CTI Products NCB/FL with Fiber Interface - Manual (Page 5)

CTI Products, Inc. NCB-EL/FL User Guide
2. Installation 2
1. I
NTRODUCTION
W
HAT ARE
NCB U
NITS
?
The Network Combiner NCB TM Module is a device that, when used in pairs,
allows multiple L ON W ORKS networks to be connected in real-time, spanning
distances from building-wide to worldwide. The communication channel
spanning the distance between local networks can be any copper or fiber Ethernet
channel that is capable of carrying IP (Internet Protocol) data. Data transfer
between distant networks via NCB modules is "live", delayed only by the transit
time through the routers and Ethernet channel.
The NCB module uses router technology so that no custom coding or additional hardware is necessary to
seamlessly connect multiple networks across very large distances. The NCB module is self-contained, easily
configured with standard network management tools, and requires no custom programming or coding changes
in system nodes.
Both the NCB-Etherlon and the NCB-Fiberlon utilize the IP protocol over an Ethernet media and both can
coexist on a wide-area IP network with other IP devices such as workstations, servers, and IP routers.
Additionally, they can exist on dedicated Ethernet IP networks, where the only devices on the network are
NCBs and (optionally) physical layer hubs. The most common occurrence of a dedicated network is a set of
NCB-Fiberlons connected with dedicated fiber.
Basic Application
A basic application of the NCB module is where two multi-node L ON W ORKS networks, separated by a distance
beyond the reach of conventional wired media, need to be interconnected, as in Figure 1. This distance could be
across a large building, business campus, city, etc. Using the NCB module, this interconnection is
accomplished using one NCB module local to each network site and an Ethernet channel connecting the NCB
modules. Additional networks can be added to this unified network by simply adding an NCB module for each
network.
CA-80070-100
LONWORKS
NODE
LONWORKS
NODE
LONWORKS
NODE
LONWORKS
NODE
NCB
LONWORKS
NODE
LONWORKS
NODE
LONWORKS
NODE
LONWORKS
NODE
NCB
Ethernet
Channel
BUILDING 1 BUILDING 2
Figure 1 Networks in two buildings connected with NCB modules
Block Diagram
There are three sources of message packets within the NCB module. The first source is the L ON W ORKS
NETWORK connector on the front of the unit. The second is the Ethernet media connectors on the rear of the
unit. (Note that although 10BaseT and AUI connectors exist, only one can be used at a time.) The third source
is the Control Neuron Processor. Message packets originating from any of these sources are sent to the other
two. This message packet flow is shown in the block diagram of Figure 2.
Read this
section to learn
the general
function and
capabilities of an
NCB Router