Echelon Mini FX User Manual
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Mini FX User's Guide
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Commissioning
The process in which the LonMaker tool or other network management tool downloads
network and application configuration data into a physical device. For devices whose
application programs are not contained in ROM, the network management tool also
downloads the application program into non-volatile RAM in the device. Devices are
usually either commissioned and tested one at a time, or commissioned and then brought
online and tested incrementally.
Configuration Properties (CPs)
Configuration properties are data values that define the behavior of an application device
by determining the manner in which device application data is manipulated and when
device application data is transmitted. Configuration properties can be applied to the
device, functional block, or network variable level. Configuration properties can
determine the functions to be performed on the values stored in network variables. For
example, a configuration property may specify a minimum change that must occur on a
physical input to a device before the corresponding output network variable is updated.
Configured
A device state where the device has both an application image and a configured network
image. This indicates that the device is ready for network operation.
Control Network Protocol (CNP)
The ISO/IEC 14908-1 Control Network Protocol. The CNP is a complete seven-layer
communications protocol, with each layer optimized to the needs of control applications.
The seven layers follow the reference model for open systems interconnection (OSI)
developed by the International Standard Organization (ISO).
Device
A device that communicates on a L
ON
W
ORKS
network using CNP. A device may be an
application device, network service device, or a router. Devices are sometimes referred to
as nodes in L
ON
W
ORKS
documentation.
Device Interface
The logical interface to a device, abbreviated as XIF. A device’s interface specifies the
number and types of functional blocks; number, types, directions, and connection
attributes of network variables; and the number of message tags. The program ID for a
device is used as the key to identify each device interface. Each program ID uniquely
defines the static portion of the interface. However, two devices with identical static
portions may differ if dynamic network variables are added or removed, or if the types of
changeable network variables are changed. Thus it is possible to have devices with the
same program ID but different device interfaces.
Device Interface (XIF) File
A file that documents a device’s interface with a network. The file can be a text file (.XIF
extension), or it can be a binary file (.XFB extension).
Device Template
A device template defines a device type. The Mini kit generates a NodeBuilder device
template (.NbDt extension) that specifies the information required for the NodeBuilder
tool to build the application for a device. It contains a list of the application Neuron C
source files, device-related preferences, and the hardware template name.