Industrial Network Commissioning With Minimal Port Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for configuring redundancy in network devices in industrial automation systems are error-prone, time-consuming, and vulnerable to compatibility issues, which can compromise the availability of critical components in process control systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for network configuration in industrial automation systems that involves obtaining network configuration data identifying redundancy protocols for network devices and using this data to configure the devices, while activating only the minimum number of network connections necessary to receive this data, thereby reducing the risk of undesirable interconnections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If all network ports are activated during commissioning, then network devices can receive configuration data through multiple paths, but undesirable network interconnections may form that compromise system availability
Solution Approach 1:
The network ports are segmented into two distinct groups: exposed ports for receiving configuration data and non-exposed ports for internal connections. This segmentation prevents undesirable interconnections by ensuring that configuration data flows only through designated paths, resolving the contradiction between ease of commissioning and system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The exposed port acts as an intermediary that receives configuration data from external sources and transfers it to internal components through non-exposed ports. This intermediary structure controls the flow of configuration data, preventing direct unwanted connections while maintaining commissioning functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple network connections are activated simultaneously, then configuration data can be received through redundant paths, but compatibility issues between different redundancy protocols may arise
Solution Approach 1:
Different ports are assigned different functional qualities: exposed ports handle configuration data reception while non-exposed ports handle internal device communications. This local quality differentiation allows the system to support multiple redundancy protocols internally while maintaining a single controlled interface for configuration, preventing protocol compatibility issues.
3Productivity
If all ports are enabled during commissioning, then network devices have maximum connectivity, but the risk of forming undesirable interconnections increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network device is pre-configured with designated exposed and non-exposed ports before commissioning begins. This preliminary action establishes controlled communication paths in advance, allowing rapid commissioning through exposed ports while preventing undesirable interconnections through the structured port architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
Proper configuration of network devices for implementing redundancy presents challenges in the field of industrial automation systems. There is therefore provided a method for network configuration in an industrial automation system. The method comprises: obtaining, by a process control system comprising a plurality of network devices each associated with a network switch, network configuration data; and using the network configuration data to configure the network devices. The network configuration data identifies at least a redundancy protocol to be used by each of the network devices. Obtaining the network configuration data comprises activating one or more network connections of the network switches as a minimum number of network connections for obtaining the network configuration data, and receiving the network configuration data via the one or more activated network connections. By receiving the network configuration data via the minimum number of activated network connections, the risk of forming undesirable network interconnections can be reduced.