National Instruments FP-3000 - Manual (Page 17)

Chapter 1 FP-3000 Network Module Overview
FieldPoint FP-3000 User Manual 1-4 www.ni.com
Interoperability
The FP-3000 network module can send or receive data from any
F
O U N D A TIO N Fieldbus-compliant device. The PID block in the FP-3000 can
get its input from any F
O U N D A TIO N
Fieldbus-compliant device; it can also
control any F O U N D A T IO N Fieldbus-compliant output device.
The control and I/O functionality of the FP-3000 can be configured by any
Fieldbus configurator that implements F
O U N D A TIO N Fieldbus instantiation
and deletion and device description parsing. National Instruments
NI-FBUS Configurator is such a configurator. This is possible because all
of the features added by National Instruments are described using Device
Descriptions. Any Fieldbus-compliant HMI package or OPC server that
supports instantiation and deletion of function blocks and that can parse
device description files can also access the FP-3000 function blocks.
Scheduling Functionality
Fieldbus networks require a Link Active Scheduler (LAS) to control
communications on the Fieldbus. The FP-3000 can act as a primary or
back-up Link Active Scheduler. If the primary LAS (often an interface
board in a PC) fails or is disconnected from the network, the FP-3000 takes
over the bus and executes the schedule without causing a bump.
HotPnP (Hot Plug and Play)
FP-3000 network modules can be added or removed from H1 Fieldbus
networks without affecting other Fieldbus devices. The HotPnP feature
simplifies system installation, configuration, and maintenance. With the
HotPnP feature, you can remove or insert I/O modules into the FieldPoint
terminal bases while power is on, even if the system is already engaged in
network activity. You do not need to power down the FP-3000, Fieldbus
network, or even a bank to insert, remove, or replace I/O modules. In
addition, you do not need to change the operation of the host computer or
software to use the HotPnP feature. You do not need to restart the host
computer software to use the HotPnP feature. You can replace an
I/O module only with another I/O module of the same type.
While one or more new or replacement I/O modules in a bank are being
serviced by the HotPnP feature, the other I/O modules in the bank remain
fully operational and accessible on the network without any interruptions.
As soon as the FP-3000 configures the new I/O module through the HotPnP
service, that I/O module becomes automatically accessible on the network.