Re: I'm also inferring from this that an ATS cannot connect directly to a V7 switch, but only to a 1x8 backplane. That is correct. The ATS is packaged as a Z-module, i.e., it looks a lot like a CP60. Re: I would think that direct-connect capability to both a V7 switch and a mesh network (i.e., 4 fiber ports) would be desirable for hybrid systems as illustrated in Tom's message. Perhaps, but the vast majority of systems do not have V7.x switches and we didn't want to require them or require moving to V7.x to use V8.x. Re: Is it that difficult technically? It's the normal time/money vs. customer value tradeoff. We built something that benefits the greatest number of customers at the least cost. The offered configuration has the same disadvantage for V7.x customers as for V6.x customers - 2 1x8 slots. However, it also does not require moving to V7 to get to V8. Re: Or would you do this instead This is the end point diagram for a multi-node system moved to the Mesh Network. AW (V7 upgraded to V8) | V6.x A ---- __|____ATS____|Mesh|____ATS___________ | | |Net | | | CP CP | | CP CP | | | |-- AW/WP V8 | |-- CP270 | |-- CP270 ---- Make sense? Regards, Alex Johnson Invensys Systems, Inc. 10707 Haddington Houston, TX 77063 +1 713 722 2859 (voice) +1 713 932 0222 (fax) +1 713 722 2700 (switchboard) alex.johnson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx _______________________________________________________________________ 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