Re: [foxboro] FoxAPI and AIM*API

Greetings;

You had a question or two...

> 1. We have FoxAPI ver 4.2.6 installed in our AW1003 (P91 WinXP box). Where
> can we get the latest version for FoxAPI ? Can it be downloaded ?

The latest FoxAPI can probably only come from Foxboro/Invensys.  It has been

downloadable as a Quick Fix, but is regularly distributed with a new set 
of IA software on it's own CD.  I expect if you contact their TAC group 
you could egt it.


> 2. Noted that OPC server from Foxboro utilizes AIM*API - whereas
Matrikon's
> OPC server utilizes FoxAPI. Any particular reason why there's 2 different
> API in existence?

Though I've never been privy to the actual decisions made to produce a
second
API. I suspect it is because the AIM* package was once a package separate
from
the Foxboro product line.

> 3. Matrikon claimed that their OPC Server can communicate with Foxboro
> systems on Solaris or Windows using either the FoxAPI, or OM (Object
> Manager). How this OM is different w/ FoxAPI in terms of data flow.

Yes, the Matrikon product can communicate with either.  The provide an
executable
for each.  Using the OM version cuts one element out of the flow of data,
that
being the FoxAPI.

The OM version has more than twice the throughput than the FoxAPI (5000pps
v. 2000).  
The API version (I think) allows tag browsing where as the OM version does
not.  
I suspect that the API version may have more adjustments available to tune a
heavily 
loaded implementation. However, given the throughput difference, the
"heavily loaded"
situation happens at a much higher point count.

The FoxAPI is a software product put on the system to allow 3rd party
applications to
be written to a common interface; one which does not change from one release
to another.
Using the OM version theoretically leaves the author open to disruptions as
new versions
of the base IA software are updated.  However, we have seen to significant
changes to 
the OM interface since early version 6 (maybe 6.2) systems, until the MESH
came along.
So, for version 6 or 7 systems, the same executable which ran in 2000 runs
in 2009.
If you are using a version 6 or 7 system, I don't expect there will be any
more changes,
ever.  


Regards,

William C Ricker
FeedForward, Inc.
 

 
 
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