Upgrading to the lonmaker tool – Echelon Mini FX User Manual
Page 27
14
Introduction
Feature
Mini FX
Evaluation Kit
NodeBuilder
FX Tool
LonScanner Protocol Analyzer (Demo
Edition)
5
LonScanner Protocol Analyzer (LNS Turbo
Edition)
5
LNS Plug-in Framework Kit
5
a
The NodeBuilder FX tool supports up to 254 static network variables and 127 network variable
aliases for Neuron-hosted devices that use version 16 firmware or greater (for example, the Series
5000 chips, which use version 18 firmware). This limit is subject to available system resources (for
example, RAM and EEPROM) and application requirements.
When you upgrade to the NodeBuilder tool, you can use your existing development
hardware, and you can incorporate the Neuron C source files, library files, and hardware
templates you developed with the Mini kit into your NodeBuilder projects.
Note: The Mini kit build process requires the automatic creation of NodeBuilder device
template files. The Mini kit uses the name of the Neuron C source file as the name of the
device template file. For example, compiling the myDeviceApplication.nc source file
with the Mini FX Application leads to the creation of a hidden
myDeviceApplication.nbdt device template file.
To use the same device template file for both the Mini and NodeBuilder build processes,
specify different names for the source file and the device template when you build the
source file with NodeBuilder tool. Possible conflicts resulting from the sharing of the
same NodeBuilder device template file can be resolved by viewing and editing the device
template preferences in the NodeBuilder tool.
For more information on the NodeBuilder tool, see the NodeBuilder Web page at
. For more information on ordering the NodeBuilder tool,
contact your Echelon sales representative.
Upgrading to the LonMaker Tool
You can use the Mini kit to create self-installed devices, which do not require a network
management tool such as the LonMaker tool. The Mini kit supports standalone
applications (which may not require any network management), and self-installed
applications using the ISI protocol.
For more complex networks and applications that do require a network management
tool, you can use the LonMaker tool to install your development devices in a network,
and then configure, monitor, and test those devices. The LonMaker tool includes the
following features that you can use to test the Neuron C device applications you have
developed with the Mini kit: the LonMaker Browser, Data Point shapes, the LonMaker
Device Manager, and connection monitoring.
The LonMaker Browser is a standalone application that monitors all the network
outputs from your device and allows you to control all the network inputs to your
device. You can open the LonMaker Browser on any device or functional block in the
network. The LonMaker Browser displays all the network variables and
configuration properties for the selected network variables and configuration
properties. You can change the value of any of the input network variables or
writeable configuration properties.