More functionality for Ethernet I/O system

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 8, 2002

Opto 22 has made an array of enhancements to the acclaimed, award-winning Snap Ethernet I/O system.

Opto 22 has made an array of enhancements to the acclaimed, award-winning Snap Ethernet I/O system.

Highlights of these new features are Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) support, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) support, expanded support for configuring events and their reactions, eXtensible Markup Language (XML) support, and support for wireless protocols such as Handheld Device Markup Language (HDML) and Wireless Markup Language (WML) for use with web-capable cellular phones.

These flash firmware enhancements are compatible with existing Snap Ethernet I/O systems and available at no extra charge.

"We have continued to add to the capabilities of the Snap Ethernet I/O product line since its introduction in 1998", says Bob Sheffres, Opto 22 Vice President.

"With over 15000 Snap Ethernet I/O systems sold, this product has been readily accepted by industrial users and information technology users alike.

No one is delivering a more feature-rich product than Opto 22, clearly cementing our leadership position in Ethernet I/O systems", he added.

Point-to-Point-Protocol (PPP) allows users to access a Snap Ethernet I/O system through dial-up networking via a telephone or cellular modem connection.

This feature lets users connect to the Snap Ethernet I/O system via wireless or wireline modem to configure, diagnose, and troubleshoot the system just as you would with a wireline Ethernet connection.

PPP uses TCP/IP and UDP/IP for transport, and all application-level protocols available with wireline applications are supported.

For remote installations, or other places where Ethernet network wiring is not available, the dial-up networking and PPP feature is not only ideal, but a well-known, industry-standard method for using modems to communicate with Snap Ethernet I/O systems.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is recognised throughout the information technology (IT) arena as the industry-standard method to manage any SNMP-enabled device attached to a TCP/IP-based network.

Snap Ethernet I/O systems are now SNMP-enabled and support this well-known protocol.

Any SNMP network management tool, such as Computer Associates' Unicenter TNG, can now monitor and manage any electrical, mechanical, or electronic device connected to the Snap Ethernet I/O system.

The system's built-in web server makes it easy to configure I/O points and SNMP traps.

SNMP traps are automatically sent to a host when configured events occur, such as a door opening or a temperature exceeding a preset value.

Reading and writing Management Information Base (MIB) data is also supported.

With the addition of PPP and SNMP to the arsenal of supported protocols (XML, HTML, HTTP, HDML, WML, SMTP, Opto 22's IEEE1394-based memory map, and Modbus/TCP), Snap Ethernet I/O is the clear leader for crossplatform, multifunction applications.

Also improved and expanded are Snap Ethernet I/O event/reactions, providing powerful decision-making functionality at the I/O processor level.

Users can configure the processor to recognise single or multiple analogue, digital or serial events.

Examples of automatic responses to events include turning a digital point on or off, sending an e-mail message to company personnel, or sending a stream packet, serial message, or SNMP trap.

Multiple alarms on single or multiple points can be configured with immediate or time-delayed responses.

Other features added include I/O point naming and data mirroring between Snap Ethernet I/O systems.

Through the built-in web pages, each point can be named (up to 15 characters) for easier reference.

Users can pinpoint specific addresses on the processor for targeted status reporting, or stream the entire memory map to a designated location for a complete analysis.

With I/O data mirroring capabilities, point values can be read from one system and automatically written to a second system at set intervals.