Chapter 1
FP-3000 Network Module Overview
FieldPoint FP-3000 User Manual
1-4
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National Instruments Corporation
Interoperability
The FP-3000 network module can send or receive data from any
Fieldbus-compliant device. The PID block in the FP-3000 can get its input
from any Fieldbus-compliant device; it can also control any
Fieldbus-compliant output device.
The control and I/O functionality of the FP-3000 can be configured by any
Fieldbus configurator, such as the National Instruments NI-FBUS
Configurator. This is possible because all of the features added by National
Instruments are described using Device Descriptions. Any
Fieldbus-compliant HMI package or OPC server can also access the
FP-3000 function blocks.
Link Active Scheduler (LAS) Functionality
Fieldbus networks require a Link Active Scheduler (LAS) to control
communications on the Fieldbus. The FP-3000 can act as a primary or
back-up Link Active Scheduler. This enables the FP-3000 to execute PID
and other function blocks without a PC connected to the network. If a PC
is connected and the PC goes down, the FP-3000 takes over the bus and
executes the control without causing a bump.
HotPnP (Hot Plug and Play)
FP-3000 network modules can be added or removed from H1 Fieldbus
networks without affecting other Fieldbus devices.
You can insert or remove I/O modules into FieldPoint terminal bases while
the power is on, even if the FP-3000 is already operational. The other
I/O modules connected to the FP-3000 are fully operational during this
process. You do not need to power down the FP-3000, Fieldbus network, or
even a bank to insert or remove I/O modules. You do not need to restart the
host computer software to use the HotPnP feature. You can replace an
I/O module only with another I/O module of the same type.
Field Upgradability
You can download new versions of the firmware to the FP-3000 over the
Fieldbus network without powering down the Fieldbus network or
affecting the operation of other devices. You should use the National
Instruments FP-3000 Firmware Update utility to download the firmware.
This feature lets you take advantage of new function blocks as they are
made available from National Instruments.