Echelon LonBridg Server - Manual (Page 8)

2 Introduction
Introduction
The Echelon LonBridge Server is a software tool that provides an interface
between a TCP/IP network and a network of L
ON W ORKS interoperable self-
installation (ISI) devices. This interface allows you to create a control
application, such as a graphical user interface (GUI), to manage devices on a
L
ON W ORKS network from a device that is connected to a TCP/IP network.
LonBridge Server also provides a client-independent application programming
interface (API) for managing these networks and devices. For Microsoft ®
Windows ® platforms, the LonBridge Server requires a layer-5 network interface
that is compatible with the OpenLDV™ interface, such as the Echelon U20 USB
Network Interface, to manage communications with the L
ON W ORKS network.
For Linux ® platforms, the LonBridge Server requires an Echelon ShortStack
Micro Server (which uses the LDV interface) to manage communications with the
L
ON W ORKS network.
Figure 1 on page 3 is a block diagram of a Windows or Linux host running the
LonBridge Server, and using the OpenLDV or equivalent interface to
communicate with the L
ON W ORKS network. The LonBridge Server uses TCP/IP
sockets to communicate with LonBridge applications. The socket interface allows
the LonBridge Server to communicate with applications that are local to the
same host platform as the LonBridge Server and with applications that are
remote (connected by an Ethernet or similar network). This socket interface also
allows you to develop LonBridge client applications with any programming
language that supports TCP/IP socket interfaces.