Fluke: How to improve industrial network health at 3 levels

New troubleshooting and management tools from Fluke and Fluke Networks help plant-level engineers manage the added responsibilities and challenges of industrial Ethernet to help users improve uptime and plant productivity. (See photos, tips.) Three levels of help are...

By Control Engineering Staff October 2, 2008

Ethernet electrical tools : Two new Fluke Color ScopeMeter Test Tools, expected to be introduced on Oct. 15, will automate testing for Fieldbus, Profibus and other industrial communication protocols.

Everett, – Fluke Networks offers wide range of troubleshooting and management tool sets for the industrial Ethernet market. Fluke Networks’ industrial Ethernet solutions, along with electrical test solutions from sister company Fluke Corp ., can help plant maintenance professionals quickly troubleshoot industrial network issues, prevent reoccurrence of these issues and improve uptime and plant productivity.

Ethernet cabling tools: From left, Fluke Networks offers help with the CableIQ, DTX-1800, Microscanner 2, OptiFiber, and SimpliFiber Kit.

Industrial Ethernet offers benefits, new challenges Industrial Ethernet use is projected to grow 50% each year for the next five years, replacing an assortment of analog devices and vendor-proprietary communication links that perform critical plant automation and process management tasks, according to the company. This transition offers lower costs and simpler operation through standardized components and a mature, proven technology. But it also creates a challenge, Fluke says. Ethernet was developed in relatively clean office settings, and now must perform in the harsh environment of the factory. This put increased importance on the quality of the installation, as well as ongoing monitoring for degradation from heat, corrosion and vibration. Ethernet also adds a new technology segment to the plant maintenance professional’s growing list of responsibilities. Control Engineering : Industrial Ethernet applications in real time for application photos and

Ethernet network tools from Fluke Networks: EtherScope Series II and LinkRunner Pro.

New industrial Ethernet tools save money, simplify deployment Responding to comments from current industrial Ethernet users, such as “downtime is $3,500 per hour” and “I need to check the cabling before making the expensive call to the integrator,” Fluke and Fluke Networks have assembled a set of industrial Ethernet test and measurement tools that address the new responsibilities placed on plant maintenance professionals. Now maintenance staff can troubleshoot problems ranging from electrical wiring and discrete devices– problems for which Fluke electrical tools are well known and trusted – to cable degradation, signal interference and network traffic issues, the company says.The new industrial Ethernet solutions offered by Fluke and Fluke Networks cover three primary areas where industrial networking issues can occur: the network, electrical signaling, and cabling infrastructure . Specific problems addressed by these industrial Ethernet solutions include:• Discovery and documentation of devices, connectivity and network segmentation plus management of active network traffic with the EtherScope Series II Network Assistant.• Device troubleshooting and analog signal analysis by the Fluke 225 and 125 Industrial Network Test ScopeMeters.• Troubleshooting and certification of physical layer network cabling, including connectivity and cable throughput, using the DTX CableAnalyzer Series.• Certification of new fiber links and troubleshooting of poorly performing fiber links using the OptiFiber Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR).

Read other articles in the October 2008 System Integration eNewsletter

Fast link: Read other articles below, also included in the October 2008 Control Engineering System Integration eNewsletter.

Fluke and Fluke Networks, along with troubleshooting and management tools, have an industrial Ethernet online solution center with . Product availability Fluke Networks industrial Ethernet solutions are available for immediate delivery from leading industrial distributors that currently carry the Fluke line of digital multimeters and ScopeMeter test tools.Fluke Networks offers Network SuperVision Solutions for– Edited by  Mark T. Hoske , editor in chief Control Engineering News Desk Register here and scroll down to select your choice of eNewsletters free .