Topic: Network Strategies

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Network Devices Need Software Support
Network Hardware Depends on Strong Software to Hold It All Together and Improve Machine Performance

Can Automation Users Solve Social Media?
Some Automation and Network Engineers Use Social Media to Ask Technical Questions and Secure Useful Answers From Experts. For Others, It's a Puzzling Environment That's Hard to Figure Out

SCADA System Hack Forces Control Engineers to Reevaluate Network Security
In the End, Ask Questions of Your Integrator and/or Your Own Developers. Trust With Verification is Paramount, and Disable All USB, CD Activity

Control Buses and Safety Networks Speed Up, but Remain Divided
When Will the Data Share the Same Highway?

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White Papers: In Depth Research

Implementing Ethernet Technology in Industrial Applications
Author: Turck
Posted: 12/11/2012
Manufacturers are faced with the constant demand to increase productivity and reduce operating costs. A powerful industrial tool being implemented today to streamline production is reliable, enterprise-wide connectivity, providing the highest level of visibility, control and flexibility. To accommodate evolving networking requirements, such as decentralization of control, integrated diagnostics and simplified maintenance, network protocols integrate with industrial equipment, and control systems to communicate crucial status updates and production data.

As practices migrate away from point-to-point topology, advanced architectures ensure connectivity, collaboration and integration from the device level to enterprise business systems. With protocols available, each offering diverse features, benefits and performance capabilities, this white paper will assist users in selecting the ideal communication solution to suit individual application needs.

Ethernet Cable: A Guideline to Implementing Solid or Stranded Cables
Author: Turck
Posted: 07/17/2012
With businesses becoming increasingly more communication-centric, virtually every industry is now relying on industrial Ethernet technology to network critical devices and control systems as well as to enhance process automation and improve efficiency. As one of the most widely used networking technologies, Ethernet connects more than 85 percent of LAN connected PCs and workstations, providing a flexible solution that delivers real-time data and status updates to ensure constant information accessibility and instantaneous data transfer.

In order to utilize these communication capabilities, Ethernet cables are required to provide the necessary connectivity. These cables are used to connect devices, such as PC, switches and routers, to transmit and receive data. To ensure proper cabling installation, organizations such as the American National Standards Institute, Telecommunications Industry Association and Electronic Industries Association provide clear, concise instructions and standards that assist users in setting up reliable Ethernet connections.

The white paper serves as a useful resource, allowing readers to identify and implement the ideal Ethernet cable to ensure reliable network performance in their industrial applications.

Maximize Signal Range and Wireless Monitoring Capability
Author: CAS Dataloggers
Posted: 07/17/2012
Attenuation is a reduction of signal strength during transmission, such as when sending data collected through automated monitoring. Attenuation is represented in decibels (dB), which is ten times the logarithm of the signal power at a particular input divided by the signal power at an output of a specified medium.

When signal power decreases to relatively low values, the receiving 802.11.4 radio will likely encounter bit errors when decoding the signal. This problem worsens when significant RF interference is present. The occurrence of bit errors causes the receiving 802.11.4 station to refrain from sending an acknowledgement to the source station. After a short period of time, the sending station will retransmit the frame. In the worst case, signal power loss due to attenuation becomes so low that the system loses connectivity to the network gateway.

This white paper defines wireless signal loss in terms of the attenuation in both signal frequency and range and provides the reader with attenuation formulas, RF site survey guidelines for understanding the behavior of radio waves within a facility before installing a wireless network, and RF interference impact and avoidance techniques including causes of RF signal fading.

Making permanent Savings Through Active Energy Efficiency
Author: Schneider Electric
Posted: 08/21/2009
This white paper argues strongly that meeting greenhouse gas emissions targets set within the Kyoto Protocol will fail unless Active Energy Efficiency becomes compulsory.

Active Energy Efficiency is defined as effecting permanent change through measurement, monitoring and control of energy usage. Passive energy efficiency is regarded as the installation of countermeasures against thermal losses, the use of low consumption equipment and so forth.

It is vital, but insufficient, to make use of energy saving equipment and devices such as low energy lighting. Without proper control, these measures often merely militate against energy losses rather than make a real reduction in energy consumed and in the way it is used.

Everything that consumes power – from direct electricity consumption through lighting, heating and most significantly electric motors, but also in HVAC control, boiler control and so forth – must be addressed actively if sustained gains are to be made. This includes changing the culture and mindsets of groups of individuals, resulting in behavioural shifts at work and at home, but clearly, this need is reduced by greater use of technical controls.

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