Echelon LonWorks Router - Manual (Page 13)

network where the devices are subject to frequent physical relocation, or
if cable installation is difficult. For each of these cases, you use a router
to connect the dissimilar L ON W ORKS channels.
• Enhance the reliability of the L ON W ORKS network. The two channels that
connect to a router are logically isolated, so a failure on one channel does
not affect the other channel. For example, in an industrial control
network, isolation among connected cells might be desirable to prevent a
failure in a single cell from bringing down multiple cells. You can achieve
this goal by dedicating channels to individual cells and isolating them
from one another with routers.
• Improve overall network performance. You can use routers to isolate
traffic within subsystems. For example, in a cluster of industrial cells,
most of the communications might be between devices within cells rather
than across cells. Using intelligent routers across cells avoids forwarding
messages addressed to devices within specific cells, thus increasing the
capacity and decreasing the response time of the overall network.
The use of routers across channels is transparent to the application programs
within devices. Thus, you can develop applications without needing to know the
workings of the routers or even if the device’s channel will use a router. You only
need to consider routers when determining the network image of a device. When
you move a device from one channel to another, you need only change the
network image. Use a network management tool, such as OpenLNS CT, to
manage network images.
L ON W ORKS Router Products
Echelon provides the following router products:
• MPR-50 Multi-Port Router (Model: 42150)
Five-channel (one TP/XF-1250 channel and four TP/FT-10 channels)
L ON W ORKS router. The MPR-50 can be used to connect two, three, or
four TP/FT-10 channels together, or it can be used to connect these
TP/FT-10 channels to a high-speed TP/XF-1250 backbone.
• i.LON 600 L ON W ORKS /IP Server (Model: 7260x)
An EIA-852 compliant LonTalk-to-IP router. The i.LON 600 provides
secure Internet access to L ON W ORKS devices and transforms the Internet
(or other IP-based network) into a pathway for L ON W ORKS control
information.
• CRD 3000 Power Line/RF Bridge (Model: 76520R)
A Power Line (PL) to RF communications device, designed primarily for
intelligent L
ON
W
ORKS
street lighting networks.
• LonPoint Router (Model: 4210x)
A two-channel router for TP/FT-10, TP/XF-78, or TP/XF-1250 L ON W ORKS
channels. Three models are available for various network connection
combinations.
L ON W ORKS Router User’s Guide 3