new, HSE-based fieldbus products," said Glanzer. "With the detailed message structure documentation in the toolkit and the analyzer's built-in ability to decode HSE packets, engineers can quickly identify and correct design problems. The AT-440 toolkit gives R&D the head start needed for rapid product development and saves considerable time and expense."
The AT-440's HSE-specific Ethernet packet analyzer, which is Windows® 98/ME/2000/NT/XP compatible, speeds troubleshooting by providing real-time decoding and display of HSE messages into plain text (including errors). Its symbolic message search also makes it easy to pinpoint messages of interest. The packet analyzer can filter by address or message type to allow capture of user-defined traffic for analysis, and pre- and post-filtering makes finding specific messages easy. Plus, users can save and load HSE fieldbus message captures for later analysis. An easy-to-use, continuous message capture feature allows hands-free monitoring.
The AT-440's example HSE field device implementation, running new multiple I/O Flexible Function Blocks (FFBs), provides device annunciation and publishing features essential for learning the HSE protocol and efficient debugging. Running on any standard Windows® PC with any standard Ethernet interface, the field device produces HSE messages that have been validated to be correct.
In addition, the HSE design example provided with the toolkit offers an overview tutorial on the Fieldbus Foundation's integrated architecture, including a top level design example based on a real device implementation. Key points in the design are annotated with references to sections in the Fieldbus Foundation's technical specifications. It also provides the message structures and type definitions for all HSE messages, including ASCII C header files, which helps engineers reduce coding errors.
A free demo of the AT-440 HSE Analyzer Toolkit can downloaded from www.fieldbus.org/at440demo. To order the toolkit or receive a free demo CD by mail, contact Sheila Gregg, Fieldbus Foundation, tel.: (512) 794-8890 x21, fax: (512) 794-8893, or e-mail: sheila.gregg@fieldbus.org.
About Fieldbus Diagnostics
LLC Fieldbus Diagnostics LLC builds advanced products for analyzing industrial networks to improve efficiency and reduce downtime. Fieldbus Diagnostics LLC is based in Austin, Texas USA.
About the Fieldbus Foundation(TM)
The Fieldbus Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation consisting of over 180 leading process and manufacturing automation companies worldwide whose major purpose is to provide an open and neutral environment for the development of a single, international, interoperable fieldbus. In this environment, end users, manufacturers, universities and research organizations are working together to develop the technology, provide development tools, support and training, coordinate field trials and demonstrations, and enable product interoperability. Visit their web site at www.fieldbus.org.
