Priva B.V.
10
FS Concentrator – installation manual – 1.2
Product description
The FS Concentrator is part of the labour and production registration system of Priva FS
Performance.
The FS Concentrator is used to transfer data between the wireless network and the Priva FS
Performance database.
Functions and intended use
Functions
The FS Concentrator’s main function is to collect registrations being sent over the wireless
network and transmit them to the database for storage. Furthermore, the FS Concentrator plays
a vital role in the configuration and authorization of new hardware in the system.
Intended use
The intended use for the FS Concentrator is to be positioned strategically in the facility. Once it
has been placed efficiently, it is not to be moved unless there are major changes in the layout of
the facility. When the FS Concentrator is installed and operational, no further action is required.
Detailed description
The FS Concentrator forms the bridge between the wireless network and the database server. As
from this perspective it performs the router functions, so it can also be seen as the first router in
the wireless chain.
For the most simple configuration, where a customer only requires wireless access in the pack-
house, only one FS Concentrator will be sufficient, thus without any routers.
For larger greenhouses, more FS Concentrators can be used to access the database server from
different greenhouse sections on to one network. Each FS Concentrator will manage and control
a set of FS Routers that have the best connection characteristics to that FS Concentrator at that
moment in time. A constraint is applicable for the number of FS Routers that together form the
chain between the FS Reader and the FS Concentrator: it should be taken into account that at
most 38 FS Routers can be supported in between the FS Reader and FS Concentrator. However
because of network performance reasons, at most 20 FS Routers per FS Concentrator should be
used in one chain.
The FS Concentrator can be placed either in the greenhouse or in the packhouse, as long as it can
communicate with the first FS Router in the wireless chain. For reasons of optimal speed during
heavy data loads, such as updating the firmware in the FS Readers, it is preferred that the FS
Concentrator is placed close to the location of the FS Cradles.
The FS Concentrator takes care of the following tasks:
•
Forwarding :
o
It forwards the transaction data that will be received from the FS Routers and FS
Readers to the Database Server;
o
It forwards network hardware configuration information from the FS Reader
Software to the FS Routers and FS Readers.
•
Data logging :
o
It logs the network status information of the wireless network.
