Re: [foxboro] ArchestrA related question

Wally,
        Great question and one that all of the IA users are going to have to
deal with sooner than they want to.  You didn't mention for what purpose you
will be using the boxes.  I still think the SUN boxes on the nodebus can be
good "boot hosts" and "remote DM or Foxview servers" because they are more
robust/reliable than their MS counterparts. But the future of SUN boxes as
servers for other applications on the IA platform will dwindle as Foxboro
moves to the ArchestrA design which is based around Microsoft sponsored
software architechture, and by design excludes compatability with all other
OS's, which is where Mr. Bill wins.
        In a presentation at our plant, one of the Foxboro guys told us that
Foxboro was moving to MS XP because it was a more open platform and I almost
fell out of my chair!  OPEN?? I can feel the noose of Mr. Gates tightening
around my neck!! But MS Windoze has become a de facto standard for business
and corporate network applications and now it is taking over on control
system networks as vendors strive to keep up with the competition.  It has
been good in some cases because DCS vendors are beginning to realize that
the old proprietary architecture, communication busses, protocols, and
applications won't cut it anymore in the market place.  Distributed Control
Systems from a single vendor, as we have known them, are quick becoming a
thing of the past.  
        Even though many vendors don't want it to happen, standardized
busses, protocols, and applications will allow users to choose from a
variety of offerings from multiple vendors when assembling a control
network.  This eventually means that only the best and cheapest applications
and hardware will prevail in the market place.  It also means that smaller
companies that develop these products will be bought up by the larger
control system vendors in an attempt to stay on top and control pricing.
Everybody tells me I talk too much and the dissertation above proves that
they are right.  Now, from my perspective, the short answer.  Here is one
mans opinion, (you know what they say about opinions), as regards the future
of Fox IA:

If I were going to buy a new box to run IA applications I would buy the XP
box and license because I'm going to need one to run the new IACC anyway and
any application Foxboro develops in the future will only run on MS systems.

Sun boxes are still good for "Boot" and "DM/Foxview" servers in the short
term. ie. (buy one for this purpose now and it will last through it's
expected "hardware/usability" lifetime).

Microsoft XP/?? will gradually take over all database/information, and
configuration applications because of ArchestrA design.

GB ethernet will eventually enable multiple vendor "control and I/O
hardware" and "software applications" to run side by side on the same
physical network.

Foxboro's vision is good as usual, but their ability to deliver all of this
close to the timetable they have proposed is still questionable in my mind.
("Look how long it took them to provide a workable IA/NT solution from
conception to stable operation")  I think we still have some time to see
where the chips really fall.  There are still "bleeding edge" issues that
will be dealt with by users implementing this new technology.

Tom VandeWater
Control Systems Developer/Analyst
Dow Corning Corp.
Carrollton, KY USA


-----Original Message-----
From: WMagda@xxxxxxx [mailto:WMagda@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 10:08 AM
To: foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [foxboro] ArchestrA related question


I haven't seen any traffic in the last week, I hope this forum is still 
up.

I'm seeking input on replacing two dual headed "B" boxes workstations in 
January when funds are available.

Should we go with the new and improved ethernet XP platforms?
Should we go with the next generation of Sun platform on ethernet?
Should we stay with the nodebus only, and upgrade the "B" boxes to "D"?

At the Orlando conference, I understood that after January, Foxboro won't 
be shipping "D" boxes for new installations.  They will supply the new Sun 
platforms running Solaris 8 that replace the "D" box.

We have a small I/A system, municipal water treatment, running  V6.1.2 
with two "E" hosts, one "D" workstation and 2 "B" dual head workstations.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Wally Magda
Instrumentation & Control Specialist
Colorado Springs Utilities
PO Box 214
USAF Academy, CO 80840
719-668-9502
wmagda@xxxxxxx

 
 
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