The best switch to use with workstations is the fiber optic switch. The NCNI does not have a switch preference because it has support for both Fiber and Copper connections. The fiber switch is more expensive, but by the time you buy and figure out how to package the fiber to 100Base-T converters, you will really wish that you had bought the fiber switch. I bought the fiber switch for my lab and it is very easy to setup. A copper switch would be much more difficult. AJ -----Original Message----- From: tom.vandewater@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To: foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: 3/25/2003 4:32 PM Subject: Re: [foxboro] L02-1 Equipment questions. Was RCNI, NCNI, FO SWITC H A little clarification to Alex's excellent note. Number 5 could read: 5. A single RCNI attaches exactly one Workstation to two seperate Ethernet switches. The workstation connection - as with the DNBI and DNBT - requires an Ethernet port and a serial port which is carried from the workstation's dual ports to the RCNI's single RJ-45 port via a splitter cable, much like the one used by DNBT's. This is where the installation gets a lot more complex. The "A" and "B" network port connections from the RCNI are MTRJ type fiber connections which cannot be connected directly to RJ-45 type switches such as those recommended by Foxboro. To solve that problem two MTRJ to RJ-45 media converters are required. The RCNI's also contain the letterbug that identifies the workstation on the network. To better visualize the interconnections you can check out B0400DV Rev. A I/A Series A2(tm) High Performance System Network User's Guide located at: http://ips.csc.invensys.com/content/Documents/IASeries/b0400/B0400DV_A.p df We currently have the equipment, and are installing the software this afternoon to bring an XP station on line. I can say with certainty that the physical implementation is a lot more messy and complex than connecting a DNBT station to the old nodebus. The RCNI converts the RJ-45 connection from the workstation into a MTRJ fiber that then must be converted back to RJ-45 before going into the switch. I imagine there are more expensive switches that have direct connect MTRJ ports built into them, and it might be worth it to buy one since the media converters are ~$550 USD apiece. The RCNI physical format is a bulky square box that can be mounted on a DIN rail but can only be powered from a single power source via a standard power cable. The MTRJ to RJ-45 converters must also be powered in the same way, as I suppose are the Ethernet switches. Thankfully the switches can bring in 24 connections from multiple RCNI's and/or NCNI's. Although I understand and welcome Foxboro's attempt to move from a 5mbs carrierband and a 10mbs nodebus, to a 1gbs backbone with 100mbs switched segments, they haven't made it an easy, or inexpensive, thing to do. Right now we just want to put an XP workstation on an existing nodebus and it requires the following: Part # Description Qty ~$USD ~Total P0972PF Redundant Control Network Interface (RCNI), DIN 1 $2,346 $ 2,346 P0972KW Fiber Optic Multimode Cable, MT-RJ/MT-RJ, 15 m 2 $ 115 $ 230 P0972MD Media Translator 100FX MTRJ Fiber To 10/100TX RJ45 2 $ 550 $ 1,100 P0972PP Nodebus Control Network Interface Module (NCNI) 2 $1,900 $ 3,800 P0972MH 24 Port, 10/100BaseTX Ethernet Switch 2 $2,500 $ 5,000 $12,476 It seems like it could be done with the same DNBT that exists today, in the short term, but I realize that limits it to 10mbs but greatly simplifies cost and installation in an existing facility with IA enclosures installed. I also realize that the NCNI's and 24 port switches are a one time cost of $8,800 and would allow 22 more stations to connect to the bus. Tom VandeWater -----Original Message----- From: Johnson, Alex (Foxboro) [mailto:ajohnson@xxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 7:35 PM To: foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [foxboro] L02-1 Equipment questions. Was RCNI, NCNI, FO SWITCH Equipment configuration and DNBIs With regard to how to connect the equipment, this may help: 1. The CP-60 plugs into the standard I/A Series 1x8 enclosure or equivalent. 2. The two NCNIs plug into the same enclosure. Each NCNI attaches to exactly one port on one switch. 3. The two Ethernet switches are not interlinked. 4. Each switch has a port that connects to the same RCNI, i.e., one RCNI connect to each switch. 5. A given RCNI attaches exactly one Workstation to an Ethernet switch. The workstation connection - as with the DNBI - requires an Ethernet port and a serial port. So, while it is true that you do not use DNBIs with the new workstations and Ethernet switches, you do need to use an RCNI which is very, very similar in function if not form factor. I'm afraid that I have not investigated the situation with a non-redundant Control Network in any detail. Ethernet Switches: We sell several switch models: some copper and some fiber. Our vendor is Entrasys (a merger of Wellfleet and Cabletron). We will (or have) certify an equivalent Cisco switch. We also allow the use of non-Invensys certified switches. So, you may use any standard High-Speed Ethernet switch, but please be aware that we cannot offer the same degree of support for other switches. Cost of Ethernet Switches: I really can't comment on cost, but fiber switches from name brand vendors are not cheap. On at least one occasion in the US, I saw the same switch as our Fiber Optic Switch offered for 1000 USD more than our US list price. So, on this topic at least, I believe we are competitive with the market (in the US anyway). I hope this helps. Alex Johnson Invensys Systems, Inc. 10707 Haddington Houston, TX 77043 713.722.2859 (office) 713.722.2700 (switchboard) 713.932.0222 (fax) ajohnson@xxxxxxxxxxx For the latest information on ArchestrA, go to www.invensys.com/Archestra.html. -----Original Message----- From: Power Products [mailto:power_products@xxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 6:06 PM To: foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [foxboro] RCNI, NCNI, FO SWITCH Anybody know anything with NCNIs and RCNIs? I want to do the following - CP60 connect to nodebus with 2 x NCNI, AW70 connected to nodebus with 1 x RCNI. My question is connecting the NCNI to RCNI, I will use fiber optic switches, do these switches have to be anything special? Do I have to get switches from Foxboro? They seem big price! does somebody know some switch that is good? Otto Aichinger Power Production Austria _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail _______________________________________________________________________ This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html foxboro mailing list: //www.freelists.org/list/foxboro to subscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=join to unsubscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=leave _______________________________________________________________________ This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html foxboro mailing list: //www.freelists.org/list/foxboro to subscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=join to unsubscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=leave ________________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs SkyScan service. For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit http://www.messagelabs.com ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs SkyScan service. For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit http://www.messagelabs.com ________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html foxboro mailing list: //www.freelists.org/list/foxboro to subscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=join to unsubscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=leave _______________________________________________________________________ This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html foxboro mailing list: //www.freelists.org/list/foxboro to subscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=join to unsubscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=leave